Supporting Carter amid racist abuse has brought England closer, Stanway says
Defending champions England squeaked through to the semis after a penalty shootout on Thursday against Sweden, but the past two days have been dominated by talk about racism in football after Carter, who is Black, revealed she has been the target of abuse since the tournament began.
"If anything, it's brought us together as a team," Stanway told a press conference on Monday. "We need to cut it out of society. We need to cut it out of football. Right now, all we can do is show our support and our togetherness."
Asked whether she would consider not playing Carter on Tuesday, England coach Sarina Wiegman said the 27-year-old defender is ready to perform and compete.
"That says a lot about her and the team," Wiegman said. "We have had a conversation. It's a hard situation but Jess is a very strong person, she wants to move on too, but she and we felt we had to address this, we can't let it go."
There was concern around the fitness of captain Leah Williamson after she limped off with an ankle injury against Sweden, but the defender trained on Monday.
"She really wants to play, she did everything to recover as good as possible, and she has, she trained today, and if she recovers well she is available tomorrow," Wiegman said.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH
Asia At least 19 killed as Bangladesh air force plane crashes at college campus
Singapore ST Explains: What does it mean for etomidate to be listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act?
Business Why Singapore and its businesses stand to lose with US tariffs on the region
Singapore NTU to have compulsory cadaver dissection classes for medical students from 2026
World US authorities probing passenger jet's close call with B-52 bomber over North Dakota
Singapore Jail for man who conspired with another to bribe MOH agency employee with $18k Paris trip
Singapore New research institute will grow S'pore's talent in nuclear energy, safety
Wiegman denied a suggestion that England, who are making their sixth semi-final appearance of a major tournament, are the favourites.
"I think it would be really disrespectful to Italy to think we are the favourites. They made the semi-final like we did, it's impressive for any team to make the semis," said Wiegman, who has won the past two European championships, as coach of the Netherlands in 2017 and in 2022 with England.
"Complacency is the biggest mistake any team could make," she added. "We've seen how they've played. I don't think there's any way we could think we are the favourite. We have to be at our very best to win the game."
While England have traditionally taken the knee before kickoff as a symbolic gesture against racism, they have made the decision to remain standing on Tuesday.
"It's just to change it up," Stanway said. "We felt like the knee was just a little bit repetitive. It comes to a point where the knee isn't doing what we wanted it to do, so now our decision is to stand and hopefully that will bring up more conversation." REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
England's bulldog spirit v Spanish flair - who will prevail at Women's Euro?
England versus Spain, a now familiar final, for both men and women. Thus far, Spain's rich football culture has twice prevailed over England's bulldog spirit. No matter the gender of the English footballer, their exhaustedly chasing their tail as the Spaniards stroke the ball around is now part of the national psyche. On July 27, in Basel, Switzerland, England's Lionesses are reunified with Spain, whose 1-0 World Cup Final victory two years ago in Sydney was far more comprehensive than the scoreboard suggested. Sarina Wiegman, the Dutch coach who converted a talented, well-funded and still evolving England team into European champions in 2022, found few answers to Spain's pressing and passing.
