England Women World Cup squad 2019: Who's on the plane to France, who's close and who's missing out

Lucy Bronze

The only question mark hovering over the England career of the world’s best right back is whether she will actually remain a right back at the World Cup. In Neville’s more experimental team selections Bronze has been shifted into midfield, a move that has proved inspired (see: the SheBelieves Cup games against Japan and USA, which turned on Bronze’s vision in the centre of the park) but at other times testing. Bronze did not exert her will on proceedings so effectively against Canada but Neville will not overlook a player of her quality.

Ellen White

Domestically White marked her return from a three-month injury lay-off with a 93rd-minute winner for Birmingham against Chelsea, and she has barely stopped since. She scored England’s leveller against Brazil at the SheBelieves Cup and her sublime finish against Spain, a sumptuous chip over the keeper from Jill Scott’s teasing delivery, portrayed a striker not only rich in confidence but capable of flourishing in Neville’s brief for a side which dominates the ball with relentless forward thrust.

Karen Bardsley

Neville has vowed to take a “horses for courses” approach to his goalkeeper selection but has chiefly favoured Carly Telford and Manchester City’s Bardsley in recent weeks. Bardsley, 34, started all of England’s games at the 2015 World Cup and despite jostling with Ellie Roebuck for a club starting berth this season, her experience told in City’s League Cup final victory over Arsenal on penalties in February, where she saved two. It would be maddening in the extreme for Neville to overlook her experience.

Carly Telford

At Chelsea Telford is one of four keepers who could all reasonably expect to be first-choice starters at any other club, and her struggle for a starting berth at club level has been mirrored internationally. Since her England debut in 2007 she has won just 18 caps, waiting patiently behind Bardsley and Manchester United’s Siobhan Chamberlain, yet started more than half of England’s games at the SheBelieves Cup earlier this year and has adapted well to Neville’s sweeper-keeper brief. At 31, this is likely Telford’s penultimate chance of playing at a World Cup. It is unlikely Neville will leave her behind.

Beth Mead

It is difficult to think of a player whose England stock has risen as rapidly as Mead’s. The Arsenal forward, who made her international debut in April last year against Wales, took her tally to five goals in 12 Lionesses appearances with her finish against Spain this week. Neville spoke in his post-match interview about how Mead had evolved from “the nicest girl you could ever hope to meet” to one whose looks could kill when he has told her she will not start. By that logic a World Cup place surely looms.

Nikita Parris

The Manchester City forward is the deadliest English striker in the Women’s Super League and would have coasted to the Golden Boot if not for Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema. While her finishing can leave something to be desired, Parris, together with Bronze, is one of England’s most potent threats down the right and causes all manner of issues when running at defences. It is impossible to imagine her not making the plane to France.

Fran Kirby

The reigning Women’s Player of the Year has found her season punctured by injuries and failed to rediscover her form from last season, but in her best moments has shown enough of the genius that saw Mark Sampson dub her ‘Mini Messi’ at the 2015 World Cup. Neville is highly unlikely to disregard Kirby’s unique playmaking ability and suddenly U-turn on a player who has been a part of his plans from the outset.

Jodie Taylor and Toni Duggan

Neville will not pass over forwards with the experience of Euro 2017 Golden Boot winner Taylor or Barcelona striker Duggan. Despite a sketchy performance against Canada on her last outing, Taylor made her England return against Japan at the SheBelieves Cup and ran the game from start to finish to mark her return from a lengthy injury absence. Duggan’s style has developed significantly during her Barcelona spell, something the nimble 27-year-old demonstrated against Spain.

Karen Carney and Georgia Stanway

Carney continues to impress at club level, where she routinely pulls all the strings for Chelsea. Her form has been more chequered for England of late but something dramatic would have to happen for her to miss out. Manchester City’s Stanway, 20, has plundered goals for fun in the league and convinced in the few moments Neville has called on her. She would be a reliable impact player for her country and has outperformed Chioma Ubogagu, her closest rival for a place in the squad.

Jade Moore

Exactly a year had passed between Moore’s last England appearance and her start against Spain, so staggered have injuries left Moore’s career. Neville was quick to praise the “takes no prisoners” mentality of his midfield leader. Moore, Neville says, has been significant in grounding the squad given the hype around their impending World Cup campaign, and her quiet off-field leadership may go some way to filling the absence of Jordan Nobbs.

Alex Greenwood, Millie Bright and Demi Stokes

Manchester United captain Greenwood has always acquitted herself adeptly to whatever England have tasked her with and it is difficult to imagine her being cut from the squad now. The same goes for Chelsea captain Bright, who has previously withdrawn from England camps with the sole aim of managing her fitness ahead of the tournament. It is also unlikely Stokes, instrumental for Manchester City, will be dropped.

Jill Scott and Keira Walsh

Scott captained England to their win over Spain to earn her 134th cap, and has been so reliable during that time that Neville confessed to often taking her for granted. Her guile and steel will be huge for England this summer, even more so when complemented by the vision of Walsh. Walsh seized the opportunity presented to her by the SheBelieves Cup and has not looked back since.

Leah Williamson and Rachel Daly

22-year-old Williamson made her 100th Arsenal appearance earlier this season and has predictably inched her way into the England squad over the past year. It is unlikely Williamson, a surefire starter at club level, will be left behind, and the same goes for Daly, who Neville often jokes “can play in every position bar goalkeeper”. She has played up front and at right back for Neville and he clearly relishes her versatility.

Jury still out

Ellie Roebuck and Mary Earps

19-year-old Roebuck held down a starting berth with ease for the first half of the season at title-chasing Manchester City, but whether she makes Neville’s 23 will depend on whether he prioritises the experience of Wolfsburg goalkeeper Earps over giving Roebuck an invaluable taste of tournament football. Earps has barely featured at club level and has played just 45 minutes for England this calendar year, but was her country’s best player in their friendly against Australia last October.

Izzy Christiansen

At the SheBelieves Cup Christiansen asserted that her move to Lyon means she can “bring so much to this England team that I’ve never been able to give before”, but has since been forced to have surgery on an ankle injury she picked up in the early stages of the final game against Japan. Neville is still anxiously waiting for the news that will almost exclusively determine Christiansen’s fate.

Abbie McManus and Gemma Bonner

Manchester City defender McManus would prove a versatile addition to Neville’s squad and get the job done, while Bonner is Neville’s go-to choice in the event of injuries. It is hard to imagine either, though, unseating any of England’s first-choice defenders when Neville can only select 23 players. One is unlikely to make the cut.

Lucy Staniforth

The Birmingham City midfielder won plaudits from Alan Shearer with her cool finishing at the SheBelieves Cup, but given her inexperience on the international stage her fate is more likely to be determined by the fitness of Fran Kirby and Izzy Christiansen.

Failed to seize opportunity

Chioma Ubogagu

The forward, who switched allegiance from USA to England last year has largely featured from the bench for Neville but probably remains too much of an enigma to earn a spot on an already crowded plane.