England squad for Euro 2025: Wiegman to name her final Lionesses 23 – live

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"Sarina Wiegman to Announce England Squad for Euro 2025 Amid Key Player Departures"

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TruthLens AI Summary

Sarina Wiegman is set to announce the final 23-player squad for the England Lionesses ahead of the Euro 2025 tournament in Switzerland. The squad will see significant changes from the team that triumphed at the Euro 2022. Notably, the former No. 1 goalkeeper Mary Earps has announced her retirement from international duty, leaving Hannah Hampton as the primary choice in goal, despite her lack of experience in major tournaments. Wiegman faces a dilemma in selecting the remaining goalkeepers, with 20-year-old Khiara Keating and 30-year-old Anna Moorhouse, both of whom have not yet earned caps for the national team. The decision is complicated by Earps' unexpected withdrawal and the uncertainty surrounding the fitness of other players, including Chelsea forward Lauren James, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since April. Wiegman has expressed optimism about James' recovery but has not confirmed her readiness for the tournament.

The squad announcement comes after a challenging period for the England camp, marked by the retirements of key players Fran Kirby and Millie Bright, the latter prioritizing her mental and physical health. Wiegman is tasked with integrating younger talents into the squad, such as Brighton's Michelle Agyemang, who made a notable impact during her brief appearances. As the Lionesses prepare to defend their European title, Wiegman must carefully weigh the inclusion of experienced players against promising newcomers, especially in light of recent departures and injuries. The final squad will be revealed at 2 PM BST today, and fans are eager to see how Wiegman navigates these critical decisions to form a competitive team for the upcoming championship.

TruthLens AI Analysis

The announcement of the England squad for Euro 2025 is timely and highlights key changes in the team composition, particularly in the goalkeeping department. This shift invites scrutiny over the team's preparation and strategy ahead of a major tournament.

Focus on Goalkeeping Changes

The retirement of Mary Earps significantly alters the goalkeeping landscape for the Lionesses. With Hannah Hampton now positioned as the primary option, the selection of her backup becomes crucial. The mention of Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse, both lacking international experience, raises questions about the team's depth in this critical position. The article suggests a potential lack of readiness, as none of the goalkeepers have competed in a major tournament, which could be a point of concern for fans and analysts alike.

Comparison with Previous Squad

The article effectively contrasts the current squad with the one from the 2023 World Cup. This comparison not only emphasizes the changes but also sets expectations for performance. Highlighting the players who are unavailable due to injury or retirement underscores the challenges Wiegman faces in maintaining the team's competitive edge. The absence of familiar names could lead to uncertainty among supporters regarding the team's chances in Euro 2025.

Public Perception and Expectations

The article aims to build anticipation and interest in the upcoming tournament. By noting England's status as a team to beat, it cultivates a sense of pride and expectation among fans. The reference to the newsletter and power rankings indicates a strategy to engage the audience further, encouraging them to follow the team's progress and stay informed. This aligns with the broader goal of promoting women's football and fostering community support.

Potential Risks and Concerns

While the article presents a generally positive view of the squad, it also highlights potential vulnerabilities. The reliance on young, inexperienced goalkeepers could be a significant risk in high-stakes matches, which may lead to public scrutiny if performances do not meet expectations. The underlying message suggests a balancing act between hope and caution as the team prepares for Euro 2025.

Analysis of Trustworthiness

The article provides factual information regarding the squad selection and contextualizes it within the framework of prior tournaments. However, the emphasis on the challenges faced by the team, particularly in goalkeeping, suggests a need for careful monitoring of public sentiment. Overall, while the information is largely reliable, the framing and focus on certain aspects may indicate an intention to guide public perception in a specific direction.

Unanalyzed Article Content

Goalkeepers:Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, Anna Moorhouse

Defenders:Lucy Bronze, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Alex Greenwood, Leah Williamson

Midfielders:Grace Clinton, Jess Park, Ella Toone, Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh

Forwards:Lauren Hemp, Beth Mead, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Aggie Beever-Jones, Michelle Agyemang, Alessia Russo

We are less than 10 minutes awayfrom the official squad announcement. For comparison, this was the squad that Wiegman named for the 2023 World Cup, the last major tournament. Players italicised will not be available for selection this time around.

