Sarina Wiegman did not hide behind form or fitness or rotation. Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly have been left out of England's squad for the World Cup qualifying play-off against Greece because, in her words, they have "not been playing to their potential" over the last few weeks. Between them the pair have 136 England caps and a decisive hand in two European titles. Neither is in the 23.
Wiegman had the conversations herself
The England manager told BBC Radio 5 Live that she still believes in both players and that the calls were difficult to make. "I had those conversations with them and that was very hard to take. They took it well and of course, they want to work on that," she said. She was also clear that Kelly's absence has nothing to do with an injury, despite reports suggesting otherwise. Asked directly, she said she had spoken to the Arsenal forward and that the decision came from what she had seen on the pitch, adding that she kept the conversation to football.
Toone is 27 and at Manchester United, Kelly is 28 and at Arsenal. Both have made slow starts to the season. Chelsea's Aggie Beever-Jones and the Arsenal pair Lotte Wubben-Moy and Taylor Hinds also miss out. Leah Williamson comes back in as captain after sitting out June's 4-0 defeat by Spain and the 3-0 win over Ukraine, with Wiegman noting she has played well and looks happy.
A first call-up for Lexi Potter
The obvious beneficiary is Lexi Potter. The 20-year-old Chelsea midfielder has started three of her club's opening four league games and was the best player on the pitch in Sunday's 1-0 win over Arsenal, playing alongside Keira Walsh. Wiegman said England had begun tracking her closely last season.
Her description of what she likes is worth reading twice, because it is about temperament rather than technique. "She plays with a lot of courage, a lot of understanding and her decision-making is really good," Wiegman said, before getting to the part that clearly decided it: against Arsenal, against senior internationals, "it looks like it doesn't bother her at all and she will just play football."
Three more uncapped names
Erica Meg Parkinson, 18, returns after impressing since her summer move to North Carolina Courage. London City Lionesses forward Freya Godfrey and Liverpool defender Grace Fisk are the other uncapped players in the group. Niamh Charles is back too, having come off the bench in Manchester City's 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic on Saturday, her first appearance since injury.
England play Greece in Crete on Friday 9 October and again in Leicester on Tuesday 13 October. Win the tie and they move into the second round of the play-offs, with a place at next summer's World Cup in Brazil still two stages away. Toone and Kelly have until then to make the argument on the pitch.
Squad facts: England's 23 includes goalkeepers Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse. Uncapped: Erica Meg Parkinson (18), Lexi Potter (20), Freya Godfrey, Grace Fisk. Omitted: Ella Toone (27), Chloe Kelly (28), Aggie Beever-Jones, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Taylor Hinds. First leg: Crete, Friday 9 October, 17:30 BST. Second leg: Leicester, Tuesday 13 October, 19:30 BST.
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