Sarina Wiegman’s team selection is relatively consistent, but she often springs surprises with her squad choices — those on the fringes drop in and out regularly as she assesses the quality and character of players who previously seemed like outsiders.
So, with six months to go until England begin the defence of their European Championship, here is an attempt to work out Wiegman’s pecking order: which players are definitely in the starting XI, who are fighting for a spot on the plane, and those more obscure options that might vaguely be in her thoughts.
1 Keira Walsh
Unquestionably England’s most important player, to the extent that coping with the opposition’s ‘man-marking’ of her is often the team’s main tactical task. The injury she suffered midway through the World Cup 18 months ago forced Wiegman into a complete system change, underling the fact England have no obvious replacement for her qualities.
2 Georgia Stanway
A more complete midfielder these days after two years playing for Bayern Munich, Stanway was a late addition to England’s starting XI for Euro 2022 but has been undroppable ever since, in part because central midfield is this squad’s main weakness. England’s regular penalty taker, Stanway might even drop into the deeper role if her former Manchester City team-mate Walsh suffers another injury.
3 Alessia Russo
Among the established options, Russo was the big winner of 2024. She played excellently at the World Cup, of course, but this year has been boosted by the international retirement of Rachel Daly in April, leaving her as the only experienced option up front. She’s also in the form of her life at club level with Arsenal, hitting 10 goals in 11 games since the appointment of Renee Slegers, who seems more committed to Russo than predecessor Jonas Eidevall, who sometimes favoured his Swedish compatriot Stina Blackstenius. Even when England struggled to create chances in November’s goalless draw with the United States at Wembley, Russo ran the channels well and caused Naomi Girma problems.
4 Lauren Hemp
Injured for the past couple of months, an in-form Hemp is England’s most direct wide option. She was outstanding in the knockout phase at the World Cup, hitting the crossbar in the 1-0 final defeat against Spain, and was also impressive during the Euros qualifiers last summer. Wiegman has often turned to her as a makeshift centre-forward, too, which seems particularly useful given the lack of options in that part of the pitch.
5 Lucy Bronze
She is now 33, but Bronze’s place at right-back has rarely been in doubt. Wiegman hugely admires her competitive spirit and leadership qualities, and while it’s questionable whether Bronze can still motor up and down the flank for 90 minutes, she’s highly likely to be in England’s starting XI when the tournament kicks off in Switzerland in July.
6 Leah Williamson
Yet to recapture her best form since the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury that forced her to miss the 2023 World Cup. Seemingly lacking a yard of speed and often sloppy on the ball, she made two near-identical mistakes that led to concessions in the October friendlies against Germany and South Africa. The Arsenal defender remains England captain, and Wiegman is still a huge fan, but her place is no longer entirely secure.
Leah Williamson’s place might not be as secure as it once was (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
7 Beth Mead
After missing the World Cup through injury, Mead has regained her place in England’s starting XI. Others are quicker or more spectacular, but in terms of tactical intelligence and goalscoring from wide, Mead remains the most reliable option. Was used on the left in that recent match against the USWNT, but is more likely to feature on the right.
8 Mary Earps
This time last year, Earps would have been in the top three of this list. She followed a fine Euro 2022 with a brilliant season for Manchester United, conceding only 12 goals in the 22 Women’s Super League matches, and then another excellent tournament at the World Cup, which led to her winning the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award. But last season, Earps conceded 32 times in the WSL — partly a reflection of United’s poor performance rather than her own, though mistakes started to creep into her own game. Now playing for Paris Saint-Germain, she’s not entirely certain of her England place, but remains the most likely goalkeeper to start.
9 Jess Carter
England’s most consistent defender on the ground, and capable of playing anywhere across the back line. She prefers centre-back to full-back, although there’s a decent chance she’ll be used on the left. There are better defenders on the ball, but against top-quality attackers, Carter is a secure option.
10 Millie Bright
Fitness problems leading up to the World Cup meant she struggled in terms of mobility during the tournament. But under new head coach Sonia Bompastor, she hasn’t missed a minute for Chelsea in the WSL this season and is likely to lift the champions’ trophy as their captain yet again in May. Bright is England’s best defender in an aerial sense, and also a useful Plan B up front. But the fact Wiegman tried Alex Greenwood alongside Williamson against the U.S. suggests they could play without her.
11 Niamh Charles
Outstanding throughout 2023-24 for Chelsea at left-back, she seemed to have established herself in that role for England too. But a shoulder injury meant she missed the first three months of the current season, and while gradually making her comeback, she still hasn’t started a WSL game in it.
