England Call-Ups (Breakers & WPS Content)

Do players normally accept the call-ups for friendlies?

 

Yes ..particlarly this one. England are in preparation for the Euros in August. Its important that all players turn up.

 

Kelly Smith gave an interview with an English radio station this morning stating that she was flying back next week in preperation for the friendly vs. Norway. So her and Alex will not be playing in the Freedom game on the 18th and most likely not in the game on the 25th either.

Looking ahead the other English friendlies are 7/16 vs. Iceland and 7/22 vs. Denmark so it stands to reason both Kelly and Alex will be missing from the games on July 12th vs. Sky Blue, the 15th vs. Red Stars, the 19th vs. Gold Pride, and most likely will only be late game subs at best vs. SkyBlue on the 25th. Hope Powell screwed us big time in her scheduling of these friendlies. And of course they are both gone for the playoffs.

As for the US and Canadian friendlies. May 20th, 23rd, and 25th. All of them occur during the bye week. So it would appear the only game we will be missing that group of players would be the May 17th match vs. the Freedom. But that is a sizable list which includes Latham, Chapman, Lilly, Mitts, Lepeibet, Luckenbill, Rodriguez, and Hucles. This is going off the most recent player pool list. I doubt all of those US players will have to report though.

 

Interesting news about the radio interview. If they are going to miss the game on the 18th the Breakers team/management is being much more flexible & accommodating than required by FIFA for a friendly.

 

So does that mean that Karen Carney will be missing from Chicago Red stars as well? Our home opener is on the 19th of April. I sure hope both of them will be there for the game in Chicago on the 25th.

 

All English WPS players are said to have the same clause in their contracts. (Source here.)