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
England seek revenge against Spain as rivals meet in Euro 2025 final
England coach Sarina Wiegman talks to her players before extra time in their semi-final clash against Italy. BASEL – England are aiming to retain their title and avenge defeat by Aitana Bonmati's Spain in the Women's World Cup final two years ago, when the rivals meet again on July 27 to decide who will win Euro 2025. The showdown in Basel promises to be a fascinating contest between a Spain side looking to add the continental crown to their world title, and an England team who can secure back-to-back European Championship victories. Spain beat England 1-0 in Sydney to win the World Cup for the first time, and another victory for La Roja in their latest clash would cement their status as the dominant force in women's international football. 'We have so much respect for them, but we also believe in ourselves, that we can really step up,' said England's Ella Toone on July 25. Toone, 25, scored the first goal for the Lionesses when they beat Germany 2-1 after extra time at Wembley to win the last Women's Euros three years ago, and has played a key role in Switzerland on their run to a third straight major tournament final. 'It is amazing. To make three consecutive finals for England is something that we can all be so proud of,' she said at the team's base in Zurich. That remarkable run has come under the management of Sarina Wiegman, the Dutch coach who took charge in 2021 and immediately turned them into contenders. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia Behind deadly Thai-Cambodian clashes, a bitter spat between two dynastic leaders Multimedia Lights dimmed at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Business Banking and finance jobs will change but won't disappear as AI becomes the new normal: Accenture Sport Mikkel Lee gets back up to speed as Singapore swimmers eye 2028 Olympics spots Business How parents can prevent disputes over their properties Asia Hottest 'ticket' in Jakarta? Young Indonesians compete for a slot at this novel club Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly 'She is a great manager, someone we all have a lot of belief in and we know we are in good hands,' added Toone of Wiegman, who also won the Euros with her native Netherlands in 2017. It has not been an easy road to the final for England this time, with the Lionesses coming back from the brink of elimination more than once. Their title defence started with a 2-1 defeat by France in their opening group game three weeks ago. They recovered to reach the knockout stages, but then required a remarkable comeback from two goals down to eventually beat Sweden on penalties in the quarter-finals. They then trailed to Italy in the semi-finals until a 96th-minute goal by Michelle Agyemang forced extra time, and Chloe Kelly scored the winner just as another shoot-out loomed. 'The belief in the squad, the resilience and the togetherness in this group is just so special,' said Kelly. But it remains to be seen if that resilience will be enough against a brilliant Spain side led by reigning Ballon d'Or winner Bonmati. The Barcelona midfielder scored the extra-time winner as Spain edged Germany in the last four to reach a first-ever European Championship final. 'All the hard work we have put in has paid off,' said coach Montse Tome. Spain could have as many as seven starters who featured in that game in Sydney, including Alexia Putellas – she was only a bit-part player at the World Cup as she recovered from a knee injury, but Bonmati's predecessor as Ballon d'Or winner has been much more influential here. The theme of revenge could also apply to the Spaniards, who were knocked out of the last Euros by England, going down in extra time in the quarter-finals. If they come out on top they will be the first nation to win the Women's World Cup and Euros back-to-back since Germany in 2007 and 2009. AFP
Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Straits Times
England coach Wiegman has learned to enjoy the good times
ZURICH - Sarina Wiegman sang a celebratory song in her native Dutch when England clinched a spot in the Euro 2025 final. She attempted to high-five assistant Darren Ward, but missed. She admitted she planned to treat herself with a "glass of something nice." If England's women's coach was reserved when hired in 2021, she said she has grown into the role, and her passion has been on full display at the Euros, particularly through two nail-biting knockout victories in which the Lionesses were on the brink of elimination. "First of all, my English has improved, so I understand a lot more, but also you learn more about people you work with," she said on Friday. "You learn more again about yourself and while I'm always working on developing the team, I always try to keep developing myself. "What I really wanted to do over all these years is try to enjoy it a little bit more, you have to be focused in this job, but you need to celebrate the moments that are good, it's really nice." As England get ready to contest their third successive major final on Sunday, when they face world champions Spain in the Euro 2025 showpiece, Wiegman's players have described her as a second mum -- direct and demanding but caring and supportive. Ella Toone said the coach has been kind-hearted in the midfielder's first major tournament after the death of her father. Aggie Beever-Jones said after England's loss to France in their Euro opener, Wiegman put a consolatory arm around her and explained her reasons for not playing her in the game. Midfielder Keira Walsh called her "one of the best managers I've played for in terms of trying to make everyone feel loved". "It's a really difficult job when you're in a tournament, and obviously people want to play, people aren't, but she really, really cares about the human side," Walsh said. "Another thing that you notice when you play for her is how calm she is. It makes a massive difference in the 95th minute when you're losing 1-0, and you look to the side and she's very calm." Wiegman said the job can be a difficult balance. "I'm a caring person, so maybe that's the part, I care about them but at the same time I'm the coach, I'm making these hard decisions at the moment," she said. On Sunday, Wiegman will become the first person, in men's or women's soccer, to have coached teams in five consecutive major tournament finals. The 55-year-old, who is under contract through the 2027 World Cup, guided her native Netherlands to two finals before continuing that run with Euro 2022 champions England. Football Association executive Mark Bullingham said they will not let Wiegman leave for any amount of money, and Wiegman certainly does not sound like she is going anywhere. "I'm sorry, I'm still learning English but yes I have (fallen in love) with England," Wiegman said. "Otherwise I would not be sitting here with such a smile on my face. "This team has always shown so much resilience, I see that in abundance and I see that entirely through the prism of the Lionesses. They are absolutely the most resilient of people. They really want to work so hard and are so committed." REUTERS
