Context and importance
England will fight for a place at the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil through a play-off. And they will do it without two names who defined the most successful era in the team's history: Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly.
Manager Sarina Wiegman named her squad for the two matches against Greece and left both out. It was not an injury issue. It was a football decision, which makes the news even bigger.
For Brazilian fans, this matters. The 2027 tournament will be played in Brazil, and the reigning back-to-back European Champions have not booked their ticket yet.
Toone and Kelly were left out on form. Wiegman felt their recent levels were below what she expects.
What happened
Wiegman announced her squad for the two-legged tie against Greece in the European play-offs. The first leg is set for 9 October in Crete. The return is on 13 October at the King Power Stadium in Leicester.
The absence of Ella Toone, the Manchester United midfielder, and Chloe Kelly, the Arsenal forward, stood out. According to the English press, the manager explained that the main reason was performance on the pitch, at a time of strong competition for places.
There are new faces too. Lexi Potter, the 20-year-old Chelsea midfielder, earned her first senior call-up. Erica Meg Parkinson returns to the group, and captain Leah Williamson is back after missing the June matches through injury.
Impact on the team and the competition
Wiegman's message is clear: reputation does not guarantee a place. The manager made it plain that the door remains open, but she expects a response at club level.
In midfield, Toone's absence opens room for a younger generation. Potter arrives in good form at Chelsea and gets the chance to prove herself in matches that matter a lot.
Up front, England lose a player used to deciding games off the bench. Kelly built her reputation in the highest-pressure moments. Without her, other forwards will need to take on that role.
In Wiegman's England, the past earns respect. Only the present earns a place.
Reaction from the football world
The English press treated the omissions as a surprise. Specialist outlets highlighted how important both players have been in recent years and described the decision as a show of firmness from the manager.
The general tone was that Wiegman proved she is not afraid to move on from established names when form drops. The reading is that internal competition has become tougher.
Among supporters, opinions were split. Toone and Kelly are hugely popular figures, and their absence from knockout matches naturally sparks debate.
Leaving two European Champions out of a tie with a World Cup place at stake is a risky bet. If England slip up, the decision will be questioned.
Relevant history
Toone and Kelly are tied to England's greatest moments. In the Euro 2022 final at Wembley, against Germany, Toone opened the scoring and Kelly scored the winner in extra time.
In 2023, both were part of the squad that reached the World Cup final, lost to Spain. In 2025, England won the Euros again, and Kelly converted the decisive penalty in the final, once more against Spain.
Wiegman has been in charge since 2021 and led the team to three consecutive major tournament finals. That record gives her the backing to make unpopular calls.
Kelly decided two Euro finals: the winning goal in 2022 and the title-clinching penalty in 2025.
Numbers and statistics
The numbers show the size of the task. There are two matches against Greece in the space of four days, and another stage still to come after that.
The winner of the tie moves on to the second round of the play-offs, against Slovakia or Ukraine. Only the winner of that final stage secures a place at the World Cup in Brazil.
Wiegman's squad has 23 players, including one first-time call-up.
What comes next
The first step is the opening leg on 9 October at the Pankritio Stadium in Crete. Four days later, the tie is settled in Leicester in front of the home crowd.
Wiegman said she respects Greece but made it clear the expectation is to win both matches. If they go through, England return for the second round of the play-offs later in the year.
For Toone and Kelly, the path runs through their clubs. The manager said she believes both can deliver more, and a good run could put them back in the next squad.
Expert opinion
The decision is tough but consistent. A team that wants to stay at the top cannot pick players out of gratitude. Wiegman has always rewarded form, and this time the rule hit big names.
The risk is real. Play-offs are nervy affairs, and experience in decisive games cannot be bought. Giving up two players used to that pressure is a bet only the result will validate.
For the women's game, the episode shows maturity. Competition in England has grown so much that European Champions have to fight for their place. It is a sign of a strong generation coming through.
Wiegman sent a message to the whole squad, not just to Toone and Kelly. On the final stretch to Brazil, nobody has a guaranteed seat. If England beat Greece with authority, the manager comes out even stronger. If they stumble, this squad list will be remembered for a long time.
