Women’s Super League

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SARINA WIEGMAN rejected suggestions of England being in crisis after naming her squad for this year’s Euros.The Lioness chief backed her group to ignore outside noise following player retirements and a surprise withdrawal. More

ENGLAND manager Sarina Wiegman has named her 23-player squad for Euro 2025 as the Lionesses prepare to defend their title.Three years on from their first-ever European Championship triumph, the Lionesses head to Switzerland next month as one of the favourites.Sarina Wiegman has named her squad for Euro 2025Credit: GettyThe Lionesses are looking to defend their European titleCredit: GettyBut they will be missing three key players who contributed to that incredible Wembley success.Millie Bright, who captained the squad at the 2023 World Cup, made herself unavailable for selection earlier this week due to burnout.Fran Kirby announced her retirement from international football on Tuesday after learning that she would not be travelling to Switzerland.And goalkeeper Mary Earps hung up her gloves last month in a huge shock to both Wiegman and her team-mates.READ MORE ON THE LIONESSESDespite the absences, England approach the European Championship next month with a strong squad.Leah Williamson will captain the Lionesses for the second time at a major tournament.She will be joined by defenders Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles and Lotte Wubben-Moy.Following the departure of Earps last month, Hannah Hampton will be England’s No1 this summer.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSKhiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse will be on hand in case the Chelsea ace gets injured.Georgia Stanway returned to the England squad last week following a five-month period on the sidelines with a knee injury.England Lionesses star hints at future career change as she shows off talent as a tattoo artist Leah Williamson is set to captain the squad againCredit: GettyShe is among the list of midfielders included, alongside Keira Walsh, Ella Toone, Grace Clinton and Jess Park.And in attack, Wiegman has picked Alessia Russo, Aggie Beever-Jones, Lauren Hemp, Beth Mead, Chloe Kelly and 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang.Despite being sidelined with a hamstring injury, Lauren James has also earned a call-up for the tournament.Out of the 23-player squad, 13 were part of the Lionesses’ Euro 2022-winning squad at Wembley.Meanwhile, seven players will be appearing at their first major tournament.Sophie Baggaley, Laura Blindkilde Brown, Missy Bo Kearns and Lucy Parker are all on the standby list.Discussing her selection, Wiegman said: “I know this is an exciting day, for the players and also for our fans and it underlines that the tournament is coming soon.”Telling the players they have made the squad is always a great moment. They will all give everything to help us make the country proud.”This group is a very well-balanced mix of players with multiple tournaments on their CVs and also those that will make their tournament debuts. I am excited to see what we are capable of this summer.Read More on The Sun”At the same time, I do feel for those that have just missed out. I can only name 23 but there are more players who have been so important to us on our journey to Switzerland. We would not be here without them.”As we look forward, we still have a month to go until we play the first game. After some important rest, we will all be working really hard to make sure we are ready to go on 5 July.”England squad for Euro 2025 in fullGoalkeepers:Hannah HamptonKhiara KeatingAnna MoorhouseDefenders:Lucy BronzeLotte Wubben-MoyJess CarterNiamh CharlesMaya Le TissierEsme MorganAlex GreenwoodLeah WilliamsonMidfielders:Grace ClintonJess ParkElla TooneGeorgia StanwayKeira WalshForwards:Lauren HempBeth MeadLauren JamesChloe KellyAggie Beever-JonesMichelle AgyemangAlessia Russo More

