Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images England Lionesses have announced their squad of 23 players who will compete in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France this summer. Phil Neville's squad was announced on Wednesday via social media, starting with the Duke of Cambridge revealing captain Steph Houghton: The squad was revealed one-by-one on Twitter by celebrities including Emma Watson and James Corden, along with footballers past and present, such as former Three Lions skipper David Beckham and current star Raheem Sterling: Here's the full squad: Goalkeepers: Carly Telford, Karen Bardsley, Mary Earps Defenders: Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze, Demi Stokes, Rachel Daly, Alex Greenwood, Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Abbie McManus Midfielders: Jade Moore, Keira Walsh, Jill Scott, Karen Carney, Georgia Stanway, Lucy Staniforth Forwards: Toni Duggan, Ellen White, Fran Kirby, Nikita Parris, Beth Mead, Jodie Taylor Videos you might like Manchester City defender Houghton is one of three centurions in the squad with Karen Carney and Jill Scott. The trio have a combined total of 376 international appearances. She will be taking part in her third World Cup with England, and she expressed her delight to be on the plane: Manager Neville explained the decision to announce the squad in the way they did: Women's football writer Kieran Theivam praised the announcement: The World Cup will kick off on June 7 and run until the final a month later on July 7. England finished third at the World Cup in Canada in 2015 and have continued to build in the years since. The Lionesses reached the semi-finals at the 2017 UEFA European Women's Championship and warmed up for the World Cup in style earlier this year by winning the SheBelieves Cup. England picked up wins over Brazil and Japan—who won the World Cup in 2011 and were runners-up in 2015—either side of a draw with reigning world champions the USA to win the tournament. Neville's side will face Denmark and New Zealand in friendlies on May 25 and June 1, respectively, before opening their World Cup campaign against Scotland on June 9. They'll play Argentina on June 14 before taking on Japan in their final group game on June 19.<doc-sep>It gives me great pleasure to announce that our @Lionesses' defensive rock and captain @StephHoughton2 will be on the plane to France for the Women's World Cup. Steph – congratulations. I know you and the team will do the nation proud. Good luck!#BeReady #Lionesses pic.twitter.com/xoRHnNeCrI — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 8, 2019<doc-sep>Prince William, David Beckham and Emma Watson were among the famous faces involved as England named their squad for the Women's World Cup. The announcement saw each player receive a personalised video message from a public figure, informing them that they had been selected by manager Phil Neville for the tournament in France this summer. The Duke of Cambridge revealed that Lionesses captain Steph Houghton had made the 23-woman squad. Manchester City defender Houghton is one of 12 players in the squad who were involved four years ago as the country reached the semifinals for the first time in their history. Joining Houghton from the 2015 squad are Karen Bardsley, Carly Telford, Alex Greenwood, Jade Moore, Jill Scott, Toni Duggan, Ellen White, Karen Carney and Jodie Taylor, as well as Ballon d'Or nominees Fran Kirby and Lucy Bronze. There are eight players included from City's double winning team, including Nikita Parris, Keira Walsh, Demi Stokes, Abbie McManus and Georgia Stanway, who could all make their World Cup debuts. Stanway, who was awarded PFA young player of the year this season and was named player of the match as City won the FA Cup last weekend, was announced by Raheem Sterling, the City star who won the men's equivalent of the PFA award last month. "We've got the right balance in the squad, but there's something about those younger players," Neville told a news conference. "They're fearless, Georgia Stanway is fearless. But the experience is going to be vital in moments in the World Cup. First game against Scotland is a big game emotionally where you need big players who have been there and done it, and I've got the nice balance in the squad of both." Women's Super League champions Arsenal are represented by Beth Mead and Leah Williamson. They have also been called up to a World Cup squad for the first time, along with Houston's Rachel Daly, Chelsea's Millie Bright, Birmingham's Lucy Staniworth and Wolfsburg goalkeeper Mary Earps. There is no place for England vice-captain Jordan Nobbs after her World Cup hopes were hit by a serious knee injury last November. Other celebrities involved in the announcement were James Corden, Ellie Goulding, Olly Murs and England men's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, as well as former women's internationals Alex Scott, Rachel Yankey and Kelly Smith and former men's strikers Ian Wright