Women’s Euro 2022

SURREAL is how Michelle Agyemang described her emergence as a senior England international this year. Last month the versatile Arsenal striker, 19, showed why Gunners and England legend Kelly Smith sees her as one of the club’s “fearless” rising stars. Michelle Agyemang could be set to make her second senior England appearance when the Lionesses face Portugal in the Women’s Nations League this eveningCredit: GettyLast month Agyemang scored 41 seconds into her senior England debut when the team played Belgium in the contestCredit: ReutersAgyemang’s international rise has been rapid with the striker playing for England’s Under-19s and Under-23s within the past 11 monthsCredit: GettySix days ago the Arsenal starlet was in Lisbon watching her club pals defeat Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League finalsCredit: GettyLess than a minute into her senior debut, the England ace let fly with a stunning volley that found its targets in a Nations League duel with Belgium.While the Lionesses fell to a 3-2 away loss in that game on April 4 Agyemang’s 16-minute cameo underlined why her rise through England’s ranks has been rapid. After scoring a hat-trick in a 10-0 demolition of Lithuania in the Women’s Under-19 Championship last July, the striker moved up to England’s Under-23s two months later. And just two months after scoring a brace against Germany in a friendly for the side, she received first call-up into Sarina Wiegman’s England squad.Read More Football StoriesOf her emergence as a senior international player, Agyemang said: “I’m a person of few words, so I’m struggling already.”I think it’s ‘surreal’, like, just the manner in which it happened. “There are so many more things to come and I’m just really grateful for the opportunity.”Agyemang’s appearance in England’s last Nations League outing came at a time of the team contending with injuries to Alessia Russo and Lauren James. Most read in FootballForward Lauren Hemp, now back in the squad after her comeback from injury, was also yet to return to match action for her club Manchester City. With the trio out, Wiegman opted to bring in Agyemang who impressed during her loan spell at Brighton from Arsenal last season, as well for the young Lionesses. Reflecting on her first call-up and being in England’s squad this month, she added: “When I got the phone-call [from Sarina when I was] just literally coming out of the shower, “It was unexpected, but I’m really grateful that she’s put the trust in me to come in and show what I can do for a longer period of time.”It was amazing to get that call and to be here again.”My family has been so supportive. When I was telling them my mum was screaming, my dad was shouting as well and then my friends as well.”Playing across three different age groups for England within 11 months does not phase Agyemang. The player who grew up in Southend, Essex and whose club journey with Arsenal began in their academy at six, is determined to deliver no matter which Lionesses side she plays for. Agyemang said: “Wherever I am (in whichever England team) it’s about just going out there, helping the team prepare and winning the trophy.”We still have the Under- 19’s Euros coming up (in June) as well as the senior Euros “It’s been interesting going through the different age groups, meeting different players and coaches. “But I think the England pathway is so similar across the board so it’s really easy to settle in no matter where I am.”Against Portugal at 7:45pm tonight Agyemang hopes to get another chance to make her mark and help England return to winning ways in the Nations League. Should Spain lose to Belgium, a defeat of their opponents at Wembley would see Wiegman’s side return to the top of their group. Agyemang’s last experience of being near Wembley’s pitch was during England’s 4-0 defeat of Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifier in October 2021.She said: “I was 15 and was a ball girl. They had a few of the girls from (England’s) pathway there. Beth Mead scored (a hat-trick).”Tonight’s game will provide a chance for Agyemang to continue to impress with the striker targeting a place in Sarina Wiegman’s squad for this year’s Euros. In Switzerland on July 5 the Lionesses will begin their push to win the tournament for a second time with a group stage clash with France.Sarina Wiegman’s side are targeting back-to-back wins against Portugal and Spain in their last two Nations League outings before the EurosCredit: GettyAnd Agyemang hopes to be among the players included in Wiegman’s 26-strong group.Read More on The SunThe Arsenal starlet added: “I like to take things one at a time. “Coming here (to England’s camp), showing what I can do in order to maybe get on that plane is my first thought right now.” More