12 Alex Greenwood
When everyone is fit, Greenwood is seemingly on the fringes of the starting XI despite being England’s most consistent performer at the 2023 World Cup. Performed well when given a chance earlier this month, but then underwent surgery on a medial collateral ligament injury to her knee shortly before Christmas. Greenwood is not expected to miss the Euros but recovering from that operation will disrupt her season and therefore she might find herself behind others in the pecking order.
13 Ella Toone
Remains a Wiegman favourite, and in matches where England are assured of control in midfield, she’s the perfect candidate for the top of the triangle to push into the box and try to get goals. When not scoring, however, she often isn’t particularly prominent, and now others are challenging for her position.
14 Lauren James
Perhaps the most talented player at Wiegman’s disposal, and seemed set to explode into a global superstar midway through the World Cup until her red card against Nigeria. There’s still a sense Wiegman isn’t fully satisfied with James’ play out of possession, and injury means she has missed almost the whole first half of Bompastor’s first season at Chelsea. Could be a regular option from the bench.
Lauren James’ World Cup campaign was affected by her dismissal against Nigeria (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
15 Jess Park
Has the potential to be one of the most exciting midfielders in Europe, and is excellent at driving forward with the ball. A start against the U.S. in an advanced role — almost as a second striker — showed she has a serious chance of breaking into the XI, although she was a little safe with her passing and is at her best when being more aggressive.
16 Hannah Hampton
Now clearly Chelsea’s No 1 and has received opportunities for England too — showing that Earps’ place is not assured. But conceding four times in the 4-3 home defeat against Germany in October will not have helped her case, even if only one of the goals — Klara Buhl’s near-post drive — could truly be considered her fault.
17 Grace Clinton
Another candidate for the advanced midfield role, and three goals from her first five caps show the Manchester United 21-year-old is comfortable in an England shirt. Needs to improve out of possession, which isn’t surprising at her age and position, but has the potential to be one of the tournament’s breakout players.
18 Chloe Kelly
By this point, you would expect her to be a regular, but England’s matchwinner in the Euro 2022 final has only started one WSL game this season, and Wiegman tends to prefer those who are playing regularly for their club. Kelly is perhaps the most difficult player to place on this list; if she returns to form, she could have a major impact in Switzerland, but if she goes another few months without starting for Manchester City, she might be fighting for her place in the squad.
19 Aggie Beever-Jones
Seems set to explode into a top-class attacker at some point, although is most regularly used as a substitute for Chelsea and it remains to be seen where she ends up in terms of position. Still, there’s an attacking slot up for grabs, and she might just claim it.
20 Fran Kirby
Looked devastated when she picked up a calf injury towards the end of that goalless draw with the U.S. in late November. Has been in decent form since moving to Brighton & Hove Albion from Chelsea in the summer, but given her fitness problems over recent years, you have to view others as more likely to start for England this summer.
21 Esme Morgan
We know Wiegman will pick four of the six aforementioned defenders — notwithstanding injuries — and the backups are going to be selected as much for their character as their footballing ability. Morgan is one of the England setup’s most likeable players and last summer swapped a substitute’s role with Manchester City for what became a run to the 2024 NWSL final with the Washington Spirit, which probably helps her chances of selection.
22 Maya Le Tissier
Followers of Manchester United are convinced she deserves a chance at centre-back, but with other options in that position, Wiegman seemingly views her primarily as a backup to Bronze on the right of England’s defence.
23 Ellie Roebuck
Recently played her first game for Barcelona — and, more importantly, her first game for 19 months since suffering a stroke when at Manchester City. Was part of the Euro 2022 squad alongside Earps and Hampton, and if she receives a decent amount of playing time for Europe’s dominant club, she will surely be part of the Euro 2025 one too.
24 Ruby Mace
A strong, solid holding midfielder who performed well on debut in the 1-0 win over Switzerland last month. England lack options in that position, so the Leicester City player has a good chance of making the squad.
25 Anna Moorhouse
The 29-year-old goalkeeper had a tremendous 2024, winning the NWSL title with Orlando Pride, and has been a regular in recent England squads without earning a cap. However, she is battling Roebuck for the third-choice role.
26 Laura Blindkilde Brown
An outstanding talent and deservedly capped in recent months, although this tournament might come slightly too soon for the Manchester City 21-year-old, given England have plenty of attacking midfielders.
27 Jessica Naz
She isn’t particularly clinical in the final third for Tottenham Hotspur, but Wiegman likes her speed and tactical discipline, and was complimentary about her performance when she started on the right against the U.S. just over a month ago. If Kelly continues to struggle for club minutes, Naz could squeak into the squad.
