Steph Houghton, Manchester City’s captain, has expressed her disappointment at being left out of England’s squad for the Women’s World Cup this year. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Houghton said that being left out was “hard to take” and that she had done everything she had been asked to do in order to reclaim her spot in the national side. The centre-back, who has 121 senior international caps, was left out of Sarina Wiegman’s 23-strong squad for the tournament, which starts in Australia and New Zealand in just under a month.
Houghton’s omission follows a season in which she netted twice in 14 WSL appearances after re-establishing herself in City’s starting XI following her return from injury. She shone at times last term, including during City’s 2-1 defeat of Arsenal in February. However, despite her efforts, Houghton was not selected for the World Cup squad.
Houghton said that she was disappointed because of how much effort she had put into doing the things she was asked to do, which was to get back into the City team, to play well, and to play well against the best players. She spoke to the manager, who said that she needed to get back into the team because she had had a long period of time out. Houghton fought her way back and started every single game bar one from January on. She felt as though she was in form, fit, and ready to go. However, sometimes it happens that you have a manager who doesn’t see you as part of their plans.
Houghton has not played for England since February 2021, when she sustained an ankle injury during a Lionesses’ training camp in September that year. The England captain’s armband was handed to Leah Williamson ahead of Wiegman’s first game in charge of the team. It was a World Cup qualifier the team would win 8-0 against North Macedonia before embarking on an unbeaten run that included an Arnold Clark Cup triumph last year. The Arsenal defender has remained England’s captain since leading the side to a historic Women’s Euros win at Wembley last July.
Houghton was included by Wiegman in England’s Euros warm-up camp last summer before being cut from the gaffer’s provisional squad. With three senior Lionesses picking up long-term knee injuries, including Gunners ace Williamson, some observers thought she may be in with a chance of a recall. However, the defender did not make the cut ahead of the World Cup.
Of her chat with Wiegman in regard to being left out of the squad, Houghton added: “The conversation was very vague to be honest. I think that’s what’s hard to take. I felt as though I could have brought something to the squad. I knew what the role would be — I wouldn’t be starting matches but I would have supported the girls one million per cent. I’m team first. But it’s the manager’s decision. I didn’t argue but I did say, ‘I’ve done everything you’ve asked us to do. At that moment I think I was done with the whole situation. I’d been fighting with myself for 18 months to prove I can still play at that level. I think I did that, but it was pretty clear from that conversation that I won’t be playing for England again.
Houghton signed a one-year Man City contract extension this month and is approaching the tenth anniversary of her move to the club. On whether she is tempted to end her international career, she added: “All I’ve ever wanted to do is play for my country. It’s something I’ll have to think about over the summer. I’d never turn my back on my country, but I don’t know if I would put myself under that kind of pressure again.”