England’s Euro 2025 Squad: Who Will Start and Who Faces Exclusion?

England manager Sarina Wiegman faces significant selection choices for her starting eleven with fewer than eight months remaining until the team defends its European Championship title. As the Lionesses prepare for Euro 2025, numerous questions persist regarding player positions, given the intense competition across the squad. Former England internationals and BBC Sport pundits, Steph Houghton and Fara Williams, offer their insights on which players are likely to feature prominently and who might miss out on a starting spot. Hannah Hampton is currently vying with Mary Earps for the role of England’s primary goalkeeper. Earps had previously solidified her position as Sarina Wiegman’s first-choice keeper, playing every match during England’s Euro 2022 victory and again in their journey to the World Cup final a year later. Since the final defeat to Spain, England has played 10 matches, with Earps starting eight and Hannah Hampton two. This raises the question of whether Earps is a guaranteed starter for the upcoming Euros. Steph Houghton commented: “At this moment, I don’t think she is guaranteed. Prior to the Germany game at Wembley in October, there were a lot more people swaying towards Hampton. In that game, there were some goals that she could potentially have stopped. That might be the difference between Mary and Hannah. Mary in general is probably the better overall goalkeeper, but with Hannah and her feet, she is probably above Mary.” Fara Williams added: “It is so important you have a goalkeeper who has that presence. I think Mary has more of that. When you have a keeper confident in themselves and not relying on other people to give them that confidence, it just put you at ease. I think Mary has that. I think it will come down to the wire. It’s not a decision Sarina will make now. It will be close. If it was me, I would have Mary Earps.” Leah Williamson led England to Euro 2022 success as captain, while Millie Bright took on the armband during Williamson’s absence at the 2023 World Cup, where Alex Greenwood also played a crucial role. The centre-back position is the most fiercely contested in England’s defensive line. Alex Greenwood is enjoying an outstanding season with Manchester City, as is Millie Bright for Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea. Arsenal’s Leah Williamson, who serves as Wiegman’s captain and has started England’s last two matches, has regained form after a challenging start to the season. The dilemma for Wiegman is whether to select a pair or to implement a system that allows all three defenders to play. Fara Williams stated: “Sarina likes to play Millie Bright. She is a no-nonsense centre-half, and brings far greater physicality than Leah Williamson and Alex Greenwood. She can play with the ball, but doesn’t risk the ball in areas where she shouldn’t. That is why you have to play her with somebody different. With Leah Williamson being captain, it makes her in my opinion a dead cert in that position.” Steph Houghton remarked: “We are always surprised when Alex is on the bench and rightly so because she stands out every single week. You have three really good centre-halves. Do you change the formation to fit all three in to allow the wingers or Lucy Bronze to bomb on?” England possesses a wealth of midfield talent, featuring a blend of experienced players and promising young prospects aiming to secure a place in the team. The key questions revolve around who is certain to start in midfield and which players Wiegman should consider for an impact role from the bench. Manchester United’s Grace Clinton, pictured with Bayern Munich’s Georgia Stanway, received her first senior England call-up in October 2023. Fara Williams commented: “Keira Walsh has got years ahead of her, but when you don’t have competition it is very easy to get complacent. I think we need to find the next Keira, who is going to compete with her, make her better and push her. If you look just ahead of her, I think Stanway’s position is nailed on. What she brings to the England team is a little bit different. Then there is that debate of who plays alongside her. Fran Kirby has come to form with Brighton and seems to be playing with confidence. Grace Clinton, with Manchester United, is continuing in the form she had at Tottenham.” Steph Houghton added: “When you are in these competitions and playing every three or four days, physicality is a big thing. What I see from Grace Clinton is that ability to get back and defend and be a presence in the box, but now she is adding goals to her game. She hasn’t had that experience but for me, over these next six months it is so crucial that Sarina gives her that opportunity to nail down that position. For me it’s Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Grace Clinton. Jess Park is a fantastic player in that position – she can run in behind defences but also create and score goals.” Fara Williams further noted: “Then you have Ella Toone, who is probably on the outskirts of that. I’m not sure if she is playing at the levels she has reached at in recent seasons. For me, she is not a starter yet.” Lauren Hemp, who recorded three assists in her most recent WSL appearance, is currently recovering from knee surgery and will miss England’s upcoming games against the United States on Saturday and Switzerland next Tuesday. This absence provides an opportunity for other players to impress Wiegman. With Lauren James and Chloe Kelly seeing limited playing time, the question arises whether Hemp is the only forward guaranteed a starting spot once she is fit. Fara Williams believes: “I think there are two. There is not another number nine challenging Alessia Russo. They are trying to force Jess Naz into being a number nine. I’m not sure she is that player. I don’t think she has got the qualities to be at the level yet to be pushing Russo.” Steph Houghton suggested: “If Russo doesn’t start as a nine, you can either play Lauren James on the left and potentially Beth Mead on the right. Lauren James is the difference in terms of what she can do with the ball. I’ve not seen that many players that can do that.” Fara Williams pondered: “It’s about where you play her and where you are going to get the best out of her. Her qualities are unquestionable. Is it on the wing? I’m not sure.” Steph Houghton expressed her admiration: “There is something about Aggie Beever-Jones that I really like. She is clinical when she gets chances and has been used a lot this season for Chelsea above some other great players. She is young, looks enthusiastic and that would be quite a good balance.” Regarding Chloe Kelly, Steph Houghton stated: “Chloe Kelly knows her role with England. Of course you always want to be starting but in terms of what she can do off the bench, she knows she can make that impact. It’s going to be a tough period for Chloe with not playing as much as she wants to, but trying to compete at the very best for the next six months is probably the main target for her.”