IN a month’s time England begin their the defence of their European Championship crown in Switzerland. Build-up to this year’s Euros has not been plain sailing in terms of some results on the pitch and shock announcements off it. England will compete in the Euros without vice captain Millie Bright following her withdrawal from selection before the tournamentCredit: GettyFran Kirby called time on her England playing career after being informed she would not be included in Sarina Wiegman’s squad for this year’s EurosCredit: GettyMary Earps announced her international retirement five weeks before the start of the tournament in SwitzerlandCredit: APToday Sarina Wiegman will name the players included in her 23-strong England group who will battle for Euros glory. Three who will not be on her list are Mary Earps, Fran Kirby and Millie Bright. The trio were among the standout performers during England’s triumphant Euros charge three years ago. Five weeks before the start of this year’s contest Mary Earps announced her retirement from international football. Read More Football Stories Then came Fran Kirby, 31, hanging up her England boots after being informed that she would not be part of the squad for next month’s contest. And yesterday vice captain Bright withdrew herself from selection after bravely explaining her need to do so for her “health and future in the game”.  The Chelsea captain’s announcement followed a season in which she skippered her club to a domestic trophy treble, On the Daly Brightness podcast she hosts with former England ace Rachel Daly, Bright explained her decision was not taken lightly. Most read in FootballYesterday she said: “It was something that I’d spoken about with friends, family, the people around me, and I gave it a lot of thought. “But ultimately, I thought this was the best decision for the team, but also for myself and using this summer to zone into mentally, physically, getting myself back in tip-top condition.””It’s obviously hard, but I’m going to be the girls’ number one supporter and I know they’re going to go on and smash it.”Bright, Earps and Kirby have played a huge part in England’s recent success with all playing in every single game of their last Euros campaign. With all three unavailable for England, here is a look at who will fill the void at this year’s Euros. Hannah Hampton will be England’s first choice goalkeeper at this year’s Euros, her first major international tournamentCredit: GettyGoalkeeper options England’s shot stopper starter question has been answered with Hannah Hampton in place as their No1 for the Euros.The Chelsea player won her battle for a starting spot with Earps after emerging as a first team regular under Wiegman. This year Hampton has started in five of their last six Nations League games following Earps’ last start (final international appearance) on February 21. While England’s away form in the contest has been mixed, including a 2-1 loss to world champions Spain this week, Hampton kept clean sheets on three of those occasions. This includes their 1-0 win against the World Cup winners who are among their main rivals at this year’s Euros. While Hampton is set to be England’s starter in goal, it is not entirely clear who will be the next automatic choice after her.England have options in Anna Moorhouse and Man City’s Khiara Keating although both are yet to make their senior international debuts.  Last October Moorhouse won the National Women’s Soccer League shield with top-flight American club Orlando Pride A month later the former West Ham goalkeeper set a new record for the most clean sheets in a NWSL season with 13 in 26 games. A friendly clash with Jamaica as England’s final game before their Euros opener against France could be an opportunity to see Moorhouse or Keating tested. Anna Moorhouse and Khiara Keating are yet to make their senior international debutsCredit: AlamyPlaymaker and forward options Should Lauren James win her race back to fitness from a hamstring problem, she and Jess Park are likely to be England’s primary attacking midfielders as well as Ella Toone. All three have been deployed in the number 10 role under Wiegman although Toone and James have faced battles with injury in recent months. England also have Beth Mead’s creative capabilities from the wing. This week Wiegman revealed James was progressing well with her recovery from a hamstring issue. It is hoped the forward, who shone for England at the 2023 World Cup, will be fit enough to compete at the Euros. Lauren James hopes to win her race to back to fitness ahead of the Euros with England facing France in their Group D openerCredit: AlamyCentral defenceWith Bright’s withdrawal Alex Greenwood is likely to be deployed alongside Williamson in central defence. The Man City skipper’s vision and versatility have made her one of England’s most dependable figures in their backline.Her set-piece delivery skills will be a useful asset for the team. With 98 caps she is also one of England’s most experienced players on the pitch and a calming presence on the pitch. Read More on The SunAlex Greenwood is likely partner Lioness captain Leah Williamson in the centre of England’s defenceCredit: GettyAside from Greenwood, England also have the option of Jess Carter. The ex-Chelsea defender, who won the Concacaf Champions Cup with Gotham FC , is more than capable of operating centrally or as a full-back. More

LAUREN HEMP reckons England are ready to go toe-to-toe with Spain after their six-goal Nations League pummelling of Portugal. Following her international comeback yesterday evening the fit-again forward admitted she missed playing in front of Lionesses fans.Lauren Hemp says England are feeling confident ahead of their clash with Spain on June 3Credit: AlamyHemp and her team-mates are second in their Nations League group behind Spain following their rivals’ 5-1 defeat of BelgiumCredit: GettyEngland’s clash with Spain in June will be their last competitive match ahead of the July 2 start of this year’s Women’s EurosCredit: GettyBefore her side’s pivotal pre-Euros duel with Spain the Lioness, 24, made a successful return to England action for the first time since last October. Their 6-0 humbling of Portugal involved four different players scoring for the reigning European champions. They include Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones who registered her first international hat-trickDefeat of their Nations League group A3 rivals would put England in the contest’s finals.Read More Football Stories It would also fire a warning to their foes’ at this year’s Euros, with World Cup winners Spain likely to be one of the biggest threats. Before their Tuesday duel in Barcelona, Hemp said: “The confidence (in the squad) is high. “We’ve got a lot of respect for Spain and we’ve had so many great games against them. “We’re going to make sure we’re ready and rested for that game and we’ll make sure we start that match as we did this one (against Portugal).”Most read in FootballHemp’s England shift at Wembley last night was her first in seven months and follows her recovery from a knee injury. Her last Lioness game before then was a 2-1 friendly defeat of South Africa last October.A match that was followed by Hemp undergoing a knee op a month later that would leave her sidelined until her Man City return in April.In front of a 48,531-strong crowd, it looked as if she had never been away as she, Beever-Jones and Beth Mead terrorised Portugal’s woeful defence. Hemp added: “It’s been a long journey and there have been times when I’ve thought, ‘when am I actually getting back on the pitch’ after having a few setbacks. “But it’s great to be back in an England shirt and doing what I love doing. Hopefully there is still more to come.””It’s been a long seven months but coming back felt great. “The fans are great and they’re always great and I’ve missed that as well with not being in the mix for a little while (due to injury).”Defeat of Spain would see England register their second victory over the World Cup winners in the Nations League this year. The last duel between the sides resulted in 1-0 win for Sarina Wiegman’s players at Wembley in February. On whether victory would serve as a warning to the Lionesses Euros’ rivals, Hemp said: “There’s still a little while to go. “It’s important that we still put in the performances leading up to the Euros. “But at the moment we feel we’re in a great place.”With Beever-Jones notching her first senior England hat-trick and Mead and Chloe Kelly scoring, Sarina Wiegman feels she has a Euros selection headache with her forwards. On June 5 the England boss, 55, will announce who has made it into her 23-player squad for the tournament that starts on July 2 in Switzerland.Wiegman has backed Lauren James to battle her way into contention with the Chelsea forward’s recovery from a hamstring injury progressing. She said: “We have so many options up front in the England squad right now. Sarina Wiegman believes deciding which England forwards to take to this year’s Euros will be a tough decision to makeCredit: Getty”What we also hope for is LJ (Lauren James) coming back too. She’s still in rehab and doing good. Read More on The Sun”I hope every striker will be fit including those who we have now in the squad with LJ added to that. “Then it’s going to be really hard for me to make decisions for the Euros squad.” More