Women’s Euro 2022

SARINA WIEGMAN insists player welfare should come first when it comes to fixture schedules and the load put on elite women’s aces physically and mentally. And the Lionesses chief aims to take the form of her Euros winners to the next stage in order to topple their World Cup rivals.
Sarina Wiegman says plays at the top levels of the women’s game should be given time for ‘a proper rest’ amid a rising number of injuriesCredit: PA
The Lionesses boss was in the stands at the Emirates during a Champions League game in which Vivianne Miedema ruptured a knee ligamentCredit: PA
Wiegman was sharing her thoughts with reporters a day before attending Arsenal’s Champions League duel with Lyon last Thursday.
The England boss was watching the match from the stands when her Dutch compatriot Vivianne Miedema was stretchered off after a knee injury in the first half.
Yesterday Arsenal confirmed the Gunners forward had ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament after landing awkwardly close to half-time.
The injury saw the Dutch star, who won the 2017 Euros with the Netherlands under Wiegman, join a growing list of elite players across Europe currently sidelined by injuries.
Read More Football Stories
They include Miedema’s Gunners team-mate Beth Mead. 
The forward, shortlisted for the BBC’s Sports Personality of Year Award, sustained an ACL injury in November, four months after helping England to Euros triumph. 
Wiegman said: “I really feel for Beth. Everyone who gets an ACL (injury) you feel for them. 
“She did so well, she was in such a good place. I just hope she will recover. 
Most read in Football
“It’s too early to say whether she will be (available for the World Cup).
“We just take it easy now, (let her) first recover, and then over the next months we’ll see how it will develop. 
“She has to become fit again, taking care of herself.
“She knows she has all the support from Arsenal and all the support from us and the FA.”
The injury to Miedema comes just under a month after the Arsenal forward called for Fifa and Uefa to listen to the concerns of players regarding their workloads. 
When asked if match schedules is something that needs looking at Wiegman added: “In general, for the top, top level players, the schedule is too much. 
“Some will have (to play in) five consecutive (international) tournaments in a row including the 2024 Olympics. 
“The level of the game has improved and so the load on players physically and mentally – and you can’t split that because we are all human beings – does ask so much of them. 
“The growth has gone so quickly so players also need a proper rest to get things settled down and (at present) they don’t have that rest. 
“After the Euro’s for example, the Manchester City players only had a couple of days off because they went into the Champions League round again. 
“That is not good. You can have that sometimes, but they need a rest. 
“They need some rest just to get some headspace and get their heads and bodies right. 
“I think Fifa, Uefa and the federations just need to do a little better job and all think of the players.”
Wiegman hopes to see Beth Mead recover from her knee ligament injury and says the forward has her supportCredit: AP
Next summer will be the third consecutive one in which a major international women’s football tournament takes place with the upcoming World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. 
It follows a year that has seen the profile of women’s football rise with 365 million people worldwide tuning in to watch the Euros this July. 
Some of the international players from Europe’s top divisions sidelined by long-term injuries before the World Cup include Spain’s Alexia Putellas and France duo Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Griedge Mbock.
Germany’s Guilia Gwinn, Norway’s Ada Hegerberg and United States ace Catarina Macario are also among a number of pros currently crocked.
Wiegman said: “The game is also becoming a more professional game so the commercial part of it is an important one too. 
France forward Marie-Antoinette Katoto is among a number of top players in Europe currently sidelined with an ACL injuryCredit: AFP
“We need to put the players first. But if there are no commercial parties, how do we make a living and then you have a choice of whether you are a professional footballer anymore. 
“It is (about) finding the balance and finding the best way. I think we can do a better job and give players a little more rest.”
Next summer will see Wiegman’s Lionesses kick-off their quest to become the first England Women’s side to win a World Cup
Players from the squad, set to be selected by Wiegman next year, will play their first group stage game in Brisbane Australia on July 22. 
Wiegman reckons her team, currently ranked the fourth best in the world,  will need to take their game to the next level
We’re always looking at players. The door is not closed for anyone playing at a top level.England Women’s boss Sarina Wiegman
The team are unbeaten run under their boss with 26 games without a loss since last September.  