and Alan Shearer. Neville's side open their World Cup campaign against Scotland on Sunday June 9. They are joined in Group D by Argentina and 2015 runners-up Japan, who beat England in the semifinals in Canada four years ago. England are ranked third in the FIFA world rankings and beat Brazil and Japan while drawing with the United States to win the SheBelieves Cup earlier this year. They will have two warm-up fixtures before they travel to France, with England playing Denmark on May 25 before they face New Zealand on June 1. England Women's World Cup squad: Goalkeepers: Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), Carly Telford (Chelsea), Mary Earps (Wolfsburg) Defenders: Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Lucy Bronze (Lyon), Rachel Daly (Houston), Alex Greenwood (Manchester United), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Millie Bright (Chelsea), Abbie McManus (Manchester City), Leah Williamson Midfielders: Karen Carney (Chelsea), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Keira Walsh (Manchester City), Jade Moore (Reading), Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), Lucy Staniworth (Birminham City) Forwards: Toni Duggan (Barcelona), Ellen White (Birmingham), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Nikita Parris (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Jodie Taylor (Reign FC)<doc-sep>Phil Neville has named his England Women's World Cup squad with 11 tournament debutants making his final 23 for the summer tournament in France. Birmingham City's Lucy Staniforth, Manchester City's Keira Walsh and Arsenal's Leah Williamson are among the younger members of the squad heading to their first World Cup. They will be marshalled by some experience however, with Karen Carney and Jill Scott called-up to their fourth major tournament. England begin their campaign against Scotland on June 9, in a group with Argentina and Japan, the team who knocked them out of the 2015 World Cup at the semi-final stage. Women's Super League champions Arsenal have two players in the squad - Williamson and Beth Mead - with a strong Manchester City contingent of eight.<doc-sep>
Eight Manchester City players have been called up to England's Women's World Cup squad for next month's tournament in France. Karen Bardsley, Steph Houghton, Demi Stokes, Abbie McManus, Keira Walsh, Jill Scott, Georgia Stanway and Nikita Parris were all named in Phil Neville's 23-player squad on Wednesday. However, there was no place for City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck, who has featured for the Lionesses this season. England announced the squad in unique fashion, with videos from football legends and celebrities revealing each individual player on Twitter. Among the announcements were a message from David Beckham to City top scorer Nikita Parris, while Raheem Sterling announced Georgia Stanway's place in the squad. Beckham said: "I just want to announce that Nikita Parris will wear the number seven shirt for the Lionesses for this World Cup this summer. "Obviously it's a shirt I wore for many years with pride. It's a shirt that I captained my country in. So I know that Nikita will do exactly the same and wear this shirt with pride. "Also a message to Phil and all the Lionesses for the World Cup this summer. Good luck, we'll be watching." Sterling's message went: "Stanway! Stanway! As you know today is a big day today. The Lionesses World Cup squad is being announced today and I've been given permission to confirm that you are going to France. "I just want to say a massive congratulations, especially after the great season you've had. Just wanted to wish you and all the Lionesses the best for France this summer." City captain Steph Houghton was the first player to be announced, with Prince William saying: "The countdown is on for a momentous summer for football as our Lionesses head to France to take on the world's best at the Women's World Cup. "Today marks an important moment on that journey as the England squad is officially revealed. On that note, it gives me great pleasure to be able to announce that England's defensive rock and captain Steph Houghton will be on the plane to France. "Steph, congratulations. I know you and the team will do the nation proud." The tournament starts on June 7 and runs until July 7. England face Scotland in their first game on June 9. England squad: Karen Bardsley (Man City), Mary Earps (Wolfsburg), Carly Telford (Chelsea) Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Lyon), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Alex Greenwood (Man Utd), Steph Houghton (captain, Man City), Abbie McManus (Man City), Demi Stokes (Man City) Leah Williamson (Arsenal) Karen Carney (Chelsea), Jade Moore (Reading), Jill Scott (Man City), Lucy Staniforth (Birmingham City), Georgia Stanway (Man City), Keira Walsh (Man City) Toni Duggan (Barcelona) Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Man City), Jodie Taylor (Seattle Reign), Ellen White (Birmingham City)