We could see a record broken or equalled this evening, if not we should this summer, as Ellen White hunts down Wayne Rooney’s England goal tally.
Rooney has 53 to his name with White clocking up 50. If she grabs a hat-trick this evening she’ll go level and if she manages four, which would be an impressive feat, she’ll break it!
Do you think she will become the record scorer?
Chelsea’s Jess Carter has been named on the bench but it is being reported she will not be involved this evening as she is following her programme back to full fitness.
England manager Sarina Wiegman has spoken to ITV: “Three good friendlies. We want to play a lot, we need games ahead of 6 July. Good to play after having three weeks of training and show on the pitch where we are.”
On Houghton omission: “It was a very very hard decision, for the four other players too. Houghton did everything to come back but she isn’t ready.”
And on the starting XI: “Alex [Greenwood] is ready to play, she couldn’t train with the squad last week. She is ready to play but not a game yet.
“The starting line-up up front they started a lot during the season. I have started working with Chloe [Kelly] in the pre-camps. We would like to see her in the game.
“We’re building Fran [Kirby] up slowly.”
So are there any omissions from the Euros squads you want to share? Any views on the upcoming tournament?
If you have any thoughts drop me a tweet or an email. I would love to hear from you.
They don’t have to be football related either! They could be about this crazy weather we’re having or the summer holiday you have planned, get in touch.
For me I’m realising I need a hair cut. It can’t be just me who becomes aware of how long their hair is when it’s this humid outside? It’s sticking to me and it needs to go!
If you haven’t caught up with the news of England’s Euros squad, where have you been?
Here are the 23 players who have made the cut:
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Ellie Roebuck
Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Rachel Daly, Alex Greenwood, Demi Stokes, Lotte Wubben-Moy
Midfielders: Fran Kirby, Jill Scott, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Kiera Walsh, Leah Williamson
Forwards: Bethany England, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, Nikita Parris, Alessia Russo, Ellen White
England’s opposition this evening, Belgium, have named a provisional squad and are thought to be unveiling the official list on 20 June. So tonight is their last chance to impress.
Their provisional squad is:
Goalkeepers: Nicky Evrard, Diede Lemey, Lisa Lichtfus, Femke Bastiaen.
Defenders: Davina Philtjens, Amber Tysiak, Laura De Neve, Sari Kees, Laura Deloose, Jody Vangheluwe, Isabelle Iliano.
Midfielders: Chloe Vande Velde, Charlotte Tison, Lenie Onzia, Justine Vanhaevermaet, Marie Minnaert, Julie Biesmans, Feli Delacauw, Kassandra Missipo.
Forwards: Ella Van Kerkhoven, Sarah Wijnants, Tine De Caigny, Tessa Wullaert, Janice Cayman, Hannah Eurlings, Jassina Blom, Jill Janssens , Davinia Vanmechelen, Elena Dhont.
The Belgian team news is in!
I have tracked down the starting XI but am yet to locate the subs, I’ll do my best to seek them out but for now feast your eyes on an impressive line-up.
Belgium: Evrard, Deloose, Kees, De Neve, Philtjens, Biesmans, Minnaert, Delacauw, Wijnants, De Caigny, Wullaert.
For the game this evening the Lionesses will wear black armbands as a mark of respect following the death of Sarina Wiegman’s sister.
The manager left England’s camp earlier this month for a week due to the loss. The Football Association said: “On behalf of Sarina and her family, we ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult time. Our thoughts are with them all.”
England have already announced their starting XI for the match!
It is a strong 11 as Wiegman hunts for her strongest line-up. Leah Williamson starts and will captain the side and Jess Carter is among those on the bench despite fitness doubts.
England: Earps, Bronze, Stokes, Walsh, Bright, Wubben-Moy, Mead, Williamson, White, Stanway, Hemp
Substitutes: Daly, Hampton, Kirby, Toone, Greenwood, Parris, Kelly, England, Scott, Roebuck, Russo, Carter
As soon as I track down Belgium’s line-up I will update you.
Preamble
What a summer of football we have on our hands and it begins with warm-up matches for July’s European Championships. Tonight England will play Belgium in a friendly before taking on the Netherlands and Switzerland ahead of the Euros, being hosted by England.
Manager Sarina Wiegman has said she wants to use these three friendlies as a way to nail down her starting XI for the major tournament. “This team is really competitive so we have some hard choices to make. That is another reason as to why we play these three games,” the boss said. “Players need to keep performing. When you play a really good game now you have opportunities. It’s about knowing where the players are and looking at how we can make other scenarios work.”
She spoke after revealing her squad of 23 on Wednesday where former captain Steph Houghton was among those cut. Lucy Staniforth, Sandy MacIver, Niamh Charles and Katie Zelem also missed out on spots. The players selected, including captain Leah Williamson, have celebrated their inclusion on social media but their focus will be on maintaining Wiegman’s unbeaten streak as England manager.
The boss is yet to lose since taking over last September and we will see if she keeps the record going this evening, the game kicks off at 8pm BST.