Women’s Super League

STEPH HOUGHTON described being left out of England’s squad before this year’s Women’s World Cup as “hard to take”. And the Manchester City skipper, 35, insists she did everything she had been asked in a bid to reclaim a spot in the national side. 
Steph Houghton says she ‘never turn her back on her country’ but believes she may not play for England againCredit: Alamy
The Manchester City captain was left out of Sarina Wiegman’s 23-strong squad for this year’s Women’s World CupCredit: Getty
Houghton has not played for the Lionesses since February 2021Credit: Getty
Houghton was sharing her thoughts in an interview with the Daily Mail with just under a month to go until the tournament starts in Australia and New Zealand. 
The centre-back, who shone at times last term including during City’s 2-1 defeat of Arsenal in February, was left out of Sarina Wiegman’s squad for the contest. 
Her omission follows a season which saw her net twice in 14 WSL appearances after re-establishing herself in City’s starting XI following her return from injury. 
Houghton, who has 121 senior international caps, said: “I was disappointed because of how much effort I’d put into doing the things I was asked to do which was to get back into the City team, to play well and to play well against the best players.
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“I spoke to the manager. She said firstly I need to get back into the team because I’d had a long period of time out.
“I fought my way back. The next thing was to play well and to keep your shirt. 
“From January on I’ve started every single game bar one. I feel as though I was in form, fit and ready to go. 
“But sometimes it happens that you have a manager that doesn’t see you as part of their plans.”
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Houghton, who was part of the side that reached the 2019 World Cup semis under Phil Neville, has not played for England since February 2021. 
An ankle injury sustained during a Lionesses’ training camp in September that year led to her withdrawing before Wiegman’s first game in charge of the team. 
The England captain’s armband was handed to Leah Williamson ahead of that match. 
It was a World Cup qualifier the team would win 8-0 against North Macedonia before embarking on an unbeaten run that included an Arnold Clark Cup triumph last year. 
The Arsenal defender has remained England’s captain since leading the side to a historic Women’s Euros win at Wembley last July. 
Houghton was included by Wiegman in England’s Euros warm-up camp last summer before being cut from the gaffer’s provisional squad.
And with three senior Lionesses picking up long-term knee injuries, including Gunners ace, Williamson some observers thought she may be in with a chance of a recall. 
However the defender, who signed a one-year contract extension with Man City this month, did not make the cut ahead of the World Cup. 
Of her chat with Wiegman in regard to being left out of the squad, Houghton added: “The conversation was very vague to be honest.
“I think that’s what’s hard to take. I felt as though I could have brought something to the squad. 
“I knew what the role would be — I wouldn’t be starting matches but I would have supported the girls one million per cent. 
“I’m team first. But it’s the manager’s decision. I didn’t argue but I did say, ‘I’ve done everything you’ve asked us to do.
“At that moment I think I was done with the whole situation. 
“I’d been fighting with myself for 18 months to prove I can still play at that level. 
“I think I did that but it was pretty clear from that conversation that I won’t be playing for England again.
Houghton is set to enter her tenth year as Man City player next seasonCredit: Getty
Houghton, who signed a one-year Man City contract extension this month, is approaching the tenth anniversary of her move to the club. 
On whether she is tempted to end her international career, she added: “All I’ve ever wanted to do is play for my country. 
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“It’s something I’ll have to think about over the summer.
“I’d never turn my back on my country but I don’t know if I would put myself under that kind of pressure again.” More

BETHANY ENGLAND has no regrets about her “big risk” decision to leave Chelsea for Tottenham. Her switch in January has paid off with the Spurs ace back in the Lionesses’ fold before the Women’s World Cup. 
Bethany England’s displays for Tottenham led to the striker’s inclusion in the Lionesses’ squad for the World CupCredit: Getty
England’s call-up came five months after she sealed a move Chelsea to Spurs in JanuaryCredit: Getty
The England star has impressed for Spurs. Her 12 goals in as many games helped them avoid relegation last seasonCredit: Getty
The WSL ace joined her international team-mates starting training this week before the team’s final friendlies and World Cup opener against Haiti on July 22.
Reflecting on her reaction to getting back in the squad, England said: “I tried to play it nice and cool but I hung up the phone and screamed my house down. 
“The first thing I did was ring my mum and my partner. 
“Obviously I was elated, it’s been a long time since I’ve been back in this environment.
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“It’s just a pleasure to be back here wearing the badge and I’m just excited for the summer.”
England’s return to the national side follows a season that began with her struggling for a starting spot and more game time at the Blues. 
The striker, who scooped the PFA’s women’s player of the year award in 2020, made just two starts in appearances for the WSL champions.  
This coincided with her omission from Sarina Wiegman’s squad for friendly fixtures in October and November including a 2-1 win against the USA eight months ago.  
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The Euros winner was also left out of squads that won this year’s Arnold Clark Cup and beat Brazil on penalties in the Women’s Finalissima. 
England added: “It’s difficult being part of the highs of winning the Euros (last year), to being in a camp to then not being involved for knocking up to 10 months now.
“It has been a difficult change and it’s hard because I’m seeing the team winning the Finalissma, the Arnold Clark Cup and that’s all moments I want to be a part of. 
“But equally that’s the decision that was made, that’s life. 
“Not everything goes your way. You can only control what you can control. 
 “All I could do was go to Spurs, make sure that I worked hard, trained hard and put in the performances on game day and I think I very much did that.” 
Among the memorable goals England scored during her seven-year Chelsea spell was long-range screamer against Spurs at Stamford Bridge in 2019Credit: PA:Empics Sport
Since her move after seven years at Chelsea, for a reported British transfer record fee of £250,000, England has shone for Tottenham.
At times the team flirted with relegation last term with former boss Rehanne Skinner sacked after a run of nine successive losses
However England’s 12 goals in 12 games helped Spurs win their WSL survival fight whilst paving the way for the striker’s Lionesses recall. 
And her displays saw her finish as the third highest scorer in the league last term behind Khadija Shaw and Golden Boot winner Rachel Daly. 
England said: “It was a big risk, I’d been at Chelsea for seven years, that was a big part of my professional career.
“I didn’t really like the thought of change and it all happened so quickly. 
“I could have stayed at Chelsea, I could have stayed on the bench in my comfort zone.
“But then I’d have been watching other people going out there to Australia (to the World Cup) when I know that it’s something I would have regretted looking back on.
Sarina WiegmanCredit: Reuters
“At the back of my mind the World Cup was creeping up and I’d not been selected for a couple of camps leading into Christmas.
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“Every player wants to be part of these big moments representing your country, going to big tournaments 
“Change can be scary and I’ve never dealt well with change but luckily I hit the ground running and I’m just thankful that it turned out well.” More

