logo
Sarina Wiegman ‘pretty close' to knowing Euro 2025 squad as Lionesses selection looms

Sarina Wiegman ‘pretty close' to knowing Euro 2025 squad as Lionesses selection looms

Independent2 days ago

England boss Sarina Wiegman has revealed she is "pretty close" to knowing her squad for the upcoming European Championship.
The Lionesses face Spain in their final Nations League fixture on Tuesday night, with a spot in the competition's finals up for grabs.
Later in the week Wiegman announces her team for the Euros, with England defending their title as the competition begins in Switzerland on July 2.
Speaking about how close she is to knowing her Euros squad, Wiegman told a press conference: "We're pretty close.
"Still of course you want to go to the game tomorrow and make the final decisions, but we're pretty close."
One player not involved in the current England camp is Lauren James, who has been absent since April with a hamstring injury, but Wiegman is optimistic the forward will be available and can "make a difference" in the Euros.
The England boss said: "We already said we're trying to get her fit, she's trying to get fit with all the support from Chelsea and all the support from us.
"She's doing really well and moving forward. She needs to tick some boxes and when she does we can progress.
"Then that's very good because we think she can make a difference in the Euros, but she needs to be healthy, she needs to recover and needs to be performing at her highest level and I'm pretty positive that's going to work."
Wiegman confirmed everyone in her squad is available for selection ahead of Tuesday's clash with Spain, which will decide who finishes first in Group A3.
World champions Spain are currently two points clear of the Lionesses at the summit and the group winners will progress alongside the other League A champions to the finals later in the year.
England come into Tuesday's contest on the back of a 6-0 triumph against Portugal and earlier in the campaign inflicted Spain's sole Nations League loss in February, a 1-0 win at Wembley which Lucy Bronze believes can help build confidence in both the Nations League and the Euros.
"We already have beaten them this year, so we gained a lot of confidence from that," the defender said.
"Our players are performing well, we've done really good performances - that Spain performance at Wembley was fantastic from us, both defensively and attacking.
"You have to take confidence from every game whether it's Spain, Belgium, Portugal. Even the losses and the draws as well you can find things to gain confidence from.
"It's not the be all and end all tomorrow - it is for the Nations League a little bit for us, but in terms of the Euros that's a different tournament. We might not even face Spain, depending on different draws.
"All we can do is focus on the group in front of us, very tough group but a very exciting group - all eyes will be on that group no doubt.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rugby is more dangerous for wingers than any other position
Rugby is more dangerous for wingers than any other position

