England news conference: Wiegman & Bronze speak before Spain Nations League tie

BBC News

2 days ago

Update:
Date: 13:16 BST
Title: See you tomorrow
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
World champions v European champions, It doesn't get much bigger than this.
We'll see you in tomorrow's live text as England take on Spain.
See you then!
Update:
Date: 13:15 BST
Title: Post
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
The good news from that conference is that you get the feeling Sarina Wiegman thinks Lauren James may be fit for the Euros.
Fingers crossed!
Update:
Date: 13:13 BST
Title: 'We want to win the game'
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
Sarina Wiegman on tomorrow's match : "I think both teams are growing into the tournament towards it. We want to have a good performance tomorrow and I think Spain is the same. This is Nations League, it's a different competition. We want a good performance from our side tomorrow and we want to win the game."
Update:
Date: 13:11 BST
Title: Barcelona 'like home' for Bronze
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
Lucy Bronze on being back in Barcelona: "It is like home. I drove past here many times. I had two amazing years here, I got on really well with the team, the city, the fans. It was an amazing experience.
"I have great memories and am really happy to be back to visit. I can tell the girls where to go and eat and get coffee."
Update:
Date: 13:10 BST
Title: 'We know what they are capable of'
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
Sarina Wiegman on playing against Spain: "We know what they are capable of. We have to be aware of that, we have to be really tight and play compact in moments. We had the ball too, we had opportunities too. We created momentum in parts of the game and put them under pressure. That's what we want to do tomorrow. They might be on the ball more but we will be on it too."
Update:
Date: 13:09 BST
Title: Spain squad 'slightly stronger' than last time out'
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
Lucy Bronze on the strength of Spain's squad: "Their squad is maybe slightly stronger than the last time we played them. Alexia [Putellas] and Patri [Guijarro] are back. That will be nice to see them and to play against them.
"I have been in contact with some of the players, I congratulated Mariona [Caldentey] after winning the Champions League. I have a really good relationship with so many of them, spent two fantastic years in Barcelona and they are good friends of mine."
Update:
Date: 13:08 BST
Title: 'Mary knew what it meant to play for England'
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
Lucy Bronze on Millie Bright feeling connected to the team: "You'd have to ask her that but I'm assuming yes. There are many pleople who are friends with Millie and we've reached out and checked on her. Millie knows she is always connected to this team. Lionesses past and present are always welcome. Even someone like Jill Scott, we can't get rid of her! We have such a good connection, whether you're here or not.
On Mary Earps: "I think I was the first person she called to tell because we have such a good bond and connection. Mary knew what it meant to play for England. Her career at England has been fantastic. The news as team-mates was hard to take because we all love her. We celebrate her both on and off the pitch. We have fantastic goalkeepers here and Mary has left such a great legacy. Hopefully the goalkeepers we have now can bring that to the team now."
Update:
Date: 13:08 BST
Title: Clinton suspension 'unlucky'
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
Sarina Wiegman on Grace Clinton's suspension: "It's a disappointment, it was an unlucky moment. She plays with a lot of intensity and very aggressive. She can't play tomorrow so that's a fact, we are moving on with the team we have."
Update:
Date: 13:05 BST
Title: 'We get confidence from ourselves and others'
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
Lucy Bronze on Spain and gaining confidence: "A lot of confidence but we already gave beaten them this year so we've got a lot of confidence from that. That Spain performance from us in Wembley was brilliant. You can find things to gain confidence from. It's not the be all and end all tomorrow, in terms of the Nations League it is. We might not even face Spain in the Euros. We get confidence from ourselves and others."
Update:
Date: 13:02 BST
Title: 'We know how to beat Spain'
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
Lucy Bronze on what England can do to beat Spain: "I think we're probably one of the most adaptable teams in the world. We can counter attack, press the ball, we can play in behind. We've got fast players, technical players. We've faced Spain a few times, before Sarina was even here. You have to turn up for every game, for every game because so many teams are capable of so many things. We can change against different teams but you have to put on the performance on the game.
"If you lose a bit of yourself, then the other team performs. We know how to beat Spain and thy know how to beat us."
On Spain comparisons: "Pretty even. You look at the players in form, top player back and doing well this season. There are a handful teams in the same position. In the World Cup, it was close games together to the final."
