Millie Bright retires from international football: Sarina Wegman says she wanted the England defender to participate in the 2027 Women’s World Cup | Football news

Sarina Wegman said she wanted Millie Bright to participate in the upcoming 2027 Women’s World Cup after the defender announced her international retirement.

Chelsea’s centre-back was revealed on Monday She will no longer play for the Lionesses, having previously withdrawn from team selection for the Euro 2025 Championship in the summer.

Bright has played 88 caps for England, and captained the team in the absence of Leah Williamson for the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.

The Lionesses will begin their qualifiers for the next edition of the tournament – held in Brazil – in 2026, with Wegman revealing she was hoping to include Bright in the campaign.

“Of course I wanted to,” she said. “She is still a very good player, so I want her in the team, but I completely respect and understand the decision she made.

“She was thinking about it very comprehensively, and when a player makes a decision like that when you’ve had an amazing career at international level, it’s not appropriate to have that conversation (to try to convince her to stay).”

“I respect that and it must be really hard to make that decision.”

Wegman also revealed that the two spoke after England won Euro 2025, where Bright told her she was retiring.

“On the back of the Euro, we had a conversation,” she added. “The (WSL) competition has already started and Millie has told me she is retiring from international football.

“It wasn’t right after the final. You have to take time with these things and it’s a very difficult decision.

“We had a very good conversation. She was great for us, for me, for the team on and off the field. Even before I came, she was a great person and leader.

“I’m really grateful that I was a small part of her journey and grateful that she was part of my team because she had a tremendous impact.”

But the timing of Bright’s retirement came before another England team announcement.

In the summer, Mary Earps retired five weeks before Euro 2025, with Fran Kirby doing the same shortly before the final squad was unveiled.

When asked if this was becoming a worrying trend for England, Wegman replied: “I don’t see it as a trend. It shows how the game is going.”

“It’s a natural process that young players come along and other players who are older and at other stages of their lives make the decision to retire. Sometimes I tell players they won’t be selected anymore and they retire.

“I think this is a natural process and now we have several (retirements). These players have also had a great career with high levels and it is time to move on for them.”

More questions than answers about Bright Retirement

Analysis from Anton Toloy of Sky Sports News:

It’s fair to say there are more questions than answers about Mel Bright’s retirement in England.

Sarina Wegman admits she wanted the 32-year-old available until the next World Cup in 2027, but can she be guaranteed a regular starter?

Praet insisted last week that she was available if England wanted her. A few days later, she announced the end of her international days.

Wegman did not go into detail about the nature of the talks or the time frame for them, which increases her curiosity.

England have proven they can win without the Chelsea captain and now have added Katie Reid to their stacked centre-back.

But will England miss Praet’s experience, determination and ability when facing the best teams in the world?