SARINA WIEGMAN admitted to being “disappointed and sad” by Mary Earps calling time on her England career. And Leah Williamson revealed she was devastated, describing the former Lioness’s retirement as a huge loss for the team.England skipper Leah Williamson and head coach Sarina Wiegman expressed their sadness concerning Mary Earps’ international retirementCredit: PAWiegman is disappointed that Earps had called time on her England career and says she still wished the former Lionesses goalkeeper was part of her teamCredit: ReutersWilliamson, who together with Earps helped England win the 2022 Euros, described the goalkeeper as her “best friend in football”Credit: AlamyYesterday Wiegman and her captain publicly shared their thoughts in their first press conference in the wake of Earps’ bombshell announcement. Four days ago (May 26) the FA stated the Euros-winning shot stopper had decided to end run as an England player. And the Paris Saint-Germain ace, 32, also shared her career update via her Instagram account. Earps standing down from international duty five weeks before this year’s Euros, means the tournament’s reigning champions will defend their title without their most experienced goalkeeper.Read More Football StoriesHead coach Wiegman is due announce which players have made it into her squad for this year’s Euros in Switzerland on June 5. The Lioness boss, who still wants Earps as part of her squad, said: “I’m really disappointed and sad that she’s not part of the team because I want her in my team. “That (retirement decision) must have been a really hard decision for her and so it is for us. “There have been a couple of conversations which I don’t want to share publicly because that’s between us and it’s hard for her at the same time.”Most read in FootballEarps, who has 53 senior international caps, started in all six games during England’s run to becoming European Champions three years ago. In Australia in 2023, she played a significant role in England reaching the Women’s World Cup final for the first time in their history, Her performance in all seven games would see her win the tournament’s Golden Glove before later being voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year. During the contest’s final Earps produced a dramatic penalty save against Spain keeping out Jenni Hermoso’s spot-kick before her team fell to a 1-0 loss. However since last October the former Man United player has faced a battle to start with Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton. The Blues stopper started in five of England’s last eight international games. Williamson, 26, who skippered the team during the 2022 Euros, said: “I’m devastated (by her England retirement) because I love her and love being her teammate.”Mary is one of my closest friends in football. “We have an extra pair of shoes to fill and also in a number of different areas. “I’m sure the team will be ready for all those eventualities.”Earlier this week The Athletic reported that Sarina Wiegman had told Earps that she would not be her No1 keeper for this year’s Euros. And The Guardian reports Earps, had in April, informed the England boss that she was thinking of retiring. However Wiegman remained tight-lipped on the exact details of her conversation with Earps. The Lioness chief said: “I am in conversations with players all the time. “I don’t give any information about these private conversations we have.  “Hannah Hampton is now the number one. “Before that she was a little bit ahead but at moments you can’t look too far forward because you don’t know what things will happen. “Things in football can change very quickly.”England, who face Portugal at Wembley tomorrow and Spain away in the Nations League next Tuesday, have been hit by fitness issues. Aside from Ella Morris, 22, rupturing a knee ligament, Alessia Russo, 26, and Ella Toone, 25, will both miss tomorrow’s 7:45pm clash due to calf concerns.  And vice-captain Millie Bright, 31, withdrew from England’s camp earlier this week with Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy called up in her absence. On the Daly Brightness podcast she hosts with ex-Lioness team-mate Rachel Daly, the 88-capped centre-back explained she was at her limit “physically and mentally”. This term the Chelsea skipper led the Blues on a treble-winning trophy charge, lifting the FA and Women’s League Cups and claiming an eighth WSL title. Of her withdrawal from this month’s England camp Bright said: “That is a really hard decision. “But I think you know better than anyone as well – sometimes you just have to take that time for yourself.”You need to value yourself and your mental health and body, and just say that no, right now is not the time for you.”England will face Portugal and Spain in the Nations League without the services of Millie Bright with the Lioness vice-keeper withdrawing from their May campCredit: GettyBright’s England team-mate Williamson added: “That decision for Millie herself to say, ‘I need to take a break’ and to speak out about mental health is a brave thing to do.Read More on The Sun”She’s leading by example and I’ve personally given Millie a bit of space. “Naturally any support that she needs and anything that she needs from the team, we’ll be there to give it to her.” More

