Wiegman drops Toone and Kelly from Lionesses squad — SkimNews
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- Sarina Wiegman omitted Manchester United's Ella Toone, 27, and Arsenal's Chloe Kelly, 28, from the 23-player Lionesses squad, telling BBC Radio 5 Live they have "not been playing to their potential" despite starring in the Euro 2022 and Euro 2025 title wins.
- Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones and Arsenal duo Lotte Wubben-Moy and Taylor Hinds also missed out on selection for the Greece play-off double-header.
- Captain Leah Williamson returns to the squad after missing the June 4-0 defeat by Spain and 3-0 win over Ukraine, with Wiegman praising her strong recent form and visible happiness.
- Lexi Potter, 20, received her first senior England call-up after starting three of Chelsea's opening four WSL matches, with Wiegman highlighting her "courage," technical ability, and composure in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday.
- Uncapped trio Erica Meg Parkinson (18, North Carolina Courage), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses) and Grace Fisk (Liverpool) were also named, alongside injury-returned Manchester City full-back Niamh Charles.
- England face Greece first in Crete on Friday, 9 October (17:30 BST) and then in Leicester on Tuesday, 13 October (19:30 BST), with progression sending them to round two of the play-offs for next summer's Women's World Cup in Brazil.
Why it matters: Dropping two players central to England's back-to-back European Championship triumphs signals Wiegman is prioritizing current form over reputation heading into a must-win play-off path to the 2027 World Cup, while the fast-tracking of 20-year-old Potter — who already looks comfortable against international-level opponents — points to a clear succession plan in central midfield alongside Keira Walsh.
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