Sarina Wiegman has drawn a line in the sand. Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone — two of the most celebrated names in Lionesses history — have been left out of England's squad for the Women's World Cup play-off against Greece. Form beats reputation. That's the message.
Kelly's omission comes with a medical footnote: her representatives confirmed she has been managing a hamstring injury since the start of the season and will use the international window to rehabilitate. She's also a doubt for Arsenal's Champions League tie against Paris FC. But the injury context only tells half the story. She's started once in four WSL games this season, totalling 124 minutes. Wiegman cut her in February for the same reason — not enough game time — and the words she used then still apply now: "She hasn't played enough."
Two heroes, one era that's fading
At Euro 2022, Kelly and Toone were match-winners. Toone's composed finish put England ahead in the final. Kelly's penalty shootout heroics in Switzerland delivered back-to-back European titles. These aren't peripheral figures — they're part of the fabric of England's best-ever women's football period.
But the WSL seasons that followed those peaks haven't been kind to either player. Toone has started three of United's league games this season, missed a match entirely for what Eva Olid diplomatically called a "technical decision", and only just returned to the starting XI. Her first call-up back in June, after a lengthy hip injury, led to no minutes against Ukraine and an appearance in a 4-0 loss to Spain. Hardly the form you build a World Cup play-off squad around.
Kelly's situation at Arsenal is more concerning. Moving clubs was supposed to reignite her career, but she's barely featured. A 61st-minute sub in a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea last Sunday. One start in four WSL games. Arsenal declined to comment — which says plenty on its own.
What this means beyond the squad announcement
England are in a World Cup play-off. This is not a friendly, not a squad rotation exercise. Wiegman is picking the team she trusts most to get a result against Greece, and neither Kelly nor Toone made the cut. That's a selection with consequences — for the players, and for England's attacking depth going into these games.
Those betting on England's qualification path should note the squad is being built on players in form right now, not on name value. That's a coherent approach, but it does narrow the attacking options available if the starting plan doesn't click against Greece.
Wiegman has always been clear-eyed about selection. "She hasn't played enough" — she said it about Kelly in February, and the situation hasn't materially changed. The door isn't locked. But it isn't open either.
