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Beth Mead misses out on England World Cup squad

Beth Mead has failed to recover in time to make the World Cup
Beth Mead has failed to recover in time to make the World Cup

Bethany England has been included in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for this summer's World Cup, while Beth Mead misses out.

Striker England, who has not been involved for her country since last September, is recalled after scoring 12 Women's Super League goals for Tottenham since joining them from Chelsea in January.

But there is no return for Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner and player of the tournament Mead, having lost her battle against time after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in November.

Wiegman says she was not prepared to take the risks with Mead's fitness.

Asked if there was ever a chance the Arsenal winger could have been in the squad, Wiegman told a press conference: "No, I don’t think so. Beth is so positive and she’s going really well, but we said the time schedule she had, we would have taken so many risks to try to get her to the World Cup.

"Very early we said we’re not going to take that risk, I’m not willing to take that risk, to push her too much and then she gets injured again. We have to take care of players and do what’s smart, and not do what’s a little bit naive."

Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze, also sidelined of late, do feature in a 23-player list from which skipper Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby had already been ruled out due to injury.

Jordan Nobbs is included as well, despite sustaining an injury in Aston Villa's penultimate game of the season, Katie Zelem has been brought back after not making the last squad in April, and there is no recall for Williamson's predecessor as captain Steph Houghton.

Jess Park, Maya Le Tissier and Emily Ramsey have been named on standby.

Wiegman's European champions get their campaign at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand under way by facing Haiti in Brisbane on 22 July, and will also take on Denmark and China in Group D

Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw will reveal her squad on Thursday 29 June.

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