The England chief added: “At the beginning of the tournament, because of the amount of countries that join in the groups, it will be a little bit different, 
“But when you get further in the level is going to be so high, with different styles of play, different coaches, which is exciting and challenging. 
Wiegman and her England players will begin their push to win the World Cup on July 22 with Denmark and China among their three group stage rivalsCredit: PA
“But we have to take our game to the next stage, to make the chance of being successful as high as possible.”
Wiegman admits her door for selection is open to players performing consistently at a ‘top level’ 
And the head coach says she and her team have been keeping an eye on Manchester City’s Laura Coombs.
The midfielder has netted four goals in nine WSL games with City going ten 10 games unbeaten across all contests since a loss to Chelsea in September.
The player has made two senior Lionesses appearances with the first occurring England’s 2-1 defeat of China back in 2015.
Wiegman said: “We look at Laura almost every week because she plays every week and, yes, we also see that she’s doing a good job
“It’s all about quality, what do we need in the team. We’re always looking at players. 
“With some positions, we have a lot of depth, in others not as much. It’s always open. 
Read More on The Sun
Man City’s Laura Coombs is among the players Sarina Wiegman has been watching this seasonCredit: Getty
“It’s all about talent and performing. showing up for your club team first.
“The door is not closed for anyone playing at a top level.” More

SARINA WIEGMAN revealed she mulled over whether she would be able to leave the Netherlands when the chance to manage the Lionesses arose. The head coach, 53, said the lure of managing in another ‘big football’ nation was among the draws that attracted her to the role.
Sarina Wiegman says she took classes on English football as part for her preparation to coach the LionessesCredit: Getty
Wiegman and her players have their sights set on World Cup success after their triumph in the Euros in JulyCredit: AFP
Wiegman was speaking a day after a number of pundits, journalists and football fans engaged in debate on whether a manager of England national football side needs to be English. 
Debate had arisen amid reports regarding Gareth Southgate’s future after the Three Lions boss led his side the Qatar World Cup quarter-finals this month.
On Tuesday football pundit Jamie Carragher shared his opinion that gaffers of the national team should be English. 
Meanwhile some fans have highlighted Wiegman, who led the Lionesses to a Women’s Euros crown, as an example of a coach from overseas succeeding as an England national team boss . 
Read More Football Stories
When asked if her nationality was a factor in her decision to take up her role Wiegman said: “I thought about it when I first got in contact with England when they reached out to me. 
“I was head coach of the Netherlands, but my first thought was. ‘can I leave the Netherlands [as a country], I grew up there, it’s my country’
“Most of the time when some people reach out to me to ask if I’m interested in a job, after a couple of days it would just fade ‘no I’m going to stay with the Netherlands’. 
“But this one stuck with me. This is very exciting.
Most read in Football
“It’s a big country, England is a big football country with the WSL and the potential of the (national) team, so I started to have conversations.”
Since her appointment last September, Wiegman led the Lionesses on a 26-game unbeaten run with England winning their first major trophy in the team’s 50-year history this July. 
Their silverware success came five years after the Netherlands-born head coach guided the Dutch national women’s team to a Euros Championship win on home soil
On her efforts to adapt to English culture after agreeing up her role, Wiegman added: “Although the countries are really close together there are some differences in culture, so I really tried to learn. 
The success of the WSL and the challenge of managing of a ‘big football country’ were factors that led Wiegman to take on her jobCredit: Getty
“I took some English classes in football. I said I will learn about your culture and try to adapt to your culture  but also bring the directness as you have to know what is good
“I will not go around it or change that. 
“I think it went really well and we really enjoyed ourselves.
“I think the FA and the players and staff enjoy it too and we have a very good collaboration. We can still grow a lot.” More

ELLEN WHITE is backing Beth Mead to rack up more goals after the Arsenal forward was voted the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year.The England forward’s prize win comes four months after she helped the Lionesses to European Championship triumph at Wembley.
Ellen White presented Beth Mead with her BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year awardCredit: Getty
White is backing her former Lionesses team-mate to net more goals for club and countryCredit: Reuters
The WSL star, 27, who has notched 29 goals in 49 England appearances, finished as the tournament’s top scorer – netting six times across six games.
And the contest’s Golden Boot winner also finished second behind Alexia Putellas, 28, at this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or.
