Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

England without Keira Walsh, Beth England for Nations League fixtures

sportsmole.co.uk, 13 September 2023, 15:50
England Women head coach Sarina Wiegman has confirmed a 24-strong squad for the Lionesses' upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures.

The inaugural edition of the women's tournament will see England take on Belgium Women, Netherlands Women and Scotland Women in League A Group 1, where the winner will advance to February's finals.

England will commence their bid for Nations League glory against Scotland at the Stadium of Light on September 22, four days before a showdown with the Netherlands at the Stadion Galgenwaard in Utrecht.

As expected, Wiegman has selected almost every member of England's troupe from the recent World Cup, where the Lionesses reached the final for the first time before being beaten 1-0 by Spain.

However, Keira Walsh and Bethany England are notable absentees due to injury, while neither Beth Mead nor Fran Kirby have been deemed ready for a return to international football either.

Walsh memorably sustained a severe-looking knee injury against Denmark in the World Cup group stage, and there were concerns that the Barcelona midfielder had become the latest high-profile female player to sustain an ACL injury.

Walsh's problem did not prove as serious as first feared, but the 26-year-old has now picked up a minor calf injury, while Tottenham Hotspur striker England recently underwent surgery on a hip problem.

Meanwhile, both Mead and Kirby are starting to be re-integrated into the first team for Arsenal and Chelsea respectively, but September's matches come too soon for both players to be involved.

The four members of the England squad who earned nominations for the Ballon d'Or Feminin - Mary Earps, Rachel Daly, Millie Bright and Georgia Stanway - have unsurprisingly all made the cut.

"Keira [Walsh] has a small calf injury, just too short to come into camp, not major but she's not ready to play. Bethany England's is a little longer," Wiegman told reporters at a press conference.

"Of course we have taken injuries into consideration, Beth Mead was in the Arsenal squad, but she still has a while. Fran [Kirby] is really close, she's been playing some friendlies. I am looking forward to see them play but that will be after this international break."

With Walsh out of contention, Aston Villa's Lucy Staniforth - who did make the journey Down Under - is included, while fellow reserve Maya Le Tissier is also involved alongside Jess Park, who withdrew from the World Cup with an injury.

"They did really well. Of course they went with the team to Australia (on standby) so we were 25, they have been great team players," Wiegman said of Staniforth and Le Tissier.

"They were really good on the pitch too. They have had good preparations with their clubs. When the opportunity comes they'll be ready."

While the winners of Group A will progress to the four-team finals, the third-placed nation will enter the relegation playoffs, while the basement side will suffer immediate demotion to League B.

Top News

7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund have progressed to the Champions League final after beating Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One week on from an engrossing 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich reunite for the return fixture at the Bernabeu on Wednesday. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have confirmed that Thiago Silva will leave the club to join Fluminense at the end of the season. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jose Mourinho reportedly wants to replace Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager this summer. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly prepared to sell Emerson Royal for £20m during this summer's transfer window. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With one foot in the Europa League final, unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen host Roma on Thursday evening, as they conclude their semi-final tie at the BayArena. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A place in the Europa League final will be at stake when Atalanta BC welcome Marseille to Bergamo on Thursday, with their semi-final tie finely poised after last week's first leg. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have reportedly taken a difference stance regarding the future of one of their defenders. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Four Premier League giants have reportedly joined the race for Club Brugge attacker Antonio Nusa this summer. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest have failed with their appeal against a four-point deduction for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly decided against sacking manager Erik ten Hag ahead of this month's FA Cup final versus Manchester City. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit, Aston Villa travel to Piraeus to lock horns with Olympiacos in the second leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final on Thursday night. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The 2023-24 campaign has almost drawn to a close and clubs across the world will soon be shifting their attention towards the summer transfer window. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk It is as you were in terms of the Premier League title race following this weekend's enthralling action, as Arsenal earned a 3-0 triumph over Bournemouth to remain one point clear at the top of the standings. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Euro 2024 is nearly upon us and one of the tournament favourites England will soon be gearing up for their opening group-stage fixture against Serbia on June 16. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The 17th edition of the European Championships is nearly upon us, with host nation Germany and 23 other teams competing for continental glory this summer. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool reportedly have no plans to entertain the sale of Darwin Nunez during the summer transfer window. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly identified a goalkeeper currently competing in La Liga as a potential upgrade on Robert Sanchez. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid and Bayern Munich do battle in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A place in the 2023-24 Champions League final is up for grabs when Real Madrid play host to Bayern Munich in the second leg of their semi-final clash at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night. 7 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The agent of Barcelona forward Vitor Roque has suggested his client will seek a permanent move if he fails to secure regular playing time. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly held talks with the representatives of Real Madrid forward Joselu. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United equalled an unwanted defensive record in the heavy 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham and Ipswich Town are reportedly both interested in signing Coventry City midfielder Ben Sheaf this summer. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace completed their first-ever Premier League double over Manchester United in astonishing style as they decimated the woeful Red Devils 4-0 at Selhurst Park. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sporting Lisbon forward Viktor Gyokeres has refused to rule out a summer departure amid interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly decided against signing Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix on a permanent deal. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City head coach Enzo Maresca is reportedly attracting interest from La Liga. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly added Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy to their potential list of striker targets.
Sat 11 May, 16:00
A
Napoli Napoli
-
sch
Bologna Bologna
Sun 12 May, 10:30
A
Lazio Lazio
-
sch
Empoli Empoli