Introducing England Women’s 2023 World Cup squad: Every player analysed

For a manager who stuck rigidly to the same starting XI and roughly the same substitutes in every Euro 2022 game last year, it’s surprising there was quite so much interest in Sarina Wiegman’s squad selection for this summer’s World Cup. Here are the 23 players included, and what they offer, as England aim to follow European Championship success on home soil with World Cup success down under… Goalkeepers Mary Earps, 27 years old, 33 caps Initially favoured over other options because of her composure with the ball at her feet, Earps was named the best goalkeeper in the world at last year’s FIFA awards. Lucy Bronze, 31 years old, 104 caps The 2019 Ballon d’Or winner sometimes seemed constrained during last summer’s European Championship success — the touch map for which is below — but she’s performed well for England since, showing flashes of attacking brilliance and offering the ability to drift inside and make direct runs towards goal, as well as more traditional overlapping runs. Wubben-Moy in training last year Central midfielders Keira Walsh, 26 years old, 58 caps The most expensive female footballer in the world, Walsh was England’s player of the match in last year’s final — and is probably the player they can least cope without, as no one else can match her in the deep-lying playmaker role. Georgia Stanway, 24 years old, 49 caps As the final player to confirm her place in last year’s starting XI, it’s now difficult to imagine an England side without Stanway.