Sarina Wiegman: ‘We've moved on' after retirements and squad withdrawals

Telegraph

2 days ago

Latest updates
05 June 2025 2:54pm
2:52PM
Wiegman: 'Team not decided yet'
On James: 'Lauren is building herself and we are supporting that. She has a month to go and we still have a match against Jamaica to come and hopefully she will be involved with that.'
Do you know your team?: 'I don't know yet who the starting XI are. Things develop over the tournament and then you make decisions according to what has happened and what is required in the team. You can make plans but you can't plan for everything
On leadership: 'Not all leaders are physical. They can sometimes not be very physical but have a huge leadership impact on the team. So I am happy with who we have in the team.
2:48PM
Wiegman: 'There is no crisis'
On if there is a crisis: 'That is not the case. We know what's going on. There is competition within the team. That's a good thing. I'm very happy with the team. And it doesn't feel like a crisis at all. I am very happy'
2:46PM
Wiegman: 'Players under more pressure now'
On pressure on the players these days: 'The demands have increased incredibly on women's football in the Super League and on the international front.
'A lot of attention has increased on the players in recent years too. That's a great thing, but it also brings extra pressure, which can be difficult to handle and something we have to be careful of.'
2:43PM
Wiegman: 'James not a risk'
On Lauren James' inclusion:
'It's not a risk. We still have a month and she is training really well with her club. She's at the point we hoped she would be at this stage. So we don't see it as a risk, we're just building her up.'
2:42PM
Wiegman: 'I don't beat around the bush'
On giving bad news: 'I'm very well, thank you for asking. It's not been easy but it's part of the job [having to give bad news], the main part of the job is making decisions, and sometimes you have to make difficult ones. It's not nice letting people down but it has to be done.'
'I don't beat around the bush when I have to say something and I can't control how players react to what I say.'
On the squad balance: 'I think we have enough experience. That's 16 players with major tournament experience, who have played in front of big crowds. Some other players are very young, but they're very eager, and that balance is very good in our team - and I think it's a nice balance.
On the 'crisis': 'There's always a lot of noise around the team, but I'm used to that, and we just have to ignore it and get on with what we have to do.
'I can assure you the training sessions have been very good this week. Against Portugal you could see some great connections within the team. Against Spain was really good for one half, not the other. But the group is happy and I'm very happy with how the players are getting along.'
2:34PM
Wiegman: Agyemang brings 'physicality'
On inclusion of Michelle Agyemang:
'We all remember her first goal against Belgium. She brings a certain physicality, she brings something different, so it's great to have her qualities in the team.'
2:32PM
Wiegman: Bright withdrawal 'sad'
Sarina Wiegman is talking to the press now.
On Millie Bright's withdrawal: 'I found out in the last couple of days. It's sad, it's disappointing. It's not nice when ou don't feel well physically and mentally, but I just hope she feels better soon.'
2:26PM
All not lost for those who missed out
There is every possibility that players withdraw through injury, or in the current climate pretty much anything else. If they do Wiegman has place the following players on standby:
Sophie Baggaley [Brighton & Hove Albion], Laura Blindkilde Brown [Manchester City], Bo Kearns [Aston Villa] and Lucy Parker [Aston Villa] are not allowed to make for the beach just yet.
They will stay with the squad at St. George's Park from the meet-up on Monday 16 June through to the day the squad travel to Switzerland on Monday 30 June.
The three US-based players in the squad – Moorhouse, Carter and Morgan – will all link up with their team-mates from week commencing 23 June after the continuation of their domestic season.
2:23PM
Wiegman sorry for excluded few
'At the same time, I do feel for those that have just missed out. I can only name 23 but there are more players who have been so important to us on our journey to Switzerland. We would not be here without them.
'As we look forward, we still have a month to go until we play the first game. After some important rest, we will all be working really hard to make sure we are ready to go on 5 July.'
England's opening match is against France in Zurich on Saturday 5 July before facing the Netherlands in the same city four days later. The group stage concludes with a 'Battle of Britain' against Wales on Sunday 13 July in St. Gallen.
2:21PM
Wiegman 'excited' about Swiss selection
'I know this is an exciting day, for the players and also for our fans and it underlines that the tournament is coming soon,' said Sarina Wiegman, the head coach. 'Telling the players they have made the squad is always a great moment. They will all give everything to help us make the country proud.
'This group is a very well-balanced mix of players with multiple tournaments on their CVs and also those that will make their tournament debuts. I am excited to see what we are capable of this summer.'