Update:
Date: 13:02 BST
Title: 'Kelly is very happy'
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
Sarina Wiegman on the difference she has seen in Chloe Kelly in the past six months: "The most of all is that she is very happy, very energetic. Going to Arsenal having great performances, I think she has improved again in possession and also out of possession. It's enjoyable to watch her. She came on for us as a finisher [against Portugal] and straight away did well again.
"I hope that continues. She is enjoying herself, she trains really well with a smile on her face. Whether she is starting or coming from the bench, she is doing everything she can to get her performance at the highest level."
Update:
Date: 12:58 BST
Title: 'Spain is the highest level imaginable'
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
Sarina Wiegman on the need for consistency: "We want to perform and in February we had a tie with Portugal and a win against Spain. In April, we had a good performance against Belgium. Tomorrow, Spain is a totally different game than what we had on Friday.
"Different opponents. We started really well against Portugal and it really helped we scored two goals in five minutes. Of course, we are aware Spain is the highest level imaginable."
Update:
Date: 12:57 BST
Title: 'Good for Le Tissier's development to learn two positions'
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
Lucy Bronze on what she admires about Maya Le Tissier: "Maya has probably got one of the biggest futures ahead of her. She is a great person. As a player I love her so much. I can see why Sarina plays her at right-back.
"All the things I love doing, Maya has those attributes. She loves defending, is strong, fast, fit. Maya has got those attributes in abundance. It's good for her development to learn two positions."
Update:
Date: 12:55 BST
Title: Wiegman 'pretty close' to knowing Euros squad
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
Sarina Wiegman on how many decisions she still has to make for her final Euros squad: "We are pretty close. Still you want to go to the game tomorrow and then make the final decisions, but we are pretty close."
On where she sees Maya Le Tissier playing for England: "I think she can play both positions. With Manchester United se plays centre back, for us she plays mainly as a right full-back. That is th4e position I see her but I understand she can play centre-back too."
On if she can see why Man Utd fans would find that strange: "I can imagine they think that."
Update:
Date: 12:54 BST
Title: James 'is doing really well'
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
England manager Sarina Wiegman on if any players won't be risked: "If a player has a little injury and would be a risk for the Euros then I wouldn't play her, that's the difference. We are going to do everything to win that game.
On Lauren James: "We already said we're trying together her fit. She's trying to get fit with all the support from Chelsea and us. She is doing really well. She needs to tick some boxes and progress. We need her to be fit and healthy and perform at her highest level. I'm pretty sure that'll work for us."
Update:
Date: 12:51 BST
Title: 'I play every game like it's my last'
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
England defender Lucy Bronze on the Champions League: "It gives you that winning feeling and going up against the best players in the world. I wanted to do that when it went to Lyon. You see it as the years go on and more players have done it. It's fantastic for us.
"I play every game like it could be my last. I put on that England shirt and you don't want to leave anything on the pitch. You don't want to think too far ahead. I've played at so many tournaments and you have to take what's in front of you. The squad is getting picked based off tomorrow, it's every single moment of what you live and breathe."
Update:
Date: 12:50 BST
Title: 'Everyone is available'
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
England manager Sarina Wiegman on injuries: "I'm happy. Everyone is available and everyone can start."
On players trying to impress: "That's hard. You come close to squad selection. At the same time we want to win the game tomorrow. It's preparation for the Euros. Short-term we are trying to win that game, a little longer-term is preparation for the Euros which is the bigger picture."
Update:
Date: 12:49 BST
Title: Post
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
England defender Lucy Bronze on Millie Bright, who isn't in the squad as she takes an extended period of recovery: "Millie is a real big personality and big player for England and Chelsea. She's missed with what she brings on and off the pitch. We want to make sure she's OK both physically and mentally. She's someone who's quite tough and it's brave that she came out and spoke. I want her to feel OK again."
Update:
Date: 12:46 BST
Title: Post
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
England
England manager Sarina Wiegman confirms Ella Toone and Alessia Russo are fit for tomorrow.
More on that soon.
Update:
Date: 12:45 BST
Title: Post
Content: Spain v England (Tues, 18:00 BST)
One minute early!
Let's get to it then, here are Sarina Wiegman and Lucy Bronze.