England head coach Sarina Wiegman has omitted Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone from the squad for the upcoming Women’s World Cup qualification play-offs against Greece, citing their current form and performance levels as the key reason. The Lionesses face a two-legged tie on October 9 in Crete and the return match at Leicester’s King Power Stadium on October 13.
Kelly and Toone have been influential figures in England’s recent success, playing significant roles in reaching three consecutive major tournament finals, including scoring crucial goals in Euro finals. However, Wiegman emphasized that she expects more consistent performances from the pair at club level. Kelly, 28, who has struggled for minutes at Arsenal this season with just one Women’s Super League (WSL) start and three substitute appearances, is managing a hamstring issue and will miss Arsenal’s upcoming Champions League match. Meanwhile, Toone, 27, has featured more regularly for Manchester United but has not provided goals or assists so far this campaign amidst the club’s transitional period following a managerial change.
Wiegman explained that her decision was based on the players’ on-pitch levels rather than injury concerns. “I really believe in them, and we follow them closely, but we expect a bit more,” she said. The coach also highlighted the strong competition within the squad and encouraged both players to respond positively to the feedback and show their ability in future matches.
In place of Kelly and Toone, Wiegman has handed a first senior call-up to 20-year-old Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter, who has impressed with her early-season form. Potter has started three of Chelsea’s four league matches and was a key figure in their 1-0 win over Arsenal, where she formed an effective central midfield partnership with experienced teammate Keira Walsh. Additionally, 18-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson received another call-up following her move to North Carolina Courage, alongside the introduction of London City Lionesses winger Freya Godfrey. Captain Leah Williamson returns to the squad after injury-recovery absence.
England qualified from their group having won five of six matches but must navigate the playoffs after finishing second to world champions Spain on head-to-head records. Victory over Greece would set up a decisive December playoff round against the winner of Slovakia and Ukraine, with a place in the 2026 World Cup in Brazil at stake.
Wiegman, whose contract is set to expire after the World Cup, remains focused on the immediate challenge, stating that discussions about her future continue but that her current priority is steering England through the qualification process successfully.