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The Independent
16 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sarina Wiegman: I have fallen in love with England after ‘craziest' tournament yet
Shortly before Sarina Wiegman walks into one of the grand rooms at England 's five-star Dolder base overlooking Zurich, Ella Toone can't help but laugh. 'We've nearly killed her twice in this tournament,' Toone says. It sometimes feels like at least twice in single games, especially those against Sweden and Italy. 'You've definitely aged me,' Wiegman told the players after the semi-final. You wouldn't think it as she walks in for a more informal chat with media on the eve of the Euro 2025 final. Wiegman is all smiles and laughs, as you might well be when your team repeatedly get through emotional late rescue acts. Everyone conspicuously looks to the coach in such moments. That isn't always the case in football. Wiegman admits that she finds focus on her 'awkward', if of course 'very special'. Except, it's hard not to focus on her. This is the 55-year-old's third consecutive major final in the England job, and fifth as a manager, going back to Euro 2017. It sums Wiegman up that she says it's a record she doesn't even want to think about until she retires. For everyone else, it defines her. While there have been a number of factors in England's rise, not least FA investment, the money they have spent on Wiegman is well justified. She is almost certainly the single most important figure in the history of the women's team. Hence the FA being 'in awe' of Wiegman, according to many insiders, to the point chief executive Mark Bullingham says she's priceless. If England loves Wiegman, however, what does Wiegman think of England? As a manager, she can come across as an abrupt figure, especially when talking in that matter-of-fact manner. Some close to her just say it's part of being Dutch. Nevertheless, Wiegman's success comes as her own players talk about how she's changed; maybe even softened. She is relaxed enough to elaborate on her relationship with England outside the job, something she hasn't really done before. 'I have been here four years and it just feels like my home away from home. I always enjoy it when I'm at work, when I'm in England. It is just the people, the sporting culture. I really love the sporting culture and the fans of course. It is the connection I have with the people, we are very, very close. The people at the FA, with everyone.' Wiegman is eventually asked whether she's 'fallen in love' with England? 'Yes, I have,' she says. 'Otherwise, I would not be sitting here with such a smile on my face.' Wiegman has certainly harnessed some of England's distinctive sporting traits, most visibly in the resilience of this team. 'Proper England', as her players keep saying. 'I absolutely see that,' she says. 'People that really want to work hard and are very committed.' That quality has been honed for this England team through Wiegman's nurturing of a proper old-fashioned team spirit. It has meant that, no matter how the team plays - and, in this tournament, that hasn't been very well - they always have a chance. Hence her resistance to speak about herself, except in the most couched way. 'I think I'm pretty good at bringing people together. But, without the quality, you're not going to win a tournament. So you need very good players and the support staff. The environment we created, the performance, how we do recovery… but they're important things to be the best prepared. 'What I'm trying to do is bring people together in the best possible way. Players and staff and the people around are really, really good.' As is always the case with such figures, you can't truly separate the real personality from the sporting personality, much as they try to. 'I'm kind of a caring person,' Wiegman says. 'I care about them… but at the same time I'm the coach.' The England players say she now lets out more emotion when they score. 'That comes from these performances,' she laughs. 'It's so intense. Of course I look very calm, but when the whistle goes and we score a goal and we change the game, when you have one minute left, of course that is emotional. Now, yes, like every person, I develop too with experiences. 'What I really wanted to do over all these years was try to enjoy it a little bit more, instead of always being so…' Wiegman interrupts herself. 'You have to be focused in this job, but you need to celebrate the moments that are good. It's really nice.' Some of the squad go even further and describe her as 'a mum'. 'Yeah, you know, sometimes when people say about 'the girls', I think 'do they mean my daughters or my team?!'I care about them but at the same time I'm making these hard decisions at the moment. So sometimes you should leave that caring and leave it up to them. They're grown-up women! But at least a mum should care.' Being in the job for four years has naturally seen her become closer to players, though. 'Those informal moments are just nice, to have a conversation in so you get to know each other better on and off the pitch. I say this a lot, but I truly believe connections make a difference. That's why I like team sports so much. That's what I like about the tournaments because you have more time together, so you have more time to have these informal moments.' Wiegman even admits that she misses the players away from camps. 