Sports29 September, 20262 min read
Sarina Wiegman Drops Ella Toone And Chloe Kelly, Names Lexi Potter For England Vs Greece
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Lexi Potter earns first England call-up for World Cup play-off vs Greece. Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly dropped from England squad for Greece play-off.
Wiegman reshuffles squad
Sarina Wiegman dropped Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly from England’s squad for the Women’s World Cup qualifying playoff against Greece and gave a first call-up to 20-year-old Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter. Wiegman told reporters, “The main reason is that I think the levels weren't what I expect from them on the pitch,” and she added, “We expect a bit more and we know they can bring more.” Wiegman said she “still believes in them” as she framed the decision around “competition going on” and “playing minutes,” while she also named Leah Williamson’s return to the squad.
Wiegman’s selection set up a double-header against Greece, with the first leg at the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion, Crete on Friday 9 October and the return at Leicester’s King Power Stadium on Tuesday 13 October. Wiegman also omitted Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones and Arsenal duo Lotte Wubben-Moy and Taylor Hinds from the 23-player squad.
Potter’s first call-up
Wiegman said Potter’s performances impressed her, and she described the Chelsea midfielder as someone who “plays with a lot of courage, a lot of understanding and her decision-making is really good.” Wiegman also said Potter’s technical ability stood out, adding, “What I've seen is that no matter who she plays against, like last Sunday [against Arsenal], it looks like it doesn't bother her at all.” The BBC said Potter had started three of Chelsea’s opening four matches and had been a standout performer in England’s 1-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday.
The BBC also said captain Leah Williamson returns after missing June’s fixtures with injury, and it listed the squad’s goalkeeper options as Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse. Wiegman included uncapped midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson and uncapped defender Grace Fisk, while Niamh Charles returned from injury as a substitute in Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic.
Next steps for qualification
England will contest the Greece tie after finishing their qualifying group behind Spain, with the BBC noting England had won five of their six matches but missed out on top spot on the head-to-head record from meetings in April and June. The BBC said that if England win the two-legged tie they progress to round two of the play-offs, where they can compete for a place in next summer’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The LiveScore preview said the Lionesses travel to the Greek island of Crete for the first leg at the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion on Friday 9 October and then host the return at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on Tuesday 13 October.
“‘We have great respect for Greece but our expectations of ourselves are clear,’ said Wiegman.”
The LiveScore preview also said that if England progress they will face either Slovakia or Ukraine in round two, with the winners advancing to Brazil 2027. Wiegman framed the Greece matches as a focus on performance, saying, “We have great respect for Greece but our expectations of ourselves are clear,” and she added, “We are here to win these two games, deliver strong performances, and move one step closer to securing our place at the World Cup.”