WIEGMAN’S FIFA FURY
Lionesses World Cup plans hit by clubs’ refusal to release stars
ENGLAND’S World Cup preparations are in jeopardy with some clubs refusing to release players in time for manager Sarina Wiegman’s desired start date.
The Lionesses’ boss had wanted all of her players in camp by June 19 but several clubs will not make their stars available until four days later, which is a date that has been agreed by the European Club Association and FIFA.
Bayern Munich, who have midfielder Georgia Stanway, have publicly said they will not release players before the agreed date while leading English sides are also reluctant to do so. Mail Sport understands Manchester United would allow players to join camps from June 19, but only if other clubs are willing to do the same. Players would also have to agree to participate.
Wiegman, who named her 23-player squad for the tournament yesterday, insisted she has had her plans in place since November and is unhappy with the late proposals.
‘Of course, that’s frustrating because we have all our plans and we thought we were all set and then like a month ago, all of a
sudden, dd things thi change. h We W didn’t did ’t expect that, it is so late.
‘We’re all set and a month before we start, it all changes. That’s frustrating and it’s hard too because I think this is not the time to do this. It’s a time to do that later and solve it after this tournament. I still hope we can negotiate.’
Wiegman also said that if England are delayed in starting their camp they may not be able to have a send- off game before they fly to Australia on July 5.
‘If we start on the 19th we have enough days to get ready for such a game, if we start later then the players are even longer out from football and then you have too short a time to get ready for a fixture. I just hope we can do that and play that fixture but I can’t say anything about that now.’
Wiegman Wi confirmed fi d that th t Millie Milli Bright will captain England in Australia and New Zealand, in the absence of Leah Williamson who is out with an ACL injury. It is still unclear whether FIFA will allow Bright to wear the ‘One Love’ anti- discrimination armband that Harry Kane was blocked from displaying in Qatar.
Beth Mead was the biggest omission from Wiegman’s squad, with the Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner deemed not fit enough after suffering an ACL injury in November. Wiegman said it would have been ‘naive’ to risk taking the Arsenal forward.
Williamson and Mead are two of seven changes from the Euros-winning squad. Fran Kirby was also ruled out with a knee injury and Ellen White and Jill Scott have retired, while Nikita
Parris and Demi Stokes were not selected.
Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier was a surprise omission, with Wiegman opting to take Manchester City’s Esme Morgan instead. Le Tissier was one of the stand-out performers in a United defence that conceded just 12 goals in 22 league games.
The centre back has been listed as a standby player alongside Jess Park and goalkeeper Emily Ramsey.
Tottenham striker Bethany England was recalled despite not having been selected since September. The forward forced her way into Wiegman’s squad with a strong second half of the season, scoring 12 goals in 12 league games after joining Spurs from Chelsea in January.
There was finally some joy for Jordan Nobbs, who missed the last two tournaments with knee injuries. The midfielder has been in and out of squads under Wiegman but the England boss has been impressed with her performances since a January move from Arsenal to Aston Villa.
There was no recall, however, for former captain Steph Houghton.
The City defender was left out of the Euros squad last summer and has never played a game under Wiegman.