Toone recalled to England squad as Bronze withdraws — SkimNews
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- Ella Toone received a late call-up to the England squad for the Women's World Cup play-off against Greece after being omitted from the initial squad alongside Arsenal winger Chloe Kelly.
- Head coach Sarina Wiegman told BBC Radio 5 Live that Toone's reaction to being dropped — booking an individual training camp in Spain — showed 'resilience and grit' and prompted the swift recall.
- Toone has scored 24 goals in 69 senior England appearances, won Euro 2022 and Euro 2025, and started the 2023 World Cup final defeat by Spain.
- Lucy Bronze withdrew to manage a minor injury sustained in Chelsea's league match against West Ham and will return to her club, leaving a hole in England's defence for the first leg.
- The first leg is Friday at the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion, Crete; the second leg is Tuesday 13 October at Leicester City's King Power Stadium.
- Winners advance to a two-leg play-off against either Slovakia or Ukraine on 26 November and 5 December, with the prize a place at next year's Women's World Cup in Brazil (24 June – 25 July).
Why it matters: Bronze's withdrawal weakens England's defence ahead of a must-win qualifier, but Toone's instant recall — earned by self-organizing her own training camp within days of being dropped — rewards professionalism with selection. Both legs against Greece must be navigated before a tougher November tie against Slovakia or Ukraine decides a 2027 World Cup berth.
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