Arsenal midfielder Jordan Nobbs has been recalled to the England squad for September World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Luxembourg. Nobbs missed this summer’s Euros due to a knee injury but has enjoyed a full pre-season with Arsenal.
Euros winners Leah Williamson, who captains the Lionesses, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Beth Mead have also been called up. Unhelpfully, the next international window takes place just days before Arsenal begin their WSL campaign away at Manchester City.
Manu Zinsberger and Laura Wienroither will certainly be called into the Austria squad too, Stina Blackstenius and Lina Hurtig are part of the Sweden squad who will face Finland on 6th September. Lia Walti and Noelle Maritz are part of the Switzerland team who will take on Croatia on 2nd September and Moldova on 6th September.
Frida Maanum is in the Norway squad for matches against Belgium on 2nd September and Albania on 6th September. Vivianne Miedema is part of the Netherlands squad who play Jen Beattie’s Scotland in a friendly on 2nd September before they play a crucial qualifier against Iceland on 6th September. Netherlands are now coached by former Arsenal men’s academy lead Andries Jonker. Scotland will play Faroe Isles on the 6th too.
Katie McCabe will captain Ireland for very important World Cup qualifiers against Finland (1/9) and Slovakia (6/9). Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord form part of the Matildas squad and will fly back to Australia for a friendly double header with Canada.
It means that the only Arsenal players at London Colney in the week building up to the opening game will be Rafaelle (Brazil do not have a game during this window), Kim Little (retired from international duty), Kaylan Mackerse and Mana Iwabuchi (Japan do not have a game).
Way to go.
Great for Jordan, just don’t get injured!
Hardly ideal preparation for the WSL opener though, is it?
The only positive is City appear to have been decimated by retirements and departures and they have already exited Europe at qualifying round stage so are they a team to be as feared as in recent seasons?
City & to a certain extent were formidable because Arsenal were naive enough to have small squads a few injuries and players are played out of position. Now with a big squad they are just opponents to get 3 points from.
I have a bad feeling we will struggle in opening WSL game if City have fewer players involved in this international break
Why?
They will have just as many. Only Houghton, Coombs, Esme Morgan, Castellanos and Losada will stay. 1-2 of those will start at the most.
Glad to hear it. I may just have PTSD from the last FA Cup game we played against Chelsea shortly after an international break
Congratulations to our girls especially Jordan Nobbs. So glad Sarina recognises her quality. Good luck to Lotte Wubben-Moy, I really felt for her – catching Covid at the start and not getting to play a game in the Euros.
It’s not the best preparation but it’s great that we have so many exceptional players. And please, for the love of God, nobody get injured.
I wish Jordan get the position, Katy Zelem was called too means they are going to compete for Jill Scott free spot.