'When we go into international breaks it's 11 days… you don't have much time. And then I'm not a person who just goes out and has a conversation where there's no purpose.' Much of this comes from the amount of consideration she put into actually taking the job in 2021. 'I think from both sides, before 2021, we have been really diligent to figure out if we were a good match. And you never know until you go in.' They now know so well that she's signed a contract to take her at least to the 2027 World Cup. There was 'a click', as Wiegman puts it. No matter how long she goes in the job, though, she's unlikely to face a tournament as tumultuous as Euro 2025. From the retirements beforehand to the being on the brink throughout, she admits there's been nothing like it. 'Before the World Cup, we had challenges with players who were injured. But in this tournament, it has been the craziest one with how the games went. That has been different.' The words don't quite reflect the mock exasperation on her face. Wiegman does admit that she now recovers from matches better. 'I've worked on that, too, because I always say don't put too much emphasis on the result. Of course, we are here to win, but you can't control winning. You can control what you do and what you try to do to win the games. And I do better at that.' As another tournament proves, however, she's not bad at winning either.
The Independent
16 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sarina Wiegman says Euro 2025 ‘craziest' run of tournament matches in her career
England boss Sarina Wiegman concedes Euro 2025 is the 'craziest' run of tournament matches in her managerial career. The Dutchwoman's defending champions are now just one win away from their second major trophy, but will need to seek revenge on Spain – who beat them in the World Cup final two summers ago – to secure back-to-back European titles. To reach this point, the Lionesses have leaned on late heroics, a never-say-die attitude, a sprinkle of luck and the wisdom of a head coach described by her Football Association boss as priceless, one who has now led teams to an unprecedented five consecutive major-tournament finals. 'In this environment you have challenges all the time. Before the World Cup, we had challenges with players who were injured,' said Wiegman. 'Of course, we prepare a lot and we know the players really well. We think of scenarios, 'Who is the first player to select? Who is the second?'. You're prepared for challenges. 'But in this tournament, it has been the craziest one with how the games went. That has been different.' Wiegman was forced to navigate through tumult even before the tournament started. The shock retirements of Euro 2022-winning goalkeeper Mary Earps and attacking midfielder Fran Kirby were followed by veteran defender Millie Bright – who captained England at the 2023 World Cup – withdrawing from selection to prioritise her physical and mental health. 'Of course, the challenge ahead of the tournament – whether players are available or not – the result is the same as an injured player or a player who is not available,' said Wiegman. 'You have to move on to what you want and who is ready to compete.' Some of those primed to do battle were expected – like Lucy Bronze, the 33-year-old now seven-time major tournament veteran Wiegman hailed as 'one of a kind', after she sparked England's stunning quarter-final comeback over Sweden with a late goal, then emphatically netted the winning penalty with the Lionesses' seventh try. But surprise standouts have also emerged in Switzerland, perhaps none so powerfully as 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang, twice England's saviour with equalisers in their quarter and semi-final comebacks. Speaking to Agyemang, who has won three of her four England caps at this tournament, or 21-year-old Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones, paints a picture of Wiegman as a maternal figure, particularly for her seven major-tournament debutants. 'Yeah (I feel like a mum)', agreed Wiegman. 'You know, sometimes when people say about 'the girls' I think, are they meaning my daughters, or are they meaning my team. 'So that's tricky, I'm kind of a caring person so I need to, maybe that's the part, I care about them but at the same time I'm the coach, I'm making these hard decisions at the moment so sometimes you should leave that caring and leave it up to them. 'They're grown-up women! But at least a mum should care.' Wiegman is under contract until after the 2027 World Cup. On Thursday, FA chief Mark Bullingham said she was 'not for sale' and 'no price at all' would be tempting enough to allow her to be prised away. And while she admits some of the attention is 'awkward', Wiegman added: 'Of course I find it very special too. But I do believe that everyone plays his or her part in the success. 'What I'm trying to do is bring people together in the best possible way, players and staff and the people around me are really, really good. And if they perform at their highest level, then the chance of winning a game is the highest possible. And that's what I'm trying to do. 'I think I'm pretty good at bringing people together, but without the quality, you're not going to win a tournament.'
