Sarina Wiegman explains Beth Mead & Maya Le Tissier omissions from World Cup squad

Sarina Wiegman said it has been 'really hard' to decide her 23-player England squad ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup this summer.

With the tournament just around the corner, Wiegman revealed her final England squad on Wednesday afternoon. Key players like Keira Walsh, Millie Bright and Alessia Russo were among the call-ups, as expected, with Bethany England and Katie Zelem also making the cut.

Maya Le Tissier and Jess Park have both been involved throughout this season but are only on the standby list, along with fourth choice goalkeeper Emily Ramsey.

“We had very good conversations but it has been really hard," Wiegman said. "We've been with a bigger squad and seen lots of players. They all worked so hard to get into the squad.

"I don/t think you can say there’s [only] one tough decision because you're talking about individuals, you're talking about positions, but you've also talking about combinations and balance in the team so when you pick one player, that has consequences for other parts of your team, so that has been really hard. But I wouldn't just pick out one because it all relates to each other."

Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright have both been out recently with injury but Wiegman is confident that the pair will be match fit in time for the World Cup, which starts for England against Haiti on 22 July.

"Lucy Bronze is fit and fully in training. Millie Bright is in a good place, we're positive, she's still building but we have time. It looks good," the Dutch coach said.

The European champions have been struggling with injuries. Captain Leah Williamson, creative midfielder Fran Kirby and star forward Beth Mead have all been omitted as a result. However, the latter was still hoping she might just make the cut after suffering her ACL injury seven months ago.

"Of course, you want them in because they have an important role for the team and have an impact," Wiegman revealed. "We think about the positions the players can play, and we prepare with them and without them."

When asked whether Mead was ever going to make the squad, Weigman replied, "I dont think so.

"Beth is so positive, and she is going really well, but we said the time schedules she had, we would have taken so many risks to try and get her to the World Cup, and also she had a personal situation too. So that all added and very early we said: 'We are not going to take that risk'.

"I am not willing to take that risk, to push her too much and then she gets injured again, because we also have to take care of players and do what’s smart."

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Whilst one Beth was not included, another earned her first call-up since September. Bethany England was named in the 23 after previously being a non-playing member of the Euro 2022 squad.

"Because of the performance," Wiegman revealed, speaking on the reasoning for calling up the Tottenham striker. "She was at Chelsea, she didn't get the minutes and then she made a move, and she started playing in a hard situation because Spurs was having a hard time.""

England joined Spurs after struggling to garner minutes at Chelsea, a decision that has paid off, climbing the ranks of the WSL golden boot and being instrumental in earning her a call up.

"But how she did and how she performed and also how much resilience she showed. I think that's what made us make the decision to get up the squad."

“We want to be at our best and that’s what we’re going for. We are a little bit in transition now but I still think we have very talented players. We will make sure we are at our best and see how far we can get.

As for Le Tissier, who had been one of the standout defenders in the WSL, helping Manchester United finish second in the final table, conceding only 12 times in 22 games, Wiegman explained it was a tough decision to only put her on the standby list.

"She was really close. That was a hard call," Wiegman said.

"All the defenders we had to think about. She didn't get in the 23. We also see her a little bit more as a right full-back, she plays for her club as a centre back, and she's had a very good season for Manchester United. But this is the choice we made."