Soccer-England boss Wiegman says team well-prepared for sweltering Swiss heat
ZURICH (Reuters) -England manager Sarina Wiegman is confident her players will be well prepared for the Switzerland heatwave when they begin the defence of their Women's European Championship title against France on Saturday in Zurich.
Wiegman was thankful for the recent warm weather in England that allowed them to get in some early heat acclimatisation.
"Of course, we have protocols in place, strategies, which players who have been around longer are familiar with... because they played in circumstances like this," Wiegman said from the team's base camp on Wednesday.
"I think we could already practise (in the heat) the first week of our training camp, because in England it was really hot too."
England's heat protocols including wearing ice vests and towels, sitting in ice baths and drinking ice slushies. They also use cryotherapy, which involves applying extremely cold temperatures either locally with ice packs or cooling sprays, or in a cryotherapy chamber.
"(We also) make sure we are hydrated. Of course, taking enough rest," Wiegman said. "Don't go in and out all the time. That's for your recovery. And do those things to keep your body temperature low."
The temperature climbed to 33 degrees Celsius in Zurich on Wednesday but conditions are expected to cool down slightly before the weekend. Saturday's kickoff is at 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT).
European soccer governing body UEFA is taking the warm weather seriously, with free sunscreen available around stadiums and fan zones and a relaxation of the rules about taking water bottles into the stadiums.
The normally strict security rules were relaxed to allow fans attending matches on the first two days -- Wednesday and Thursday -- to bring a half-litre plastic or aluminium water bottle into the stadium, though no glass bottles will be allowed.
Wiegman said after Saturday's game that the team would meet with England's medical staff to gauge how the players managed the conditions.
"And then we move forward on to the next game," she said.
England, who edged Germany 2-1 at Wembley Stadium to win Euro 2022, are in a tough group in Switzerland, with France, the Netherlands and Wales.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; editing by Clare Fallon)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
42 minutes ago
- The Sun
Jota death to be marked by minute's silence at Portugal Women's Euro 2025 game
PORTUGAL players were heartbroken ahead of their Women's Euro 2025 game against Spain on Thursday where a minute's silence will be observed following the death of Portuguese national men's team striker Diogo Jota in a car accident. 'One of our own,' Portugal forward Jessica Silva posted on Instagram. 'Diogo wasn't just a star. It was the good, the faithful, the attentive, the simple ... of those who don't need noise to mark their presence! 'Football has gone poorer ... and so are we. You will never be forgotten.' UEFA announced that a moment of silence will be observed at all of Thursday and Friday's Women's Euro 2025 matches 'in memory of Portugal international and Liverpool FC forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva who tragically passed away today,' European soccer's governing body said on Thursday. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) said in a statement on Thursday that it had requested a minute's silence before the game against Spain. Hours before kick-off, virtually every player on the Portugal women's squad had posted photos of Jota on social media, many with broken heart emojis. Veteran defender Ana Borges, who is the most capped player in the women's national team's history, wrote 'Descansem em paz' -- rest in peace -- under a photo of both brothers. Pedro Proenca, President of the FPF, gave a brief statement at the women's team base camp in Bern, saying that 28-year-old Jota was 'Much more than a fantastic player. 'With almost 50 appearances for the National A Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his teammates and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference in his own community,' Proenca said.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Soccer-US fans can learn from unbelievable Guatemala supporters, Pochettino says
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Mexico v United States - Akron Stadium, Guadalajara, Mexico - October 15, 2024 Mauricio Pochettino coach of U.S. during the match REUTERS/Fernando Carranza (Reuters) -United States coach Mauricio Pochettino said Wednesday's 2-1 win over Guatemala in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals felt like a game on the road, adding that the spirit of the opposing fans was something American supporters could learn from. Over 22,000 spectators attended the match in St. Louis and the majority were Guatemala supporters, loudly backing their team throughout the game even as Diego Luna's early brace helped the U.S. reach the final, where they face Mexico on Sunday. "The fans of Guatemala, I need to say, wow, unbelievable. It was like, to play there. And that was good for our players because it was an atmosphere we didn't expect," former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager Pochettino told reporters. Argentine Pochettino said he hoped to see the same passion from American fans when the World Cup takes place in the U.S. next year. "An unbelievable energy. That is football, that is football. When we say, the connection between the team and the fans, that's the connection we'd like to see at the World Cup. The connection that makes you fly," he said. "When we talk about culture, that is culture ... to see (Guatemala), how they fight, how the fans behave, that is an important thing that we need to learn in this country." Pochettino said that in many countries, soccer matches were seen as much more than sporting spectacles. "In a different country, you play (to) survive. You play for food. You play for pride ... it's not to enjoy, go home and laugh, that's it," he said. "The moment that we, this roster, start to live in this way, I think we have big room to improve." (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Wildfire in Turkey's Izmir province spreads to residential area, killing bedridden man, report says
A drone view shows burnt trees and destroyed houses in the aftermath of a wildfire in Seferihisar near Izmir, Turkey, June 30, 2025. REUTERS/Ufuk Erdem ISTANBUL (Reuters) -A wildfire killed a bedridden man who was home alone in Turkey's western Izmir province after it spread to a residential area, state-owned Anadolu news agency said on Thursday, the first casualty after nearly a week of scattered blazes. The man, 81, was killed in the Odemis district where firefighters battled the blaze for a second day, with several helicopters and other aircraft dropping water on the mountainous terrain amid billowing smoke. Authorities closed some roads to the Aegean resort town of Cesme due to fire, Anadolu said. Broadcasters showed footage of flames across parts of the main highway as water tankers arrived. Wildfires across Turkey's west have damaged some 200 homes, and victims were provided alternative accommodation, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. Some 50,000 people were temporarily evacuated earlier in the week due to fires, which were stoked by high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds. Some have been contained. Other blazes also broke out on Thursday in the southern resort province of Antalya and just outside Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, according to Anadolu. (Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Jonathan Spicer and Bernadette Baum)
