Leah Williamson’s recent ACL injury means that the Lionesses are travelling to the tournament without the captain that lead them to victory last summer, but Millie Bright will be taking on the challenge after being awarded the honour of captaining England this summer, alongside goalkeeper, Mary Earps, who has been presented vice-captaincy.

Having recently had a bony cartilage lesion that needed cleaning out, fans were unsure whether Millie Bright would be fit in time for the tournament, but Sarina confirmed in her press conference that Millie is on-track with her recovery, describing her as “still building” fitness.

The same can be said for Lucy Bronze who has recently had knee surgery, but will be fit for the World Cup. She is back training with the Barcelona squad, and played the full 90 minutes in their Champions League victory over Vfl Wolfsburg in the final on Saturday 3rd of June - a very positive sign for England fans who know just how vital she is to that defensive line.

Alex Greenwood will join Lucy Bronze in playing their third consecutive World Cup, whilst Niamh Charles, Esme Morgan, Katie Zelem, Katie Robinson, Lauren James and Laura Coombs have been called up for their first major tournament in an England shirt - the perfect combination of experience and youth.

The three keepers on their way to Australia and New Zealand are the same three included in the Euros squad last year: Hannah Hampton, Ellie Roebuck and Mary Earps - who kept four clean sheets and only conceded twice in the entirety of England’s last tournament.

Emily Ramsey will join Maya Le Tissier and Jess Park on standby, training with the squad at St. George’s Park throughout their preparations for the tournament.

As expected, Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby have missed out due to injury, but Wiegman delivered more positive news to Bethany England and Jordan Nobbs. Making the move to Tottenham Hotspur in January in the hopes of being called back up to represent her country, England has scored 12 goals in 12 games and has impressed Sarina Wiegman enough to earn a call up to the World Cup squad. Similarly, Jordan Nobbs made a move in the WSL January transfer window from Arsenal to Aston Villa having wanted the chance to play regular football, and the move seems to have done the trick as Nobbs will feature in England’s midfield at the World Cup this summer.

Another member of Aston Villa’s squad who has booked her seat on the plane is Rachel Daly. Despite playing as a left-back during the Euros, Daly has been up front for Villa in the Barclays Women’s Super League this season, winning the Golden Boot award with 22 goals scored, and so it’s no surprise that she has been called up in the forward position for this tournament alongside the likes of Lauren James and Alessia Russo, with Wiegman still on the search for an Ellen White replacement.

Wiegman has said that she has “huge belief in this squad” and is “very fortunate to be selecting a fantastic group of players to travel to Australia”.

The Lionesses’ opening match is on the 22nd of July against Haiti - come on England!

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Ellie Roebuck

Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Lotte Wubben-Moy

Midfielders: Laura Coombs, Jordan Nobbs, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh, Katie Zelem

Forwards: Rachel Daly, Bethany England, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Katie Robinson, Alessia Russo

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