ENGLAND’S Ella Morris has had her Euros selection hopes shattered by a serious knee injury.The uncapped Lionesses defender, 22, ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during a training session. Ella Morris will miss England’s three remaining games ahead of the start of the Women’s Euros on July 2 after sustaining an ACL injuryCredit: GettyThe rising Tottenham star has returned to her club to begin working on her recovery weeks after receiving her first senior England call-upCredit: GettyThe injury to the Tottenham player, sustained five weeks before the July 2nd start of the Euros, means she will miss England’s bid to remain the tournament’s champions. Morris, who has returned to her club, will also miss the Lionesses’ Women’s Nations League clashes with Portugal tomorrow and Spain next Tuesday (June 3).The ex-Southampton player, who received her first senior international call-up this month,  has ruptured a knee ligament before at the age of 17. In a post published on her Instagram page, she wrote: “From the highest high to the lowest low.Read More Football Stories”Devastated doesn’t even come close. So grateful for the incredible people around me. ACL round 2 – let’s go.”Earlier today Lionesses support staff said they maintain close contact with the player as she works on her recovery. A statement from the FA said: “Everyone involved with the Lionesses wishes Ella the very best with her recovery.”England’s support team will remain in close contact with her and the club.”Most read in FootballLaura Blindkilde Brown has been called up to Sarina Wiegman’s England squad before their Nations League clashes with Portugal and SpainCredit: GettyFollowing Morris’s injury Manchester City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown, 21, has received her third senior call-upThe midfielder has joined Sarina Wiegman’s 26-player squad at St George’s Park as a replacement for Morris.Wiegman and her players will travel to London tomorrow ahead of their 7:45pm clash with Portugal at Wembley on May 30. More

ENGLAND have revealed the new kits to be worn by the Lionesses at this year’s Euros taking place in Switzerland in July. The new home shirt, designed by Nike, pays homage to the pioneers who played for the national side in the seventies and eighties. Nike have unveiled the kits Lioness stars are set to wear when they compete in the Women’s Euros in JulyThe new kit which resembles the famous 1982 England shirt will also be worn by the Lionesses during their Nations League clashes with Portugal and SpainKerry Davis, Anita Asante, Michelle Agyemang and Lucy Bronze are among the past and present Lioness heroines featured in a video launching England’s new kitAmong the past and present Lionesses featured in a promo video unveiling the new home and away kits is skipper Leah Williamson and retired defender Anita Asante.Strikers Alessia Russo and Michelle Agyemang also star as well as Kerry Davis, the first black footballer to play for the team.  Seconds into the footage the former forward, who played her first senior England game in 1982, can be seen posing in the home jersey. The shirt, which is white, features blue and red horizontal colour shifts. Read More Football StoriesIt incorporates the traditional three lions crest and also bears a little resemblance to the one worn by England’s men’s team during the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Inspired by a concept described by Nike as ‘deeds not words’ England’s new kit pays tribute to the Lionesses’ iconic victories. This includes their 2022 Euros final triumph at Wembley when Sarina Wiegman’s side sealed a dramatic 2-1 win against Germany . The team is also set to play in blue shorts at this year’s tournament. Most read in SportAnd goalkeeper shirts donned by Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton are light green in colour with a dark green round neck trim. England’s away kit includes a sleek black shirt with a blue three lions crest on the left shoulder and a Nike swoosh on the right. It also includes shades of red, purple and blue on its side gusset. Sarina Wiegman’s players are due to play Jamaica in a friendly in June in their final home fixture before the start of the Women’s Euros in JulyCredit: GettyAccording to Nike both strips have been manufactured using a system designed to move sweat away from the skin for faster evaporation.England’s kits are set to debut when the Lionesses take on Portugal at Wembley and Spain in Barcelona in the Women’s Nations League The games will take place on May 30 and June 3, just over a month ahead of England’s Euros opener against France on July 5. More

