England head coach Sarina Wiegman says that it was important to balance youth with experience in her latest squad selection.
A 23-player squad for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 qualifiers against Austria and Luxembourg was announced yesterday. Eight of the players selected are aged 23 or under, Wiegman opted to recall youngsters Sandy MacIver, Lauren James and Ebony Salmon to the team.
When speaking in an England press conference, Wiegman said that it was important to mix youth with experience.
“We haven’t changed that much (from the EUROs), just a couple of injuries and with Ellen (White) and Jill (Scott) leaving,” Wiegman said.
“We have two games, Austria is the first and is the really important one because we can qualify, it’s going to be tough. They have shown us what they can do in the EUROs but also in World Cup qualification.
“What we have tried to do is have some balance in the team with some experience and some youngsters in there too, this is why we have made these choices.”
England’s recent games against Austria have both been played on home soil but Wiegman doesn’t expect an away fixture against Irene Fuhrmann’s side to be much different.
She said “I don’t think there will be much change, I don’t think their philosophy will change all of a sudden because the players have had some rest and have gone back to their club teams for a while.
“They want to chase us, this is their last chance to qualify directly for the World Cup. Yes, they are going to chase us but that’s what they did in the opening match of the EUROs too.
“We will prepare really well as we always do, there’s one focus when we come in next week and that’s to qualify for the World Cup.
“It’s nice for them (Austria) to play in Vienna now we don’t have 90,000 people behind us but I still think we will do the job.”
England face Austria in Wiener Neustadt on Saturday 3 September 2022 before taking on Luxembourg at the bet365 Stadium in Stoke on Tuesday 6 September 2022.
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