Chelsea’s stars are back on international duty ahead of the launch of the Women’s Super League season on the first day of October.
England play two games, against Scotland and the Netherlands, with the UK clash offering the intriguing prospect of midfielder Erin Cuthbert facing Blues teammates Lauren James, Millie Bright, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles and new keeper Hannah Hampton.
Although Mellie Leupolz has now retired from international football, to spend more time with her young son, both Ann-Katrin Berger and Sjoeke Nusken will play for Germany against Denmark, and then Iceland.
Also on duty are Swedes Zecira Musovic and Jo Kaneryd, while Guro Reiten and Maren Mjelde turn out for Norway in their matches against Portugal and Austria.
Sophie Ingle, Jelena Cankovic and Eve Perisset are also playing for Wales, Serbia and France respectively, while there are long-haul flights for American Mia Fishel and Canadians Jessie Fleming, Kadeisha Buchanan and Ash Lawrence. They play Jamaica home and away in a Paris Olympics double-header qualifier.
Remarkably, Lawrence has more than 100 caps for Canada, with her proudest achievement being winning gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Chelsea’s embarrassment of riches on the goalkeeping front has meant Nicky Evrard, signed in the summer, will spend the next season out on loan, getting matches under her belt at Brighton & Hove Albion. The 28-year-old Belgian won’t be able to face her parent club when Brighton visit Kingsmeadow on 22 October.
Tickets are still selling for Chelsea’s opening league game at Stamford Bridge on Sunday 1 October. Kickoff at 5.30pm. More details here on the Chelsea FC website.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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