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Chelsea Champions League winner hits out at 'hostile and disrespectful' former Premier League boss - and reveals he refused to speak to him in a 'Mexican standoff'
Former Chelsea star Ryan Betrand has opened up on a Premier League manager he locked horns with, which resulted in a 'Mexican standoff' and the pair not speaking. A true Premier League journeyman, Bertrand was contracted at Chelsea between 2006 and 2015 but spent just two full seasons with the Blues, enduring loan periods in each of the other seven. Eventually, the left back settled at Southampton in 2015, where he went on to make more appearances than he did for his seven previous clubs combined. But it was during his fifth season with the Saints where Bertrand, aged 29 at the time, became unsettled. The Cobham academy graduate detailed how the introduction of Ralph Hasenhutll in 2018 eventually led to a silent stand-off, with Bertrand having to consult club chiefs to find out what the manager's issue with him was. Betrand noted that he eventually resolved his differences with Hasenhutll, before explaining how the Austrian's 'egotistical' and 'authoritarian' approach caused tension in the squad. 'To be honest, I have a lot of respect for him [Hasenhutll]. I really like him, he's a really good guy,' Bertrand told Business of Sport. 'But at the start, he came in fully egotistical, thinking anyone 30 plus, 28 plus [years old] is the enemy because they can't learn new things. 'It's his way or the highway, everyone needs to listen, there's no talking back. He was so paranoid of other people making him look like he's not the No 1. He confused feedback for talking back, he had such an authoritarian approach.' Bertrand went on to explain an incident where Hasenhutll took him off at the end of a match that Southampton were losing, rather than keeping all attacking players on the pitch and opting to substitute a centre back. Bertrand respectfully confronted the manager a day after the game and asked for an explanation behind the decision. He described Hasenhutll's reaction as 'hostile' and revealed that they never spoke much after the conversation. Instead, Bertrand was punished by being inexplicably left out of the lineup on multiple ocassions. Bertrand continued: 'He was playing people like, Moussa Djenepo, he was playing him [at] left back. He was playing Kevin Danso [at] left back. Centre backs [at] left back, wingers [at] left back - anything to provoke a reaction out of me.' Bertrand insisted that Hasenhutll's antics did not get to him, and that he decided to get his head down in training, as his main objective was to win. Hasenhuttl left Southampton in 2022 to join VfB Wolfsburg, where he was sacked this May After some time, the player spoke to one of the club directors and asked what was going on. It was then revealed that Hasenhutll felt aggrieved by Bertrand's decision to question his in-game management. Bertrand then revealed that Hasenhuttl's behaviour took a remarkable U-turn towards the latter stages of his managerial tenure. The 35-year-old said: 'Towards the end, he went full circle. He ended up being more personable, talking to everyone, trying to be people's best mate, had more of a character.' Bertrand did not have time for this, though, and felt slighted by the fact that Hassenhuttl had already 'killed' his game. He added: 'I just thought "you weren't worth my time because at the start you were very disrespectful". He was killing my game at Southampton. I had to stay back.' Bertrand moved to Leicester in 2021 on a two-year contract and left the club as a free agent upon the expiration of his deal. A year later, he announced his retirement. But he attributes the narrative that he was 'getting on a bit' at Southampton to Hasenhuttl forcing him to stay back and not join the attack. Betrand made 485 senior appearances across his 17-year career. Currently, there is no word of him returning to a role in football, as he has pivoted his attention to the world of business. Hasenhuttl, meanwhile, left Southampton in 2022 to join Wolfsburg, where he was sacked this May.