Telegraph

time30 minutes ago

  • Telegraph

Rugby is more dangerous for wingers than any other position

The press box at Ashton Gate offers an impeccable view of the pitch, which often brings small instances – such as friendly fire during the warm-ups – to the attention. On Saturday afternoon, as the Harlequins starters were running against replacements and travelling reserves half an hour before kick-off, Rodrigo Isgro and Jake Murray charged in opposing directions to vie for a high ball. They leapt into the air and whacked into one another, with Murray coming off worse. Clearly in some pain, the young scrum-half peeled himself off the floor. Fortunately, he would be fit to come off the bench against Bristol Bears later on. Topsy Ojo, meanwhile, was preparing to commentate for BBC Radio 5 Live high up in the media seats. The former London Irish favourite winced. Fairly or unfairly, wing used to be regarded as the position where one could most easily avoid the physical stuff and keep a clean shirt. These days, chiefly because of a refereeing directive that has made a profound impact, back-three players must be immensely courageous because many believe that the pivotal battleground of aerial competition has become as perilous as anything in rugby. Fans of rugby union have become accustomed to the concept of unintended consequences and an apparent increase in aerial collisions is a result of the crackdown on 'escorting'; the practice of teams protecting their own back-field catchers by shepherding chasers after an opposition kick. Angus Gardner set a decisive tone during England's loss to New Zealand last November, demanding that players be granted 'access' to the ball, and the sport has looked different since. Training practices, tactics and even recruitment have been influenced. Trends are cyclical, and one source stressed the point that it is less than a decade since there was a push to protect catchers with a spate of red cards for reckless chasing. 'You are essentially encouraging contact in the air now, which only seems to get penalised if something bad happens,' a senior Premiership coach said. 'The duty of care for the catcher, which was there a few years ago, appears to have gone. I think that's very, very strange. Only a couple of years ago, we were trying to reduce those situations. Now, we're openly trying to get more of them. 'It's definitely more dangerous now, of course it is. You can go up high, at pace and bump the catcher. That's how we have to coach it. And that's very challenging because you don't want to risk injury in the week, but you have to expose them to what it is going to be like in a game. 'Catchers need to really own the space and almost go through the chaser, where the chaser has free licence to make contact. It seems very like AFL.' AFL laws allow players to call for a mark anywhere on the pitch provided the ball has been kicked 15 metres, which obviously heightens the significance of a clean catch. By last summer, escorting in rugby union had effectively become coordinated obstruction. Possession from kick-returns was so reliable that it was treated like another set-piece and the 'gloves' of backpedalling team-mates that cocooned catchers were ugly on the eye. Authorities were also eager to create more broken-field scenarios. Alex Goode, the Saracens full-back who bowed out last weekend after 402 club appearances, remains highly sceptical. 'I don't think it's better for the game,' he says. 'Escorting had probably gone too far, but it's now chaos. You've got guys running into the air and colliding with each other and the refs are in a difficult position. 'It just encourages more kicking, because there is such a good chance of winning back the ball. There was a theory that there would be more transition situations and more unstructured attack, but I don't think that's coming to fruition.' Saracens train 'live' aerial drills once or twice a week, but Goode fears that the injury situation 'will only get worse' because 'there are collisions left, right and centre'. It is understood that governing bodies are more focused on eradicating 'always illegal' actions such as shoulder charges and reckless actions against vulnerable players at the breakdown. Ben Stevenson, the Newcastle Falcons wing, copped a ban this week after being sent off for a mistimed challenge that flipped Santiago Carreras of Gloucester, showing that sanctions are still doled out. Ojo highlights Freddie Steward as an emblem of how the landscape has changed. Close to indispensable to England at one point, the Leicester Tigers full-back was usurped by George Furbank as head coach Steve Borthwick leant into kick-return as a source of attacking impetus. Steward could find himself coveted again soon because there is agreement that chasers have a big advantage. 'Before, chasers had to work a bit harder to get around the escort while keeping their eye on the ball and then getting up,' Goode adds. 'The kick had to be good and the chase was something you had to really refine to make it a skill. Now, it does seem a bit too easy to get up and spoil with one arm. I'd say that it encourages a more kick-focused game.' Andy Farrell's cohort of back-three players in the British and Irish Lions squad leaves little doubt over the importance of aerial prowess. Tommy Freeman, Mack Hansen, James Lowe, Duhan van der Merwe, Elliot Daly, Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn all stand at least 6ft. Darcy Graham, who is 5ft 9in, was overlooked. 'I think [the directive] will affect recruitment strategies over the coming years,' suggested one source. 'Wingers' values had dropped, if you look at the positional stuff that comes out of the salary-cap report. People weren't spending as much money on them because they were putting it towards other areas. 'The change means a full-back who is very, very good in the air becomes more important and valuable. It will be the same for wingers who can go and get the ball. 'Will Muir is probably the best in the Premiership. He owns the space really well, he's brave in the air and goes for it with one hand a lot of the time. Kyle Steyn had a field day there on Friday night for Glasgow Warriors against Stormers as well.' The days of wings keeping a low profile and returning to the changing rooms in spotless kit are long gone. In the air, fierce commitment is critical and danger now comes with the territory.

Lidl launches £1.99 plant that flowers every week until October & adds instant privacy to your garden
Lidl launches £1.99 plant that flowers every week until October & adds instant privacy to your garden

The Sun

time32 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Lidl launches £1.99 plant that flowers every week until October & adds instant privacy to your garden

LIDL has launched a £1.99 plant that will flower every week until October. Alongside a number of other options, this will also add instant privacy to your garden. 4 If you want to create a colourful spectacle with minimal effort but has maximum impact then this could be the product for you. As we approach summer, you might be considering putting on a garden party. For this, your outdoor space needs to be in tip top shape and you might be looking to brighten up your garden with plants. Lidl is the low-budget supermarket with German origins that has made a huge impact in the UK. In its latest offer, you will be able to get your hands on assorted flowering plants for just £1.99. The discount retailer is offering a number of stunning plants to create an at-home oasis. For just £5.99, shoppers can choose to buy colourful hanging baskets that are perfect for gardens, balconies or patios. Red and yellow flowers sit in bold red baskets that are sure to add a huge pop of colour to your garden. With a height in between 25cm of 30cm, there is plenty of green flora included to give an exotic feel. You can also get your hands on Hibiscus flowers for just £6.99, and large 17cm Perennials for even less at £4.99 each. Parents race to Lidl for middle aisle bargains including 2 in 1 sandpit for £29 For the latter plants, shoppers can chose from Cosmos, Lavender, Snapdragons and Dianthus. For some of these larger plants, homeowners might need to buy stylish pots to place them in. Lidl is also offering a round stone ceramic pot for just £6.99, which could provide the perfect pairing with the houseplants. The item is available in two different colours in grey and a beige to suit multiple tastes. 4

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store