England vs Haiti Preview: Lionesses Look To Kick Off World Cup Campaign In Style

England kick off their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign on Saturday morning against minnows Haiti, with manager Sarina Wiegman hoping to use the game as a statement of intent that this is their tournament to lose. 

The Lionesses starting XI is expected to look considerably different to the team that triumphed over Germany in last Summer’s European Championships, with no Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby, Ellen White or Beth Mead at Wiegman’s disposal thanks to a mix of injuries and retirement.

Squad stalwarts like Barcelona teammates Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh are available in defence and midfield however, and when combined with set-piece specialist Alex Greenwood, England’s creative and defensive potential looks as strong as ever.

It was also confirmed early on Friday morning that Captain Millie Bright would be fit and available for

Nicolas Delepine’s Haiti are tournament debutants, and boast a select range of talent from the top two divisions in France, as well as the United States. 

The star player is Melchie Dumornay: dubbed “Corventina” and heralded as a national star for the Caribbean nation, Dumornay has been excelling for Reims and the National Team, and is set to join European giants Lyon later this Summer. 

The game should be relatively smooth sailing for England however, thanks to their wealth of WSL and experienced talent.

But thanks to being blighted by injuries, England aren’t being perceived as strongly as the reigning European Champions perhaps should be: the United States are tipped to retain their crown, with Sweden, Germany and France each also being tipped for glory ahead of Wiegman’s Lionesses. 

Each team’s first game in Group D is set to kick-off at 10:30 UK time on Saturday 22nd July, with the other teams in Group D, China and Denmark, kicking off later that afternoon.