The 23 players who will have the honour of representing England at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France have been named.
Head coach Phil Neville said: “This is a significant moment in our World Cup campaign and I want to congratulate all of the players in our squad.
“I must also thank those who just missed out for all of their efforts. We would not be in this position without them, they have played a big part in our World Cup journey and I know they will be our biggest supporters this summer.
“Picking a squad is never easy but I believe in this group and I know they will be ready to help us perform at our very best at the finals.
“We know what we are capable of achieving and are determined to do all we can to be successful. We keep saying it but the hard work starts now and we are going to give it everything we have to make the nation proud.”
Lionesses fans got their first look at the squad earlier in the day, as the selected players were individually revealed by a group of 23 high-profile supporters – led by FA President HRH The Duke of Cambridge announcing captain Steph Houghton – with a combined social media following of more than 170 million.
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) May 8, 2019
At the finals in France, which run from 7 June to 7 July, eleven England players will be taking part in their maiden senior World Cup – Mary Earps, Millie Bright, Abbie McManus, Leah Williamson, Demi Stokes, Rachel Daly, Lucy Staniforth, Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh, Nikita Parris and Beth Mead.
Meanwhile, Karen Carney and Jill Scott will be making their fourth World Cup appearances after representing England in China [2007] and Germany [2011]. The duo, along with ten members selected this time out, were also part of the squad that secured a bronze medal in Canada in 2015.
England have been drawn in Group D against Scotland, Argentina and Japan. They open up in a mouth-watering match against Shelley Kerr’s Scots in Nice [9 June] before taking on Argentina in Le Havre [14 June] and returning to Nice to face Japan [19 June].
There’s still time to cheer on the Lionesses before they depart for the tournament on 4 June.
Denmark visit Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium on Saturday 25 May before Neville’s outfit complete their ‘Road to France Series’ in a send-off game against New Zealand at Brighton and Hove Albion’s American Express Stadium.
Tickets are priced at £1 for concessions and £10 for adults.
TICKETS: ROAD TO FRANCE SERIES
World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), Mary Earps (Wolfsburg), Carly Telford (Chelsea)
Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Lyon), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Alex Greenwood (Manchester United), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Abbie McManus (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Karen Carney (Chelsea), Jade Moore (Reading), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Lucy Staniforth (Birmingham City), Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), Keira Walsh (Manchester City)
Forwards: Toni Duggan (Barcelona), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Manchester City), Jodie Taylor (Seattle Reign), Ellen White (Birmingham City).
