Sarina Wiegman blessed with options as England edge closer to Women’s World Cup | Tom Garry

Esme Morgan and Lotte Wubben-Moy staked claims for selection after impressing for Lionesses against Spain

Everybody keep calm. England sit top of their qualifying group with a 100% record after beating Spain, but there remains a very long way to go before anyone can start booking flights to South America for 2027 … Let us cast aside that sensible advice, though, and begin to look at the players who enhanced their prospects of selection because, whether England continue this winning streak or not, their target is to win a first world title and there is no hiding from that challenge. So who has staked a claim?

Of the 11 players who started at Wembley on Tuesday, eight look nailed on to be in the first-choice XI for the World Cup, let alone the squad. That octet of Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James and Alessia Russo will be central to Sarina Wiegman’s plans for Brazil, together with senior players such as Leah Williamson and Ella Toone when they return after injuries, plus the “clutch moment” saviour that is Chloe Kelly, who was on the bench.

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