Key Takeaways
- England women play their 500th official game away to Iceland on Saturday.
- Sarina Wiegman warns the side must stay sharp to keep World Cup qualification on track.
- Leah Williamson returns to training, but young striker Keira Barry drops out with an ankle problem.
England will reach a special milestone this weekend when they walk onto the Laugardalsvöllur pitch for their 500th senior fixture.
Head coach Sarina Wiegman says the team must treat the match with full focus so Tuesday’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Spain keeps its worth. “We want to make that victory count for even more by backing it up in Iceland,” she told reporters in Reykjavík.
The Lionesses sit top of their World Cup qualifying group with three wins from three. Only the first-placed side in League A avoids the play-offs, so any slip could prove costly.
Iceland are seen as the weakest rival in this international window, yet Wiegman remembers surprise setbacks against Belgium and Portugal in past Nations League campaigns. “We have learned from those games,” she said. “Every opponent can hurt you if your level drops.”
Keira Barry, 20, has left the squad after failing to shake off an ankle knock. Leah Williamson, out since March with a thigh issue, trained on Friday and could feature.
Lucy Bronze praised the squad’s rising stars. “Young players like Lucia Kendall are fearless,” she said. “The under-23s are also shining in Spain. The future looks bright for the shirt.”
England expect to start Mary Hampton in goal, with Bronze, Wubben-Moy, Morgan and Greenwood across the back, Walsh, Stanway and Park in midfield, and Kelly, Russo and Hemp in attack.