Football world cup winners list

ENGLAND manager Sarina Wiegman has named her 23-woman squad for this year’s World Cup.

Wiegman has made seven changes to last year’s European Championship winning squad.

The 2023 Women’s World Cup – which will take place in Australia and New Zealand – is set to kick off on July 20.

England’s first match, against Haiti, is scheduled for July 22.

The Lionesses are also set to face China and Denmark in the group stages.

Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton and Ellie Roebuck remain the 53-year-old’s preferred goalkeepers.

Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Alex Greenwood, Millie Bright and Lotte Wubben-Moy keep their respective places along with midfielders Kiera Walsh, Ella Toone and Georgia Stanway.

England’s attacking options include; Bethany England, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly – who claimed the WSL Golden Boot award at the weekend.

Daly, who started all six of England’s Euro 2022 games as a left-back, signed for Aston Villa last summer and enjoyed an impressive 2022-23 campaign in the No.9 role, scoring 22 times and equalling Vivianne Miedema’s record for the most goals scored in a single WSL season.

Lauren James is set to make her first appearance at a major tournament following her successful season with Chelsea, as is Esme Morgan, Niamh Charles, Katie Zelem, Laura Coombs and Katie Robinson.

Jordan Nobbs returns to the squad after missing out on Euro 2022 due to a knee injury.

England captain Leah Williamson was ruled out of the tournament in April after sustaining a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

She is set to pass the captain’s armband to vice skipper Bright.

Beth Mead – Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner and Player of the Tournament – has also missed out on a spot in the squad due to an ACL injury she sustained in November.

Earlier this month, the 28-year-old revealed that she was hopeful of earning a place in the squad despite missing a large chunk of the season.

She told Sky Sports: “The injury’s okay, I’m a good five months in and back on the pitch and kicking a ball again, feeling good, ahead of schedule. That’s all I can do that’s in my control right now.

“I wouldn’t say I’m confident [of going to the World Cup] because it’s out of my control, but I’m working hard to get as close to it as possible – but at the end of the day, it’s probably going to be Sarina’s decision.”

However, Wiegman believes the tournament comes too soon for the Arsenal star.

Chelsea midfielder Fran Kirby is also set to miss out on the tournament.

The 29-year-old was ruled out for a “significant” period earlier this month after it was revealed that she required knee surgery.

When naming her chosen squad, Wieman said: “I have huge belief in this squad and we’re very fortunate to be selecting a fantastic group of players to travel to Australia.

“We know we will face tough challenges from strong teams, and we will have to be competitive from the first match on 22 July. We will do

“It is important the players get some well-deserved time to rest and recover over the next few weeks before we start the final preparations to get them ready.

“We learned a lot of positive lessons about how to get the players fit, fresh and ready from the EURO last summer and we know what we have to do to make sure we hit the ground running in the right way when the tournament starts.”

Steph Houghton, Maya Le Tissier and Nikita Parris narrowly miss out on a spot in the squad.

Le Tissier has been named on the standby list along with Jess Park and goalkeeper Emily Ramsey.

Wiegman added: “It is always tough to leave some players out of the squad, but they know they could still be needed if we have any issues before we start the tournament. I am very happy that we have such a professional group.”

LIVERPOOL legend Steve Finnan is set to auction off his 2005 Champions League winners medal after racking up £3.6million of debt.

Former Ireland defender Finnan, 44, will pawn off a number of his most prized possessions including a signed jersey from the night.

Finnan started the final in Istanbul, which is regarded as one of the most remarkable games in football history, where Liverpool mounted a comeback from 3-0 down to go on to win the title.

And now Finnan is preparing to say goodbye to the memorabilia as he desperately needs to raise some quick cash.

Finnan’s Champions League winning medal has been listed on Graham Budd Auctions.

It is expected to fetch between £11,800 and £15,400 while the two signed jerseys on the site range between £725 and £2550.

A Champions League replica trophy has been listed between £5000 and £7000.

His Champions League final runner up medal from 2007, which his side lost to AC Milan, is also up for grabs.

The 44-year-old will also be parting ways with a Frank Muller Conquistador wristwatch that was presented to him after the 2005 final and is worth close to £20,000.

Earlier this month it was reported that Finnan was tackling debts of over £3.6m after his London Property development business collapsed.

The former Portsmouth defender was involved in a number of investments based around the Wimbledon area of London.

But he fell out with his business partner and brother Sean over the management of the business and has moved to get him declared bankrupt.

Finnan had an illustrious career at Liverpool where he played five seasons at the club.

