Lucy Bronze has withdrawn from England’s Women’s World Cup playoff squad after a small injury and returned to Chelsea, leaving Sarina Wiegman to call Ella Toone back into the group on the eve of a crucial two-leg tie.
The move came just before England were due to face Greece in the first leg in Heraklion, Crete on Friday, with the reverse fixture set for Tuesday in Leicester. England are trying to reach next summer’s finals in Brazil, and the timing matters because the squad change arrived at the last moment in a playoff that will decide whether they stay on course.
Why Bronze’s absence matters
Wiegman said Bronze’s issue was “really small,” but any late withdrawal creates a ripple effect when a team is preparing for knockout-style qualifiers. Bronze’s experience and presence are not easy to replace, especially with England needing to handle a two-leg playoff against a side that has never qualified for a major tournament.
England ended up in the playoffs despite winning five of their six qualifiers, with Spain beating them to top spot on head-to-head goal difference. That left little margin for error, and it also meant the squad announcement would be watched closely once the window began.
Toone gets another chance
Toone had initially been left out, but she was recalled after Bronze withdrew. The Manchester United midfielder has already delivered on some of England’s biggest occasions, scoring in the Euro 2022 final and again in the 2023 World Cup semi-final.
Her return also fits the tone she has set since missing out. During the international window, Toone organised a training routine in Spain, and on Saturday she started Manchester United’s victory over Liverpool while saying she would use the omission as fuel. “It’s about me now,” she said. “I’ve got to keep working hard and use it as fuel to come back even better.”
Wiegman praised that response, saying the way Toone handled the setback and kept preparing stood out to her. The England coach said Toone took the call straight away, was disappointed, but reacted in the right way and then got herself ready to train in Spain instead.
England’s focus now
For England, the immediate task is straightforward: get through Greece and keep the qualification path alive. Greece were described as major underdogs, and Esme Morgan said persistence will matter most, pointing to England’s away game against Ukraine in qualifying as a useful example of staying patient against a deep defensive approach.
If England beat Greece, they would move on to another two-leg playoff in December against Slovakia or Ukraine. For now, though, the late change is all about adapting quickly, replacing Bronze’s spot, and making sure the squad is ready for Friday in Crete.
