Much is expected of England this summer (Picture: Naomi Baker – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
England head into the Women’s World Cup 2023 with the weight of the nation’s expectations on their shoulders following their stunning Euro 2022 victory last year.
The triumph on home soil 12 months ago sees the Lionesses start the tournament as one of the favourites to win the trophy for the first time in their history.
However, England’s preparations for the World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand for the very first time, have been far from ideal with Sarina Wiegman having to cope with the absence of three star players who have been ruled out through injury.
Here is your full guide to England’s World Cup 2023 campaign on the eve of this year’s tournament.
When do England play?
England have been drawn in Group D alongside Denmark, China and Haiti.
England have been settling in Down Under (Picture: Naomi Baker – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
The team will get their World Cup campaign underway against Haiti on Saturday, July 22 in Brisbane.
England will then have almost a week to prepare for their second group game against Denmark on Friday, July 28 in Sydney.
Their group stage will end in Adelaide when they face China on Tuesday, August 1.
England group stage fixtures
England vs Denmark (Friday, July 28, 9.30am BST)
China vs England (Tuesday, August 1, 12pm BST)
How to watch on TV
The BBC and ITV are sharing live coverage of this year’s Women’s World Cup.
England’s fixture against Denmark will be shown live on the BBC, whilst the games against Haiti and Denmark will be broadcast on ITV.
The BBC will then be the place to be to watch England’s Round of 16 clash, if indeed the Lionesses progress from the group as expected.
As well as the BBC and ITV channels, England games will also be streamed simultaneously on iPlayer and ITVX.
Who could England play in the Round of 16?
England are the heavy favourites to qualify from the group stage as winners.
In the event they do indeed top Group D, they would play the runners-up of Group B, which contains Australia, Canada, Nigeria and Republic of Ireland.
The Round of 16 match would take place on Monday, August 7 at 8.30am.
However, a runners-up spot for England would see them in action later in the day at 11.30am.
Sarina Wiegman is looking to mastermind back-to-back tournament wins (Picture: Naomi Baker – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Who is in the England squad?
Wiegman has named a 23-player strong squad for the World Cup, which is largely the same group that triumphed at the Euros last year.
However, there are a number of hugely significant exceptions, such as captain Leah Williamson who is missing the tournament after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a WSL game against Manchester United back in April.
Chelsea forward Fran Kirby has undergone knee surgery on an injury sustained in the Continental Cup against West Ham in February and will play no part this summer.
Euro 2022 Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot winner Beth Mead will also be watching the action from home after failing to recover from rupturing her ACL whilst playing for Arsenal last November.
Millie Bright, who was nursing her own knee injury in the final few weeks of the season, will be the captain in Williamson’s absence.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Ellie Roebuck
Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Lotte Wubben-Moy
Midfielders: Laura Coombes, Jordan Nobbs, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Katie Zelem, Kiera Walsh
Strikers: Rachel Daly, Beth England, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Katie Robinson, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo
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