England kick off their Arnold Clark Cup defence towards South Korea tonight because the Lionesses start their 2023 marketing campaign with this summer season’s World Cup on the horizon.
Sarina Wiegman’s aspect gained the inaugural version of the four-team Arnold Clark Cup final season, which paved the way in which for England’s victory on the European Championships throughout ther summer season.
The Lionesses have a brand new set of opponents this time, with South Korea, Italy and Belgium all concerned and England will need to proceed their unbeaten run beneath Wiegman and make the absolute best begin to their World Cup preparations.
“What we want to take from this tournament is to get ready for 22 July so it’s preparation for the World Cup,” mentioned Wiegman, “We have three games, so that’s lots of opportunities to see players and lots of combinations against good opponents.”
Follow all of the motion from England’s opening match versus South Korea:
Arnold Clark Cup speaking factors
Last yr’s Arnold Clark Cup pitted England, at present fourth in FIFA’s world rankings, towards three different top-10 groups.
This time they tackle sides in a barely decrease bracket, with South Korea, Italy and Belgium mendacity fifteenth, seventeenth and twentieth respectively.
South Korea, managed by Englishman Colin Bell, had been runners-up eventually yr’s Asian Cup, whereas Italy made a Euro 2022 group-stage exit and Belgium reached the quarter-finals.
Michael Jones16 February 2023 18:36
Arnold Clark Cup speaking factors
The squad for the match introduced final week has quite a lot of gamers again in after damage, together with skipper Leah Williamson, who missed the video games in October and November because of a foot downside.
There can also be a recall for fellow defender Jess Carter, one other member of the Euro 2022-winning squad, and for two-cap midfielder Laura Coombs, having not been within the fold since 2020 and final performed for England in 2015.
Emily Ramsey has acquired her first senior call-up as certainly one of 4 goalkeepers within the group.
Michael Jones16 February 2023 18:32
Arnold Clark Cup speaking factors
Late inclusion for Nobbs however no England
Jordan Nobbs, who moved from Arsenal to Aston Villa in January and is eyeing the summer season’s World Cup after lacking each the final version and Euro 2022 following accidents, was initially overlooked of this Arnold Clark Cup squad.
But the 30-year-old midfielder was subsequently introduced in by Wiegman on the weekend as Fran Kirby withdrew because of a knee challenge – and Nobbs regarded within the temper to impress on Sunday as she notched a hat-trick in Villa’s 6-2 win at Brighton.
There is not any place for Bethany England regardless of scoring targets since her January transfer from Chelsea to Tottenham, and fellow Euros-winning ahead Nikita Parris has additionally been omitted. Beth Mead is out as a result of ACL damage she suffered in November.
Michael Jones16 February 2023 18:28
Arnold Clark Cup speaking factors
The Arnold Clark Cup has served England properly earlier than – they gained the inaugural version this time final yr after a 1-1 draw with Canada on the Riverside Stadium, 0-0 draw with Spain at Carrow Road and 3-1 victory over Germany at Molineux, and Sarina Wiegman has spoken concerning the increase that supplied when it comes to momentum and confidence forward of the Euros.
The cup defence sees them comply with the South Korea match with video games towards Italy in Coventry on Sunday after which Belgium in Bristol three days later.
Michael Jones16 February 2023 18:24
Arnold Clark Cup speaking factors
England start the calendar yr having gone with out defeat throughout the entire of 2022, extending a run that began when Sarina Wiegman took cost in September 2021.
It is at present 26 video games beneath the Dutchwoman with 22 wins, two of which had been secured in extra-time – the quarter-final and ultimate of the triumphant run on the residence Euros in July.
The Lionesses are actually constructing in the direction of the World Cup happening in Australia and New Zealand this summer season, the place they are going to look to take the success achieved in Wiegman’s tenure to even better heights.
Michael Jones16 February 2023 18:20
England’s street to World Cup glory begins with Arnold Clark Cup return
England had been in hassle, as groups typically are when their centre-back is thrown ahead into the field within the dying moments, wheeled into place as a makeshift striker. And but, even because the Lionesses had been ten minutes away from being knocked out of the Euros, trailing Spain on a stuffy July night time in Brighton, Sarina Wiegman had ready for that actual situation.
It’s a plan that managers don’t actually need to use, a ‘break glass in case of emergency’ state of affairs, and when Millie Bright was given the sign it was an admission that issues had gone mistaken. But England had been there earlier than: rewind 5 months and Bright had been hauled ahead within the ultimate match of the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup, because the Lionesses chased the late aim they wanted to beat Spain to the title.
It was within the 84th minute when Bright struck towards Germany to present England the lead and, from there, their first trophy beneath Wiegman. It was nearly in the identical minute later that yr when Ella Toone rescued the Lionesses towards Spain on the Euros. And there was Bright within the field once more, glass shattered on the ground, being a presence and making a panic, simply because the defender had finished towards Germany at Molineux.
Michael Jones16 February 2023 18:16
Arnold Clark Cup fixtures
Thursday 16 February – Stadium MK, Milton Keynes
Italy vs Belgium – 4:45pm
England vs Korea Republic – 7:45pm
Sunday 19 February – CBS Arena, Coventry
England vs Italy – 3:15pm
Belgium vs Korea Republic – 6:15pm
Wednesday 22 February – Ashton Gate, Bristol
Korea Republic vs Italy – 4:45pm
England vs Belgium – 7:45pm
Michael Jones16 February 2023 18:12
What is the England squad for the Arnold Clark Cup?
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Sandy MacIver (Manchester City), Emily Ramsey (Everton, on mortgage from Manchester United), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City)
Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Laura Coombs (Manchester City), Jessica Park (Everton, on mortgage from Manchester City), Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Katie Zelem (Manchester United)
Forwards:Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Katie Robinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Alessia Russo (Manchester United), Ebony Salmon (Houston Dash).
Michael Jones16 February 2023 18:08
What is England’s early staff information?
Leah Williamson is about to make her first England look since September after the Lionesses captain missed the final two worldwide home windows because of damage, however midfielder Kiera Walsh is a doubt because of sickness.
Sarina Wiegman has a fully-fit squad elsewhere, however is with out Beth Mead and Fran Kirby because of damage, whereas the likes of Beth England and Nikita Parris missed out on the squad.
Michael Jones16 February 2023 18:04
How to look at England vs South Korea
England’s opening match of the Arnold Clark Cup will kick off at 7:45 pm on Thursday 16 February.
It might be proven dwell on ITV 4, with protection ranging from 7pm. It may also be out there to look at dwell on the ITV X on-line platform.
Michael Jones16 February 2023 18:00