The month of February heralds the commencement of the first women’s international break of 2024, marking a significant period for international women’s football as numerous members of the Chelsea squad prepare to represent their respective nations across the globe.
Despite the absence of stars such as Sam Kerr and Millie Bright due to injury, a considerable number of Chelsea players have been summoned for international duties. This article aims to provide an insight into the Chelsea stars who will embark on international action and the matches scheduled to take place worldwide.
Return of the Lionesses
The England women’s team is scheduled to travel to Spain for warm weather training where they will engage in friendly matches against Austria and Italy. The esteemed players selected to represent their country include Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Hannah Hampton, Fran Kirby, and Lauren James. This preparation period is in anticipation of defending their European Championship title, with the 2025 qualifiers commencing in April later this year.
Crucial Matches in the Nations League
The upcoming UEFA Nations League finals, set to occur in February, will determine the qualifiers for the Olympic Games tournament in Paris this summer. Notably, the semi-finals will feature Spain against Netherlands and a showdown between France and Germany. Three Chelsea players, namely Eve Perisset for France, Ann-Katrin Berger and Sjoeke Nusken for Germany, have the potential to participate in the second semi-final. The victor of this stage will progress to the tournament final, while the defeated team will contest in the third-place play off.
Mia’s Participation in the Gold Cup
Mia Fishel has earned a place in the USWNT roster for the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup, hosted in four different cities across the United States. The US team is scheduled to compete against the Dominican Republic, Argentina, and Mexico in the initial round. In the event of their advancement to the final, Fishel will be unavailable for the next three weeks, culminating with the final match on March 10. The dynamic forward of the Blues aims to build upon her three caps and one goal on the international stage.
Other Notable Engagements
In addition to the aforementioned players, midfielders Sophie Ingle and Erin Cuthbert are set to join their respective national sides. Ingle’s Wales team will face the Republic of Ireland in a friendly encounter, while Cuthbert will participate in the invitational Pinatar Cup with Scotland. Furthermore, Jelena Cankovic is featured in the Serbia squad, set for a double header against Iceland, with Nations League promotion at stake.
The Norwegian international duo Guro Reiten and Maren Mjelde, alongside Swedish goalkeeper Zecira Musovic and Nathalie Bjorn, are also involved in decisive Nations League matches. The stakes are high for these individuals as they prepare to represent their national teams and compete for glory on the international stage.
The upcoming period is marked by a flurry of international activity for the Chelsea players as they proudly represent their nations in various football tournaments across the globe. We extend our best wishes to each of these players as they compete on the international stage, embodying the spirit of Chelsea with pride and determination.