Chloe Kelly And Fran Kirby Ruled Out Of England's Friendly Match Against Switzerland

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Manager Sarina Wiegman has confirmed that Chloe Kelly and Fran Kirby will not participate in England's friendly against Switzerland on Tuesday. Kelly is sidelined due to concussion protocols, while Kirby is dealing with a calf issue. Both players were substitutes in England's recent goalless draw against the United States at Wembley.

Wiegman plans to rotate her squad for the match at Bramall Lane. Millie Bright, who did not play against the USA, will be given playing time in Sheffield. "It was a hard decision," Wiegman told BBC Sport about not using Bright previously. "We've played four defenders the most in the last period so I chose to balance it out against USA. Of course, that's very hard for Millie. Against Switzerland she will play and I'm happy that she is fit and can take that opportunity."

England boasts an impressive record against Switzerland, remaining unbeaten in their 11 previous encounters, winning all but one. The Lionesses have faced Finland 13 times and Northern Ireland 12 times without losing in their history. Despite this strong record, Wiegman anticipates a challenging match against Switzerland, ranked 25th globally.

"I think they will be hard to break down," Wiegman said of Switzerland's approach. "They play in a really compact way but are not scared to get in behind quickly. We have warned about those situations." This upcoming game marks England's fourth appearance at Bramall Lane, where they have won each of their past three matches by an aggregate score of 11-0.

The Lionesses' previous success at Bramall Lane adds confidence as they prepare for this fixture. Their solid performance history at this venue could provide an advantage as they aim to maintain their unbeaten streak against Switzerland.

As England prepares for this friendly match, fans eagerly await how Wiegman's strategic changes will impact the team's performance on the field.