Goalkeepers:Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Ellie Roebuck

Defenders:Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Lotte Wubben-Moy

Midfielders:Laura Coombs, Jordan Nobbs, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Katie Zelem, Kiera Walsh

Forwards:Rachel Daly, Beth England, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Katie Robinson, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo

England go into Euro 2025 as one of the teams to beat.But who is their biggest competition? And who might they have an easier time against? Sophie Downey has the latest Euro power rankings in our latest Moving the Goalposts newsletter.

Here is what she wrote about the Lionesses:

Find out what position Wiegman’s side is in and more below.

And make sure to sign up for ourFREEwomen’s football newsletter for a roundup in your inbox every week if you have not already.

Decision No 3: how many keepers?

Earps’s retirement has thrown a spanner in the works for a position which is usually pretty easy to predict before a major tournament.

Hampton is the undeniable No 1 now despite never playing a major tournament. That leaves Keating – the 20-year-old is on the come up but has captured attention for her form at Manchester City and Moorhouse – the 30-year-old who plays for the Orlando Pride in the NWSL.

Both have 0 appearances at international level. Will Wiegman opt to give one of their spots to an outfield player?

Barcelona’s Ellie Roebuck has 11 appearances for England but having not been a No 1 keeper at Barcelona, her current club, she is out of contention.

Decision No 2: Michelle Agyemang

The case for: The Brighton forward is one of England’s most exciting prospects. At the last international break, Agyemang moved from the Under-19s to the senior squad, replacing an injured Alessia Russo. She came off the bench while England was losing to Belgium and within 41 seconds, she scored. She offers something different from her teammates

The case against: The 19-year-old lacks experience and with Wiegman losing three senior players already, will she prioritise fringe players who have been at a major tournament before?

Other youngsters shooting for a spot in the squad are midfielders Laura Blindkilde Brown and Missy Bo Kearns. The former has played once for England, starting in a 1-0 win over Switzerland in December while the latter made her debut two days ago against Spain off the bench.

Decision No 1: Lauren James

The case for: The Chelsea forward has been a star for England making her mark at the World Cup with three goals and three assists despite being banned for two of the knockout matches.

The case against: A hamstring injury while on international duty with England has kept James on the sidelines since April. Will Wiegman risk taking someone that is not fully fit to the tournament?

Wiegman has said she is optimistic James can be fit this summer but has been coy about the timeline of her return leaving doubts.

Focus now turns to todayfor Wiegman who has had the Nations League to figure out the best squad to take. Before England’s loss to Spain on Tuesday night, the England head coach said that while she is a while away from knowing her starting XI for the tournament, she was pretty certain which 23 would be on the plane to Switzerland.

Let’s take a look at some of the key decisions she will have made for this squad.

And yesterday the vice-captain Millie Bright withdrew from contentionfor the tournament opting to prioritise her physical and mental health.

All three of Earps, Kirby and Bright started every game of the Lionesses’ run to Euro 2022 glory.

Straight afterEngland’s loss to Spain inthe Nations LeagueFran Kirby announced her retirement from the setup after learning after learning that she would be part of the squad this summer.

In interviews with the BBC and ESPN the 31-year-old midfielder explained that she had already been planning to retire after Euro 2025 but she brought the decision forward.

It has been a tumultuous 10 days for the England camp.Earps had discussions with Wiegman about retiring from international duty for 12 to 18 months and despite being asked to reconsider, the goalkeeper shocked her teammates by stepping aside with immediate effect.

Hampton has emerged as Wiegman’s new No 1 but Earps’s departure does leave the England squad with two uncapped goalkeepers heading to Switzerland in Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse.

Today is the big day. Sarina Wiegman will name 23 England players for their title defence at the 2025 European Championships in Switzerland from St George’s Park.

Wiegman will be taking a very different side to Switzerland than the one that triumphed on home soil in 2022. The former No 1 Mary Earps announced her shock retirement after being told she would have been backup goalkeeper to Hannah Hampton at the tournament. Fran Kirby also announced her retirement from international duty after being told she would not be selected before the vice-captain Millie Bright withdrew herself from contention, citing physical and mental burnout.

The announcement will be made at 2pm BST. And, as always, feel free tosend me an emailwith your thoughts, questions, predictions and musings.

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Source: The Guardian