By Celia Balf On Tuesday, England head coach Phil Neville and Wales head coach Jayne Ludlow announced their rosters that will match up for a 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying game on Friday, April 6 at Southampton FC’s St. Mary’s Stadium. England’s squad is fresh off a second place finish at the 2018 SheBelieves […]

By Celia BalfOn Tuesday, England head coach Phil Neville and Wales head coach Jayne Ludlow announced their rosters that will match up for a 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying game on Friday, April 6 at Southampton FC’s St. Mary’s Stadium. England’s squad is fresh off a second place finish at the 2018 SheBelieves Cup which moved the Lionesses up to No. 2 in the world. Neville named Houston Dash’s Rachel Daly and Seattle Reign’s Jodie Taylor to the roster. Daly and Taylor both played important roles in NWSL Week 1 action, with Daly involved in several attacking chances in Houston, and Taylor scoring a goal to lift Reign FC over the Washington Spirit. This is Taylor’s first NWSL season back after previously playing for the Washington Spirit (2014) and Portland Thorns FC (2015). Last summer, Taylor won the Golden Boot at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 tournament with five goals as England made it to the semifinals. After facing Wales, England will meet Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday, April 10, Russia on Friday, June 8, Wales for a second-meeting on Friday, August 31 and will close out WWC qualifying matches against Kazakhstan on Tuesday, September 4. Wales currently sit at the top of Group A, and will travel to England before hosting Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday, June 7, Russia on June 12 and England on Friday, August 31. Ludlow’s squad features Seattle Reign FC midfielder Jess Fishlock who helped the Reign to a victory in Week 1 play. Fishlock scored seven goals for the Reign last season, which was the second-best on the team behind Megan Rapinoe.

England roster

Goalkeepers: Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), Mary Earps (Reading), Carly Telford (Chelsea).

Defenders: Hannah Blundell (Chelsea), Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Lyon), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Gabrielle George (Everton), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Abbie McManus (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Isobel Christiansen (Manchester City), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Keira Walsh (Manchester City), Fara Williams (Reading).

Forwards: Toni Duggan (Barcelona), Melissa Lawley (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Manchester City), Jodie Taylor (Seattle Reign), Ellen White (Birmingham City).

Wales roster

Laura O’Sullivan (GK), Claire Skinner (GK), Loren Dykes (DF), Rachel Rowe (DF), Sophie Ingle (MF), Hayley Ladd (DF), Rhiannon Roberts (DF), Elise Hughes (MF), Alice Griffiths (DF), Jess Fishlock (MF, Seattle Reign FC), Angharad James (MF), Kylie Nolan (MF), Melissa Fletcher (FW), Nadia Lawrence (FW), Charlie Estcourt (MF), Helen Ward (FW), Natasha Harding (FW), Georgia Evans (MF), Kayleigh Green (FW), Hannah Miles (DF)