### England's Lionesses Face Turbulent Times Ahead of Euro 2025 The England women's national football team, known as the Lionesses, is gearing up for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 tournament amidst significant challenges. Head coach Sarina Wiegman has named her 23-player squad, but the announcement comes on the heels of a tumultuous month that saw key players retire and others withdraw for health reasons. Notably, defender Millie Bright has stepped back to focus on her mental health, while goalkeeper Mary Earps and forward Fran Kirby have announced their retirements from international football. Despite these setbacks, Wiegman remains optimistic, asserting that the team is not in crisis and has the depth to compete effectively in the tournament [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/sport/video-3451411/It-doesnt-feel-like-crisis-says-Lioness-Manager.html][https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13379608/england-squad-sarina-wiegman-says-lionesses-are-not-in-crisis-after-mary-earps-and-millie-bright-withdrew-from-euro-2025-duty]. ### Breakdown of the Current Situation 1. **Squad Announcement**: Sarina Wiegman has officially named her squad for Euro 2025, which includes a mix of experienced players and newcomers like Michelle Agyemang [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6404134/2025/06/05/england-womens-euro-2025-squad-analysed]. 2. **Player Withdrawals**: The team has faced significant player withdrawals: - Millie Bright withdrew for mental health reasons [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/millie-bright-england-squad-euro-2025-b2763474.html]. - Mary Earps and Fran Kirby have both retired from international duty [https://www.apnews.com/article/fran-kirby-england-retires-b14d8f795f1df2e674a315e4ae21f17e]. 3. **Inclusion of Key Players**: Despite the challenges, Lauren James has been included in the squad, recovering from a hamstring injury, which is seen as a significant boost for the team [https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/45456464/england-squad-women-euro-2025-lauren-james-injury]. 4. **Wiegman's Confidence**: Wiegman has expressed confidence in her squad's ability to perform, emphasizing that the team has enough experience and balance to compete effectively [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/england-euro-2025-squad-lionesses-womens-b2764086.html]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Key Player Statistics**: - **Millie Bright**: Withdrew citing inability to give 100% [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/millie-bright-england-squad-euro-2025-b2763474.html]. - **Mary Earps**: Retired after a successful career, including a pivotal role in Euro 2022 [https://www.apnews.com/article/fran-kirby-england-retires-b14d8f795f1df2e674a315e4ae21f17e]. - **Lauren James**: Included despite recent injury concerns, showcasing resilience [https://www.abc27.com/sports/sports-illustrated/7a8a33e4/sarina-wiegman-names-england-squad-for-2025-womens-euros]. ### Conclusion: Navigating Challenges Ahead of Euro 2025 In summary, the England Lionesses are preparing for Euro 2025 under challenging circumstances, marked by significant player withdrawals and retirements. However, Sarina Wiegman's leadership and the inclusion of key players like Lauren James provide a glimmer of hope. The team's depth and experience will be crucial as they aim to defend their title in Switzerland. 1. **Current Challenges**: Key player withdrawals and retirements have created uncertainty. 2. **Squad Composition**: A blend of youth and experience is present in the squad. 3. **Wiegman's Optimism**: The head coach remains confident in the team's capabilities. The Lionesses will kick off their campaign on July 5, 2025, against France, with the hopes of overcoming recent setbacks and achieving success once again [https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12016/13379130/england-womens-euro-2025-squad-lauren-james-in-as-sarina-wiegman-names-23-player-squad].