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Good evening and welcome to coverage of England women’s first step towards defending their Euro 2022 title.
The Lionesses host Sweden this evening at Wembley and are ready to welcome back Leah Williamson, who captained them to glory 18 months ago.
Williamson has not featured for her country since suffering an ACL injury last April, having pulled out of a training squad in March with a hamstring strain.
But England coach Sarina Wiegman believes Leah Williamson prepared to make her long-awaited return.
“We need to manage it a little bit. She had a full training session on Wednesday, she will be on the pitch today (Thursday), so that looks really good,” Wiegman said.
“We know where she has come from, she is still building but she is in a good place and she is ready, if she comes through today OK.
“It’s just really good that she is back, first of all for herself because she is so excited to come back, that means she is fit, it is good to have a quality player in the squad.
“We are in a good place already and now we are in an even better place.”
“We have another training session. Leah is our team captain – that will not change, but we want to get through this training session first and then see what final decision we make tomorrow,” the Dutchwoman added.
“If she plays, she would be captain, we just want to get through the training session and see how she is and how the team is. She needs that team environment from where she has come.”
The last time England faced Sweden was in 2022, in the semi-final of the Euros. On that occasion, Alessia Russo produced an audacious backheel finish on the way to a 4-0 win.
Team news from Wembley coming very shortly.
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