Lionesses record scorer White, 33, who retired after winning the Euros alongside Mead, told BBC Sport: “I think she can go on to score so many goals for England, the sky is the limit for her.
“What she’s achieved in her career so far, and her development, the way that she’s so focused on her performance, and what she’s doing at Arsenal, I think it’s incredible and it bodes well for the England team.”
Read More Sports Stories
Reflecting on her contribution to the Lionesses’ first major trophy win, Mead said: “Playing in your own country in those types of competitions, it’s what you dream of.
“To come away and win it was incredible and I think a feeling that will live with us for our lifetimes.”
Mead finished as the third-highest scorer in the Women’s Super League last season with 11 goals in 22 appearances for title-runners-up Arsenal.
The forward’s impressive form has carried on into this season, bagging three goals and three assists in six WSL games for the league leaders.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Mead’s award came two days after Ella Toone won the WSL Women’s Player of the Year gong at the North West Football Awards.
This Friday could see Mead start for England when Sarina Wiegman’s side play the first of their last two international friendlies for this year.
The Lionesses will take on 2011 World Cup winners Japan, a team who they have beaten three times in five games dating back to July 2015.
They then face Norway on Tuesday for the first time since they thrashed them 8-0 at the Amex during the Euros – when Mead netted a hat-trick.  
Both games will kick off at 7pm at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia in Spain and are live on ITV4.
England are due to play Japan who are ranked the 11th best team in the worldCredit: Getty More

SARINA WIEGMAN refused to be drawn on reasons for dropping Hannah Hampton from her England squad amid reports concerning the player’s attitude.And the Lionesses chief brushed off the clamour to call up Spurs star Ashleigh Neville before friendlies against Japan and Norway.
Sarina Wiegman says the door is always open for players who perform after leaving Hannah Hampton out of her squadCredit: PA
Hampton has not been included in an England squad since being part of the group that won the Euros in JulyCredit: Getty
Wiegman was speaking earlier today after naming her 25-strong group ahead of England’s final two games of this year.   
The November fixtures will see Hampton, who impressed on her senior debut in February in a 0-0 draw with Spain, out of England’s squad for the third time since their Euros triumph.
The Villa shot-stopper, 21, was first dropped by Wiegman ahead of the Lionesses’ World Cup qualifier wins against Austria and Luxembourg in September.
When questioned on her decision to leave Hampton out of her latest squad, Wiegman 52, said: “She has to do something personal that I would not like to comment on.
“I haven’t spoken to her myself, we have made a plan, she’s at her club, she’s taking care of that.
“We are supporting her and that’s where we are right now. 
Read More Sports Stories
“It’s the same reason as I said in September, nothing changed. That’s basically what it is. 
“She still has to (sort things out), it’s something personal I would not like to comment on further.
“The door is always open. When players perform and they perform consistently at the club, then they have a chance to make the squad.”
Hours after Wiegman’s squad announcement, Hampton revealed she would be out of action for a few weeks to address an “ongoing medical” matter.
In a tweet published on Tuesday evening, Hampton wrote: “I just wanted to give you all an update on my season so far.
“I’ve been suffering from an ongoing medical issue for a while and it’s time to finally address it properly this week with a small procedure.
Most read in Football
“I’ll be out for a few weeks now as I recover with the support of everyone at the club, but I will be watching the girls and cheering them on.
“My priority now is to return to fitness, get back on the pitch and give my all for the team.”

Manchester United high-flyer Maya Le Tissier and Brighton starlet Katie Robinson were given their first senior call-ups by Wiegman.
Both players, who were clubmates at the Seagulls under former England and Albion boss Hope Powell, have shone on the domestic stage this term.
And both have impressed in the Lionesses youth sides including the Under-17s whom Le Tissier once captained.
Maya Le Tissier has been named in England’s senior squad for the first time in her careerCredit: PA
Uncapped Katie Robinson has also been given her first senior call-up after impressing for BrightonCredit: PA
Arsenal star Jordan Nobbs makes her return to the Lionesses along with Chelsea ace Niamh Charles with both in fine form for their clubs.
But there was no call-up for Spurs defender Ashleigh Neville, who has impressed for Tottenham this term bagging a brace in their 8-0 drubbing of Brighton.
