Sarina Wiegman had ‘hard conversations’ before dropping three Euro 22 winners

Sarina Wiegman has admitted to having had some “hard conversations” this week after choosing to leave Euro 2022 winners Beth England, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Nikita Parris out of her squad to face USA, the World Cup holders, and Czech Republic next month.

“There were hard conversations and hard choices,” the England manager said. “When you look at the team it is very competitive in the different positions. We look at quality, talent, being fit and having playing minutes with your team, then winning the competition with ones you are in the same position as.

“I had conversations with all the players who were in the squad before but are not now. I gave them some feedback, and now they have to work and try to fight their way back in. Of course, we’ll keep following them because they are very good players. It’s not just that we’ll follow 22 or 24 players, we’ll follow a big group of players and pick the best ones. It’s 10 months until the World Cup starts, it’s also an opportunity to bring through some young players to see where they are at.”

The Chelsea forward England, the Arsenal centre-back Wubben-Moy and the Manchester United forward Parris are all yet to start for their clubs this season. The Arsenal midfielder Jordan Nobbs has also been omitted after being recalled to the squad for the September camp. Wiegman said she had spoken to the former England captain Steph Houghton and while she feels she is not ready to be called up to this camp she insisted the “door is open” for the 34-year-old.

The Lionesses have welcomed back Fran Kirby and Chloe Kelly, who missed the September camp because of injury, while there are first senior call-ups for the West Ham defender Lucy Parker and Manchester City’s Jess Park, the latter