Controversy and Spotlight on Chloe Kelly’s Omission
Chloe Kelly, the 27-year-old forward who captured headlines with her dramatic goal that secured England’s Euro 2022 victory, has been notably absent from Sarina Wiegman’s latest Lionesses squad. The decision to omit Kelly from the team heading into their Nations League matches against Portugal and Spain has sparked considerable debate. Kelly, a key player for Manchester City, found herself struggling for game time this season, a situation that culminated in a January loan move to Arsenal. Her limited appearances, with just one start in six top-flight matches, inevitably impacted her chances of retaining her place in the national squad.
Struggles and Transition at Manchester City
Kelly’s journey at Manchester City this season has been fraught with challenges. The WSL star found herself on the bench more often than not, and her frustration reached a boiling point when she left the club. In a candid and emotional statement, Kelly expressed her disappointment, describing her situation as one where her "dreams were being crushed." The forward was unequivocal in her desire to be in a position where she could "give it her best shot" to represent her country. Her departure from City was not just a move for the club but a personal statement of her intentions and aspirations.
Hope and Opportunity at Arsenal
Despite the setback, Kelly has found a new home at Arsenal, where she has been training and is hoping to get back on the field. England boss Sarina Wiegman has maintained a positive tone, emphasizing that the door is still open for Kelly to return to the national team. Wiegman, speaking about the decision, noted, "Chloe hasn’t played enough in my opinion. She’s moved clubs now. Last autumn she hardly played but, as I said (then), she built some credit, but over that time she’s made less minutes." The 55-year-old manager further explained, "Now she needs to get started at Arsenal, get some minutes in, get playing and showing what she’s about, and then we can revisit." This Sunday’s North London derby against Tottenham could see Kelly making her debut for Arsenal, a crucial opportunity for her to showcase her skills and重启她的国家队生涯。
Nikita Parris的回归与新机遇
在Chloe Kelly缺席的同时,英格兰队迎来了一位熟悉面孔的回归:Nikita Parris。这位30岁的前锋自2022年11月以来首次重返国家队。Parris在本赛季为Brighton效力期间表现出色,共出场13次,贡献了4个进球和2次助攻。她的回归不仅为球队补充了经验和进攻火力,也反映了她在俱乐部层面的出色表现。Wiegman对Parris的回归表示了高度期待,她说:“我们谈到了队内的竞争,以及Lauren Hemp的受伤。Nikita知道国际比赛中所需要的一切,我希望她在我们的环境中能够抓住这个机会。”
伤病与竞争:英格兰队当前的挑战
英格兰队目前正面临着一些伤病问题,尤其是前锋线上的多名关键球员。除了Lauren Hemp和Fran Kirby,Georgia Stanway和Alex Greenwood也在恢复中,将无法参加对葡萄牙和西班牙的比赛。Wiegman在宣布新阵容时明确表示:“我们需要应对队内的竞争,同时也要处理伤病问题。”尽管这些伤病给球队带来了挑战,但也为其他球员提供了展现自己的机会。Parris的回归和Kelly的潜在回归都为英格兰队注入了新的活力和希望。
展望未来:机会与挑战
英格兰队在即将到来的Nations League比赛中将面临强大的对手,包括葡萄牙和世界冠军西班牙。这些比赛不仅将考验球队的竞技水平,也将为年轻球员和回归的球员提供宝贵的经验。Wiegman强调了队内的竞争和球员的表现重要性,她表示:“我们希望看到球员们在场上展现出最好的自己,无论是在俱乐部还是国家队。”对于Chloe Kelly来说,抓住在阿森纳的比赛机会,重新证明自己,将是她重返国家队的关键。而对于Nikita Parris,这次回归不仅是个人的机会,也是对整个英格兰队的一次有力补充。