ENGLAND are just a month away from beginning their bid to win the Women’s World Cup with the contest kicking off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand. A warm-up duel with Portugal on July 1 will be their final fixture on home soil before their tournament opener against Haiti 21 days later.
England wll face Haiti, Denmark and China in the World Cup’s group stagesCredit: Alamy
Lauren Hemp and other players from Sarina Wiegman’s squad have gathered for training at St George’s Park this weekCredit: Getty
Their clash with Portugal will be followed by a behind-closed-doors match against Canada on July 14.  
This year’s World Cup will kick-off with a tournament opener between Norway and contest co-hosts New Zealand.
A triumphant run would mark a huge milestone for the Lionesses. 
It would see the Euros champs become the first senior England side to win two major football tournaments back-to-back.
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Their rivals for the sport’s biggest prize includes four-time contest winners the United States.
The team are eyeing a World Cup three-peat having won the last two tournaments. 
Another major foe will be Germany who have been victorious in five of their last eight fixtures.
Results include a 2-1 friendly win against the USA last November. 
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Other favourites include France, Sweden, Spain, Canada and contest co-hosts Australia who ended England’s 30-game unbeaten run in April.
While the build-up to last summer’s Euros went smoothly, the run-up to this year’s World Cup has not been entirely plain sailing.
A club-vs-country row over the release of players for the June 19 start of their training camp threatened to disrupt their warm-up arrangements. 
The team are also without the services of Fran Kirby, skipper Leah Williamson and Euros Golden Boot winner Beth Mead.
All three are currently sidelined with knee injuries. 
But the squad have been boosted with Millie Bright on course to be tournament ready.  
How to watch England’s group stage fixtures
BBC and ITV are set to share TV coverage of all 64 World Cup games including England’s clashes with their group D rivals Haiti, Denmark and China. 
The Lionesses’ will face Haiti on July 22 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia with the game kicking off at 10:30 UK time. 
This will be followed by a July 28 clash with Denmark at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
They will then play China on August 1 at the Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide.
Pernille Harder and her Denmark team-mates will be England’s highest ranked opponents in the World Cup’s group stageCredit: Getty
Wiegman’s squad
The Lionesses 23-strong squad includes six aces playing at their first major tournament including Chelsea forward Lauren James
Esme Morgan, Niamh Charles, Katie Zelem, Laura Coombs and Katie Robinson make up England’s other major contest debutants. 
With Mead and Kirby absent Wiegman’s side will be without two of their biggest hitters in attack.
Last year’s Euros saw the duo notch up eight goals and seven assists combined in often used 4-2-3-1 formation 
Rachel Daly, Alessia Russo and Bethany England will among the stars Wiegman is likely to turn to for firepower in the number nine role. 
The trio were among the WSL’s top five scorers last term with Daly bagging 22 goals in 22 games and England notching 14 in 20 appearances.
Bethany England will be in contention for the Lionesses’ number 9 spot along with Rachel Daly and Alessia RussoCredit: Getty
In midfield Wiegman is likely to turn to Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh who started every game for the Lionesses during the Euros.  
Both have impressed winning silverware during their debut seasons at Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
In defence Bright has started in almost every game under Wiegman when fit. 
The centre-back is hoping to be match ready for the World Cup following a surgical procedure on a knee injury sustained in March. 
Bright, who will captain the Lionesses, is likely to be partnered by Alex Greenwood in central defence.
Bronze and Jess Carter are like to start at full-back with Mary Earps in goal following a season that saw her keep 14 clean sheets in 22 WSL games.
England’s warm-up duel with Portugal could see Wiegman experiment and test out back-up plans in defence.
Fans may see Esme Morgan and Lotte Wubben-Moy given run outs as well as Chelsea’s Niamh Charles. 
England’s record under Wiegman
Under Wiegman England have notched up some memorable wins against heavyweights such as Germany, Spain and Sweden.
They raced to a 30-game unbeaten streak conceding just twice in six games at the Euros.
Sarina Wiegman led the Netherlands to the 2019 World Cup final prior to taking charge of the LionessesCredit: PA
And they triumphed in the first Women’s Finalissima beating Brazil via a penalty shootout in March.
However their winning run ended in April when they fell to a 2-0 friendly loss to World Cup co-hosts Australia.
They will be eager to return to winning ways when they take on Portugal at Stadium MK on Saturday 1.

Ticket sales 
The number of tickets flogged so far for this year’s showpiece has eclipsed the amount sold for the 2019 tournament in France. 
According to Fifa more than a million have been shifted with a month to go before the contest’s opening clash between Norway and co-hosts New Zealand.  More