With Mary Earps and Fran Kirby retiring and Millie Bright withdrawing through burnout, Wiegman announced the 23-player group she has tasked with defending the European Championship won at Wembley in 2022.
The Lionesses only have one senior goalkeeper in Hannah Hampton, with neither Anna Moorhouse nor Khiara Keating earning a single cap for the national side.
Question marks remain over the lack of a specialist left-back, and whether there are enough options at right-back, with the relatively inexperienced Maya Le Tissier covering for Lucy Bronze and Jess Carter used there recently.
Wiegman insists taking James is ‘not a risk’ (Photo: Getty)However, the England boss also made a number of huge decisions that could well define this Euros campaign.
The main reason it is such a gamble picking James is that unlike in men’s international tournaments where managers can take 26 players, Women’s Euros squads only contain 23. Of those, Wiegman is opting for seven forwards.
Fortunately, she is spoilt for choice on the right, with Beth Mead in impressive form for England and Chloe Kelly enjoying a superb second half of the season on loan at Arsenal. So if James cannot play every game, there is enough cover – and the Chelsea forward can also play on the left and at No 10 too.
The wildcard
WHAT A WAY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF!! Michelle Agyemang with a BEAUTY! England are right back in this one…#ITVFootball | #UWNL pic.twitter.com/RrzXuP9qZL
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 8, 2025Aggie Beever-Jones has already established herself as Alessia Russo’s back-up, so opportunities may be limited for Agyemang. Yet Wiegman revealed she had picked her because she “brings something different”, namely her “physicality”.
Georgia Stanway has been passed fit for the Euros (Photo: AP)
Wiegman made an important clarification when asked why she has only opted for five midfielders.
Against Spain, Stanway made her first start in seven months and if she is fit, she will be straight on the team sheet alongside Keira Walsh. Then it is a shootout for the third spot between Ella Toone, Jess Park and Grace Clinton – probably in that order.
Bo Kearns was given her debut in midweek against Spain and Wiegman admitted it was a difficult conversation letting her down. More experienced options such as Katie Zelem and Laura Coombs, who both went to the 2023 World Cup, were overlooked.
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England Women’s Euros squad in full
Goalkeepers
Hannah Hampton Khiara Keating Anna MoorhouseDefenders
Lucy Bronze Jess Carter Niamh Charles Alex Greenwood Maya Le Tissier Esme Morgan Leah Williamson Lotte Wubben-MoyMidfielders
Keira Walsh Georgia Stanway Ella Toone Jess Park Grace ClintonForwards
Aggie Beever-Jones Lauren Hemp Chloe Kelly Lauren James Michelle Agyemang Beth Mead Alessia RussoStand-by list
Sophie Baggaley Laura Blindkilde Brown Missy Bo Kearns Lucy Parker Read More Details
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