The left-back’s displays have seen some WSL followers on social media push for a call-up for the 29-year-old.
The Spurs star has registered three goals and two assists in five top-tier games this season.
Wiegman added: “Ashleigh plays different positions now. Last season she played more as a fullback, this season she plays a little higher up the pitch.
Jordan Nobbs has been recalled following some standout displays for ArsenalCredit: PA
“At the moment she’s doing a really good job at Tottenham, we choose other players at this moment who we believe are better.”
England will face Japan on Friday 11 November before a duel with Norway on Tuesday 15 November.
Both matches will take place at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia in Spain. More

MILLIE BRIGHT and England are setting their sights on world domination after toppling the USA in a feisty friendly at Wembley.Lionesses vice-captain Bright, 29, reckons the Euros champions laid down a marker with their 2-1 victory over a team ranked the best on the planet.
Millie Bright and her England team-mates have gone 23 games unbeaten since Sarina Wiegman took charge last SeptemberCredit: Alamy
England hope to extend their unbeaten run when they play the Czech Republic at the AmexCredit: Alamy
Bright declared: “It’s all about the mentality of where we want to get to.
“We don’t want to stay at the level of the Euros, even though we were successful.
“We want to grow, be even better and dominate games even more than what we have done and really challenge ourselves.”
Lauren Hemp scored with a tap-in and Georgia Stanway netted a first-half spot-kick as Sarina Wiegman’s side extended their unbeaten run to 23 games
And they halted the Americans’ own 21-game unbeaten streak on Friday.
England can extend that to 24 matches without a loss when they take on the Czech Republic in a friendly at Brighton’s Amex Stadium on Tuesday night.
Read More Sports Stories
Asked if beating the four-time World Cup winners was a statement win, Bright said: “Yes! That’s a tough US side at Wembley with an amazing crowd, we were always looking to send a message.
“But we focus on ourselves. We are always trying to better ourselves.
“Next year’s World Cup is a long way away and there’s plenty of time for us to work on things.
“Obviously, you want to win every game you play and there are lots of positives but there is also lots to work on, too.
“I don’t think people understand how difficult it is to come down from the Euros where we had such success.
“You’ve been on the highest of highs, then to go into club football and back into internationals. It’s harder than you might think.”
Most read in Sport
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
But there is now an aura of invincibility about England.
Chelsea centre-back Bright added: “There were parts of our win over the US where we weren’t at our best.
“But, ultimately, we got the job done and in tournament football that’s what it’s about. For us, we want to get better.
“We are a completely different team to when they beat us in the World Cup semi-final in 2019.
“We are under different management and, as a country, we are in a different place.
“We have a different mentality off the back of the summer. But we still know the journey we want to take and where we want to go.”
There’s not a minute on the pitch where we sit and worry and don’t appreciate the game plan. We trust the process and what Sarina is doing with usBeth Mead
Hemp lined up as a striker at Wembley, a position she has not played in since her spell at Bristol City in 2018-2019.
Wiegman turned to the pacy Manchester City winger, 22, with Ellen White now retired and Manchester United striker Alessia Russo forced to pull out of the squad with an injury.
And Hemp joked that she did not know what she was doing as a No 9 — despite giving her side the lead with a neat clinical finish in only the tenth minute.
Lauren Hemp has netted 10 times in 31 senior appearances for the Lionesses including a strike in their 2-1 defeat of the USACredit: Getty
Hemp said: “It’s something new for me and something I haven’t done since I played at Bristol.
“I think most of the time I don’t know what I’m doing but I really enjoyed it.
“Wherever you put me on the pitch, I’m going to give it a good go.
“I really enjoyed running behind and holding play here and there. It was a nice experience.”
Arsenal’s Beth Mead says England’s World Cup challenge is all about the players “trusting the process” under Wiegman following their summer success.
The England Women’s Player of the Year, 27, said: “You’ve seen how much we’ve grown and the character we show.
Beth Mead says England’s stars trust the process under their head coachCredit: Getty
“We really believe in each other as individuals, as a collective and as a team.
“There’s not a minute on the pitch where we sit and worry and don’t appreciate the game plan that we’ve got.
“We trust the process and what Sarina is doing with us.” More