Sarina Wigman faces several mysteries as she plans to announce her World Cup squad on Wednesday. Credit: Getty Images/Naomi Baker
Sarina Wigman will announce her roster of 23 players for the Women's World Championship this summer at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, 50 days before the start of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
< p>The Lionesses head coach will make his announcement at Boldmere St. Michaels FC, a 140-year-old community club in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, where Wigman hopes to shed light on the grassroots game. And before that, the coach, who has won the European Championship twice, will have some difficult decisions to make.
Forwards: will Bethany England be recalled?
Among the mysteries faced by Wigman, who usually uses a 4–2 formation. System -3-1 or 4-3-2-1 – whether to take three central forwards to this tournament or only two extreme nines. The latter is what she did in the April friendly matches against Brazil and Australia, when only Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly were called up.
It is widely believed that Bethany England will be selected after she scored 12 goals in 12 games of the Women's Super League since her January move to Tottenham Hotspur from Chelsea. However, she has not played for her country since September and was an unused substitute throughout last summer's Euros.
Houston Dash Ebony also competes and may have something else to offer ahead, but she has only been given 62 minutes of international football in three substitute matches since Wigman took over in 2021.
Will Bethany England jump for joy when Wigman announces his line-up on Wednesday? Credit: Getty Images Wingers: Will Wigman take risks with Beth Meade?
Arsenal's Beth Mead remains doubtful of World Cup opportunities after she has not played since torn her anterior cruciate ligament in late November. Mead said she was “ahead of schedule” in her recovery, but Wigman will have to decide whether to bet on the Euro Golden Boot winner's readiness for the tournament.
If Meade is not selected, the young Brighton Kathy Robinson and more experienced Manchester United player Nikita Parris look like two players vying for the fourth winger spot in the team. Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly and Lauren James are sure they are on a plane.
Goalkeepers: Who will get the third choice?
Mary Earps is confident in her place in the team, along with Manchester City's Ellie Roebuck, but now that Sandy McIver has been ruled out of the World Cup, Wigman must choose a third player.
That's right. It is expected to be a straight choice between Aston Villa's Hannah Hampton and Emily Ramsey, who was loaned to Everton from Manchester United.
Centre-backs: who will replace Leah Williamson in the squad?
England suffered a devastating blow in April when captain Leah Williamson was ruled out of the World Cup with an ACL injury. By losing their talisman leader, they also lost one of the best centre-backs in the game.
Chelsea's Millie Bright is also currently sidelined with a short-term knee problem, although she is expected to be named in Wigman's squad on Wednesday. Alex Greenwood and Jess Carter, who can play both left and centre-back, are sure to be included, but there are other centre-backs.
Manchester United's Maya Le Tissier was one of the stars of the WSL season and certainly deserves the challenge of being an integral part of the team with the strongest defensive record in the league this season.
Arsenal's Lotte Wubben-Moy, Manchester City's Esme Morgan and West Ham defender Lucy Parker will also be part of the conversation, but can Wigman choose a big, experienced name and surprise everyone by resembling former England captain Steph Houghton? /p>
The 35-year-old Manchester City centre-back with 121 caps has not played for his country since 2021 and her international career began during this period, but her experience in major tournaments can play into her on hand.
< img src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/e0658c1496f6fd2129fe1410fa023e55.jpg" />Steph Houghton has not played for England since 2021 but could be a seasoned response to the challenges Wigman faces in defence. Photo: Getty Images/Richard Heathcote Left-back: Should England move behind cover?
With Greenwood likely to be deployed as a left centre-back in the starting line-up in July in place of Williamson, this leaves Wigman with food for thought on the left's position defender, with whom Jess Carter started in the last match of the England team. /p>
Rachel Daley started every game of last year's Euros at left back, but her exploits winning the WSL Golden Boot for this season's front-runners Aston Villa mean Wigman could face backlash from some fans if she decides to bring Daley back to left back position. back on the defensive.
Chelsea's Niamh Charles will be in a strong opposition as she is able to play on either wing, while Aston Villa's Maz Pacheco has the most interceptions (49) of any player WSL this season.< /p>
It all depends on whether Wigman thinks that Greenwood, Carter and Daley will be a good left-back three, or if one more is needed, because these three can play in different positions.
Central midfielder: Who will support Walsh and Stanway?< p>Wigman's favorite pairing in the center of England's midfield is a world-class team, with Barcelona's Kira Walsh in a pivot role and Bayern's Georgia Stanway moving forward a little further. But who will duplicate this duo within the team and offer fresh energy from the bench in World Cup games?
Manchester City's Laura Coombs, Manchester United's Cathy Zelem and Aston Villa's Jordan Nobbs are in a tough feud, but Wigman may decide at 23 she doesn't have room for all three. A likely start at number 10 could give Nobbs a better chance due to her more offensive qualities.
Aston Villa& #39; Jordan Nobbs is a serious contender for the summer tournament. form for Aston Villa and be able to perform the more defensive functions required for the Walsh role.
Estimated 23-man Wigman line-up:
Goalkeepers: Earps, Roebuck, Hampton
Defenders: Bronze, Bright, Greenwood, Carter, Le Tissier, Wubben-Moy, Charles, Morgan
Linebackers: Walsh, Stanway, Thun, Nobbs, Coombs, Park
Forwards: Russo, Daly, James, Kelly, Hemp, Robinson
Reserves: Ramsey (GK), Parker, Parris , Salmon
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