Ella Toone called into England squad as Lucy Bronze withdraws before Greece play-off

England have called Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone into their squad for the Women’s World Cup play-off against Greece, BBC Sport reported on 8 October. Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze has left the squad and returned to her club to manage a minor injury. The changes come before Friday’s first leg in Heraklion, Crete, as England seek a place in the next qualifying round.

Toone’s call-up reverses her omission from the 23-player squad head coach Sarina Wiegman named on 29 September. Bronze was in that original group. BBC Sport said Bronze sustained her injury in league action against West Ham last weekend; its report gave no timetable for her return. It did not publish an updated full squad list or identify any further changes.

Why Ella Toone was left out of England’s original squad

Toone and Arsenal winger Chloe Kelly were both absent when Wiegman announced the squad. Wiegman told BBC Sport that, in her opinion, they had not played to their potential in the preceding weeks. The Guardian reported her explanation at the time: their performances had not reached the level she expected, and competition for places also shaped the selection.

The decision was a significant one for Toone, who has scored 24 goals in 69 senior England appearances, according to BBC Sport. She made her senior debut in February 2021, was part of England’s Euro 2022 and Euro 2025 winning teams, and started the 2023 World Cup final defeat by Spain. After being left out, she said: ‘It’s been a really difficult week. It’s not the news that any footballer wants.’

Lucy Bronze’s withdrawal before the Greece matches

Bronze’s departure removes a defender named in the Football Association’s original squad. BBC Sport described the injury as minor and said she had gone back to Chelsea to manage it. The available report does not say how long she will be out or whether she could be available for either leg. England’s confirmed change is her departure from this squad, without a stated recovery date.

When England face Greece and what is at stake

England are due to play Greece at Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion on Friday 9 October, with kick-off at 5.30pm BST. The second leg is scheduled for Tuesday 13 October at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium, starting at 7.30pm BST. BBC Sport reported that the Lionesses arrived in Crete on Wednesday evening to prepare for the opening match.

Progress against Greece would take England into another two-legged play-off against Slovakia or Ukraine. The FA said the winners of that later tie would qualify for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil. England’s place at the tournament is therefore still undecided: the Greece games are the first of two possible play-off rounds, and neither tie has a result in the reports available before Friday’s match.

Wiegman said in the FA’s squad announcement that England respected Greece and wanted to win both games to move closer to qualification. The Guardian reported that England reached the play-offs after winning five of six qualifying matches but finishing behind Spain on the head-to-head record. England were runners-up to Spain at the 2023 World Cup. For now, the immediate questions are how Wiegman uses Toone after recalling her and how England covers Bronze’s absence; the published reports do not confirm a starting line-up or Bronze’s return date.