SARINA WIEGMAN hopes to have an England selection headache from Lauren Hemp, Georgia Stanway and Alex Greenwood returning to fitness.The Lioness boss, 55, reckons Hemp has built enough credit to be in contention despite the forward yet to play a full 90 minutes this year. Georgia Stanway has given England a huge fitness boost two months before the Euros with her recovery from a knee ligament issueCredit: AlamyLauren Hemp has been named in Sarina Wiegman England’s squad for the first time this year following her return to match action for Man City in AprilCredit: GettyHemp’s City team-mate and skipper Alex Greenwood is also back in the Lionesses’ squad ahead of their Nations League games against Spain and PortugalCredit: ReutersThe squad returns of Hemp, 24, Stanway, 26, and Greenwood, 31, comes at a pivotal time with the start of England’s Euros title defence less than two months away. Before then the team will take on Portugal in the Nations League at Wembley on May 30. And they also face a stern test against World Cup holders Spain in Barcelona on June 3. Wiegman’s fit again trio had contended with knee injuries with Hemp and defender Greenwood making their returns to match action for Manchester City earlier this month. Read More Football StoriesBayern Munich midfielder Stanway is the only member of the three yet to return to club duty since recovering from a lateral ligament tear sustained in January. Wiegman said: “Georgia is in training. She still needs to build. “What we know is she can come into camp and continue building with us.”Hopefully towards the Euros she can be healthy and can handle the training loads to recover. Most read in Football”She has to be healthy and recover from training sessions then we can see where she’s at. “She has to be performing at the highest level – at her highest level – to compete for the position just like everyone else.”Hemp’s squad return comes 16 days after her first game for Man City this year. The 61-capped Lioness played in a competitive game for the first time this year on April 27 with a cameo appearance in City’s 1-0 defeat of Leicester. While Hemp did not play a full match  for City in the second half of the season, she could potentially be in line for game time at the World Sevens tournament if selected to play. Man City are one of two WSL sides competing in the seven-a-side contest taking place in Estoril, Portugal from May 21-23. On whether it is a concerned that Hemp has so far not played a 90-minute this year, Wiegman added: “Of course it is.”But we still have two months – almost. We have to keep building on that and manage it well to keep them fit. “We want to keep building and see what she is able to do. “She has to perform at her highest level too, but she has shown so many things before her injury that she has built some credit.”When everyone is fit we have big decisions to make because we have many options up front and within the team in other lines we have options too. “I hope everyone does really well and it’s really nice to have this opportunity to train before the Nations League. “I hope I’ll get a lot of headaches because that means everyone is performing at the highest level and we’ll have decisions to make.”Wiegman, 55, is waiting to see how far Lauren James, 23, can go in her fitness race, before the Euros with the forward battling to recover from injury. I know Lauren is absolutely working really hard to get there. Let’s see how far she gets.Sarina Wiegman on Lauren JamesIn their upcoming clashes with Portugal and Spain the team will be without the services of James who was among England’s standout performers at the 2023 World Cup. The Chelsea star came off during England’s 5-0 Nations League trouncing of Belgium due to a hamstring concern. Wiegman said: “She’s a special player who has moments in the game where she can be decisive. “Let’s see how far she gets and what she can bring us. I know she’s absolutely working really hard to get there.”Wiegman’s latest squad selection has included Arsenal’s Michelle Agyemang, 19, keeping her place and a first senior call-up for Tottenham defender Ella Morris.Agyemang’s return follows her netting a stunning goal on her senior international debut volleying home during the Lionesses’ 3-2 away loss to BelgiumWhile the England boss hopes the striker can become a little bit calmer in duels, she believes Agyemang has much potential. Wiegman said: “Michelle is a very high-potential talent. “She is very powerful and as we have seen, she can score goals. Michelle Agyemang has retained her England spot after impressing on her senior international debut and on loan at Brighton from Arsenal this seasonCredit: Reuters”In duels she needs to calm down a little and we’ve spoken about that already. Read More on The Sun”Hopefully she can manage a bit when we play in the duels. “You don’t want to almost destroy your opponent.”England Women’s Squad GoalkeepersMary Earps (Paris St-Germain), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)DefendersMillie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Ella Morris (Tottenham), Leah Williamson (Arsenal)MidfieldersGrace Clinton (Manchester United), Missy Bo Kearns (Aston Villa), Fran Kirby (Brighton), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Chelsea)Forwards Michelle Agyemang (Brighton, on loan from Arsenal), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal, on loan from Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Brighton), Alessia Russo (Arsenal) More