Along with starting their two Champions League finals, Finnan played over 200 times for the Merseyside club and also won an FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup.

And Limerick man Finnan will be auctioning off his medals – with his 2006 FA Cup winning medal expected to fetch up to £7260.

Before moving to Liverpool, Finnan became a club legend at London side Fulham.

He was twice included in the PFA Team of the Year in the First and Second Division while also picking up the Club Player of the Year award in 2002.

And the retired right back established himself as one of the best defenders in world football and was named in the Premier League Team of the Year alongside Shay Given and Roy Keane for the 2001-02 season.

After leaving Liverpool, Finnan played for Spanish club Espanyol before heading back to England for a season to play with Portsmouth where his final appearance in football was in the 2010 FA Cup final loss to Chelsea before retiring.

Finnan also went on to play 52 times for Ireland, scoring twice for his country and featured in all four of their World Cup games in 2002.

Coming off the bench against Holland in 2001, Finnan provided the cross that was finished by Jason McAteer in an unlikely 1-0 win that helped earn Ireland a World Cup play-off.

And Finnan follows the same fate as former team-mate David James, who also had to auction off his footballing memorabilia back in 2014.

The former England shot stopper was declared bankrupt six years ago and auctioned 150 signed shirts, match balls and shorts as he looked to clear his debts.

Lionel Messi will snub a world record offer from Saudi Arabia to join Inter Miami.

The Argentina international has rejected Saudi side Al-Hilal and a return to Barcelona to join the MLS franchise co-owned by England and Manchester United legend David Beckham.

The 35-year-old, whose contract at Paris Saint-Germain will expire at the end of the month , was offered the most lucrative contract in football as part of the region’s attempts to bring the biggest names in the sport to the Saudi Pro League.

Al-Hilal’s offer was reportedly worth an astonishing £522million, more than what Cristiano Ronaldo is earning at Al-Nassr.

Barcelona have also attempted to bring the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner back to the club having shattered records during his 17 years at the Camp Nou.

But Messi is now poised to join Inter Miami to see out the remainder of his playing years.

Messi’s deal will include collaborations from brands like Adidas and Apple, according to BBC Sport.

Inter Miami recently parted ways with head coach Phil Neville, sacked after defeat to New York Red Bulls left them bottom of the Eastern Conference after 15 games.

Messi’s father and agent and Barcelona president Joan Laporta met on a number of occasions to discuss the World Cup winner’s return, having left the club in 2021.

‘Leo wants to return to Barca and I would like him to return too,’ Messi’s father Jorge told Jijantes on Monday. ‘We trust that Leo can return. I don’t know anything yet.

‘He would love it (to return to Barça). We already spoke the other day (with Laporta). Of course you would like to come back. We have to talk about millions of things but he would love to come back.’

Reports in Spain suggest potential complications over registering the legendary no10 amid the club’s financial uncertainty impacted their efforts to re-sign him.

While Messi will not be among them, clubs in Saudi meanwhile have made significant moves in recent weeks to sign some of football’s most established stars.

Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema became the latest star of he game to head to Saudi this week, joining champions Al-Ittihad with Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante thought to be close to joining his compatriot at the club.

Premier League stars Ilkay Gundogan and Wilfried Zaha have also been targeted.

MORE : The full list of famous players to have joined the Saudi Pro League so far

MORE : Everything you need to know about Lionel Messi’s reported new club Inter Miami

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PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN are reportedly frustrated with Neymar because of his trip to the Monaco Grand Prix.

The Brazilian visited the paddock at the famous race and mingled with the likes of Maria Sharapova , Kylie Minogue and Tom Holland.

He posed for photos with A-list celebrities while his PSG team-mates attended the club’s Ligue Un title celebrations.

Neymar has been out injured since February but he is a prominent figure in the dressing room.

And his decision to instead enjoy a day at F1 has been viewed as a provocative gesture by PSG, according to L’Equipe .

Neymar, 31, even attended Barcelona’s LaLiga winning celebrations – raising more questions within the club.

It comes amid reports the forward could leave this summer, with four Premier League clubs reportedly interested in the superstar.

Newcastle are believed to be one of the teams pursuing his transfer with Toon eyeing several Galaticos.

PSG are said to be prepared to listed to offers for Neymar, with SunSport revealing Manchester United could make a move .

But that might only happen if potential owner Sheikh Jassim takes over the club.

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The French champions accept Lionel Messi could be off in the summer when his contract expires.

The World Cup winner was also absent at PSG’s title celebrations with the forward instead enjoying a Coldplay concert in Barcelona .