England manager Phil Neville has selected Manchester City striker Ellen White to lead the Lionesses’ attack against the USA in their opening match of the SheBelieves Cup 2020 at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando in the early tomorrow morning.
The talk before the match was very much around whether Chelsea’s in-form striker Beth England would be picked in the starting line-up either with, or in place of White but manager Neville has decided to go with the tried and tested option of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019’s joint-top scorer.
Chelsea forward England had put down solid claims for a start in Orlando after scoring both goals as The Blues defeated Arsenal 2-1 at The City Ground in Nottingham to lift the FA Women’s Continental League Cup for the first time last weekend. The 25-year-old has six goals in her last five matches for her club.
Manchester City striker White joined Chelsea ace England on the scoresheet as her side drew 3-3 with the South West Londoners in their last FA Women’s Super League outing. The forward has great international pedigree, netting six goals in France in the summer as the Lionesses finished fourth and her manager Neville has put his faith in her ability once again as England come up against the world champions.
Other notable inclusions in Neville’s line-up to take on the USA include Chelsea goalkeeper Carly Telford who has been chosen over Manchester City’s Ellie Roebuck who had picked up an injury prior to the tournament. Georgia Stanway could be Lucy Bronze’s replacement at right-back while fellow Manchester City youngster Lauren Hemp starts and will possibly operate out wide should White play as a lone figure in attack.
England team to face the USA: Telford, Greenwood, Houghton, Bright, Stanway, Scott, Parris, Walsh, Williamson, Hemp, White
Substitutes: Roebuck, MacIver, Daly, Stokes, McManus, Fisk, Nobbs, Staniforth, Russo, Kelly, Duggan, England
The SheBelieves Cup 2020 fixture between the USA and England in Orlando kicks-off at midnight and will be screened live on BBC Two, BBC Four and the BBC iPlayer.
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