28 Millie Turner
A substitute against Italy in February and a starter against Switzerland in December — when her header hit the post and led to Clinton’s winner. Solid enough, but England have other defensive options.
29 Lotte Wubben-Moy
A hugely popular squad member who was in excellent form for Arsenal in the first half of 2024, but seems to be on the fringes of the England squad, with lots of competition for places at centre-back.
30 Bethany England
A late substitute in the World Cup final, when the side desperately needed a penalty-box presence as they chased an equaliser in the closing stages. Wiegman seems to have moved on since then, and other strikers offer more all-round qualities, but she may come back into contention if rivals suffer injury, especially as only three players — Russo, Chelsea’s Guro Reiten and Khadija Shaw of Manchester City — have more WSL goals this season.
Bethany England was barely used by Wiegman at the 2023 World Cup (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
31 Gabby George
Started at left wing-back against Switzerland, which was her first cap in six years, but is surely relying on injuries elsewhere to make the Euros squad.
32 Khiara Keating
Briefly seemed set to challenge to become England’s first-choice goalkeeper, but isn’t always starting at Manchester City this season, and still hasn’t won a full cap. She is only 20 though, so her time will come.
33 Missy Bo Kearns
The Aston Villa midfielder has been performing well for England Under-23s, but is now set for a few weeks out after surgery on a foot problem.
34 Katie Robinson
Travelled to the World Cup, effectively as a replacement on the right for Mead, and is a good crosser. Others offer more dynamic qualities, however, and she’s fallen behind Naz — and perhaps others.
35 Katie Zelem
In a short space of time during 2023, she wore the England captain’s armband and was left out of a squad entirely, so it’s always been difficult to work out precisely what Wiegman thinks of her. But having not been involved for over a year, and having moved to the NWSL, where the season ended in late November and doesn’t resume until March, she is unlikely to play her way back into contention at this stage.
36 Nikita Parris
Was part of the Euros-winning squad, but moves to Arsenal and then Manchester United didn’t rejuvenate her career. The 30-year-old is in decent form now for Brighton, but Wiegman seems likely to favour younger options as her attacking backups.
37 Annabel Blanchard
Has been Crystal Palace’s liveliest attacking option in their debut WSL campaign, and may push for inclusion in the future.
38 Jordan Nobbs
Still a crowd favourite, and England aren’t overloaded with midfield options, but Nobbs isn’t a holding player, and Villa haven’t been in good form this season, so it’s difficult to see a way back in.
39 Laura Coombs
Slightly surprisingly found herself heavily involved at the World Cup, but there’s been little sign she is still on Wiegman’s radar, especially as she hasn’t started for Manchester City this season.
40 Rachel Daly
Yes, she retired from international football last year and received a nice send-off before the U.S. game. But if Russo was to get injured, England would be badly short of an experienced centre-forward option, and Wiegman would surely get in touch and ask if she fancied one final tournament.
41 Lucy Parker
Villa defender who received a call-up to the October squad, so is clearly in Wiegman’s thoughts, but it would surely take several injuries for her to make the final 23 going to Switzerland.
42 Lucy Staniforth
In the preliminary squad for both Euro 2022 and World Cup 2023, but was cut from both at the last minute.
43 Lucy Thomas
The Birmingham City goalkeeper was with the squad in the summer, but there are too many other options for her to make it.
44 Isobel Goodwin
Second-top goalscorer in the second-tier Championship last season with Sheffield United and top goalscorer in the same division this season for London City Lionesses. Only just turned 22, but England lack options up front. So who knows?
45 Anouk Denton
Versatile defensive option, although not helped by West Ham United’s poor start to the season.
46 Ebony Salmon
Was once a regular in Wiegman’s squads as the third-choice striker, but hasn’t pushed on and seems to have fallen out of favour.
47 Olivia McLoughlin
It’s not impossible that England get a couple of midfield injuries in the run-up to the tournament and have to think left-field. In this case, Wiegman could turn her attention north of the border, to Rangers’ McLoughlin.
48 Kayla Rendell
Another young goalkeeper who received a call-up during 2024, but remains in the Championship with Southampton and does not seem a realistic option at this stage.
49 Poppy Pattinson
If anyone is to come from nowhere to make the squad, it’s probably at left-back — and the Brighton defender has been regularly involved with England Under-23s in recent years.
50 Alexia Potter
Palace’s 18-year-old Chelsea loanee has looked comfortable in the WSL this season in a box-to-box midfield role — but realistically she is one for the future.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
