Sarina Wiegman denies Lionesses are in crisis despite star exodus

Times

a day ago

After three England greats chose not to make themselves available for Euro 2025, Sarina Wiegman has said she does not 'go around the bush' when delivering selection news and that she cannot be responsible for how players react.
Having announced her squad for the tournament in Switzerland, with Lauren James and the teenage forward Michelle Agyemang included, England's Dutch head coach defended her leadership style with typical bluntness.
England's preparation for Euro 2025, which begins for them against France on July 5, has been rocky. Mary Earps shockingly announced her international retirement last week after losing the No1 spot, and Fran Kirby also decided to retire rather than remain on standby after Wiegman told her she would not make the squad. Then on Wednesday, Millie Bright withdrew from consideration for Euros selection because of physical and mental fatigue.
The disruption has led to accusations that Wiegman's forthright approach disillusions players and forces them towards the exit, but the 55-year-old, who led England to glory at Euro 2022 and the World Cup final a year later, brushed off these claims.
'It's really important that I am honest, that I treat people in the right way,' she said. 'Sometimes you have good news and sometimes you don't. I don't go around the bush with that.
'I just keep that message and I can't always control how people respond. I just hope that they have the clarity and can move on.'
With the start of the Euros title defence only a month away, Wiegman also rejected the notion that England are in crisis.
'My experience is that before a major tournament there's always noise,' Wiegman, whose first big competition as a head coach was Euro 2017 with the Netherlands, said. 'The attention and visibility of the women's game has increased so much, so it sounds like there's more noise, but there's just more journalists there that write and show what we're doing. We just have to deal with it, move on and focus on football.
'We're going with this 23 to the Euros now, and I feel very comfortable with this team. I'm very excited and I'm looking forward to it. It doesn't feel like a crisis at all.'
Wiegman had not previously commented on Bright's withdrawal. The 31 Chelsea centre back, who captained England at the 2023 World Cup, said that she would not go to the Euros because she is 'not able to give 100 per cent mentally or physically'.
Wiegman offered sympathy to the 31-year-old but insisted England and Chelsea offer a supportive environment.
'It's sad and disappointing,' she said of Bright. 'It's not nice when you don't feel well physically and mentally and I just hope she feels well very soon.
England's Euro 2025 squad
Goalkeepers Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Man City), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)
Defenders Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Man City), Maya Le Tissier (Man Utd), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal).
Midfielders Grace Clinton (Man Utd), Jess Park (Man City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Man Utd), Keira Walsh (Chelsea)
Forwards Michelle Agyemang (Arsenal), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Man City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal, on loan from Man City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
'The players are household names now. That's life-changing and very exciting, but at the same time players are not robots. They have to deal with these things too. We're trying to support as good as possible on and off the pitch. That's what we and the clubs do.'
Aside from the three high-profile absences, Wiegman's squad announcement was positive. James, England's most naturally gifted player, has been included despite not playing since April because of a hamstring injury. The Chelsea forward, 23, was unavailable for the past week's Nations League games against Portugal and Spain, and when Wiegman announced that squad on May 13, she was unsure whether James would fit for the Euros.
However, Wiegman believes taking James is 'not a risk' and hopes she will be fit for England's tournament opener against France in Zurich.
Agyemang's inclusion means the 19-year-old striker's sharp rise continues after an eye-catching season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion from Arsenal, and her astonishing England debut in April. She scored a spectacular volley 41 seconds after coming on against Belgium and will go to Switzerland as the squad's raw, exciting wild card.
'She brings something different,' Wiegman said. 'What she showed when necessary was so much physicality.'
Agyemang is one of seven forwards selected, while England have only taken five midfielders. That balance means no place for either Missy Bo Kearns or Laura Blindkilde Brown, who are both on England's four-woman standby list. Sophie Baggaley, the Brighton goalkeeper, and Lucy Parker, the Aston Villa defender, are the other two.
Earps's retirement has led to Wiegman taking only one capped goalkeeper in Chelsea's Hannah Hampton, who has made 15 England appearances. Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse are uncapped.
'She's a very impressive goalkeeper,' Wiegman said of Hampton, 24. 'She knows now where she stands.'
Leah Williamson will captain the squad, and the Arsenal centre back is part of a defence also featuring Maya Le Tissier, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Esme Morgan, who were also preferred instead of a sixth midfielder. Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Jess Carter and Niamh Charles were included as expected.
Wiegman has opted for quality over quantity in midfield. Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh are both linchpins, while Ella Toone (aged 25), Grace Clinton (22) and Jess Park (23) have all sparkled during their international careers — and made Kirby dispensable.
Up front, Agyemang and James are joined by Aggie Beever-Jones, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead and Alessia Russo. Kelly's place appeared in serious jeopardy last winter, when her deteriorating relationship with Manchester City left her considering quitting football. However, a deadline-day loan move to Arsenal revived her season to the extent that her Euros selection was unsurprising.
After the France game, England play the Netherlands (on July 9) and Wales (July 13) in group D.