Latest news with #AssociatedPressEngland
Fox Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
'It doesn't feel like a crisis': Wiegman says England squad is 'happy' ahead of Women's Euros
Associated Press England coach Sarina Wiegman laughed off suggestions of a 'crisis' in the camp ahead of the Women's European Championship title defense after a chaotic week when key, experienced players pulled out of selection for the tournament. Star defender Millie Bright declared herself unavailable for the Euros, saying she was not '100% mentally or physically,' while goalkeeper Mary Earps and midfielder Fran Kirby retired from international soccer. All three were in England's title-winning team at Euro 2022. It robs Wiegman of 218 caps worth of experience for next month's tournament in Switzerland, and has led to talk of possible unhappiness in the squad and questions over whether the Dutch coach's lines of communication had come across as too strong or blunt. Wiegman rejected those accusations in a news conference held after her 23-women squad — containing injury doubt Lauren James — was announced on Thursday. 'For me, it doesn't feel like a crisis at all,' Wiegman said after tough questions at which she occasionally laughed. She attributed some of the scrutiny — or 'noise,' as she put it — around squad issues down to the extra eyeballs on the women's game that is growing year on year. 'The difference between 2017, when I went into my first tournament (as Netherlands coach), and now is the attention and the visibility of the women's game has increased so much,' Wiegman said. "So there's more noise and there's more journalists here who write and show what we are doing. 'We just have to deal with it and focus on football.' Wiegman insisted there was a good energy and connection between players in the team and that she was 'pretty happy where we are right now.' 'We know what's happening in the team and I think there's competition going on in the team — and I hope there's competition going on in the team." Bright, England's captain at the 2023 World Cup when the team reached the final, doesn't believe she is in the right frame of mind or physical state to play in a major tournament. She said in her podcast with England teammate Rachel Daly, released on Thursday, that she was making the "best decision for the team but also for myself" and would use the summer to mentally and physically get herself 'back in tip-top condition and just happy again, I think, all round.' Earps, another strong character in the England locker room, announced her international retirement last week after falling behind Hannah Hampton in the goalkeeper pecking order for her country. Kirby, meanwhile, said she was planning to retire from England duty after the Euros but brought that forward after discovering she wouldn't be in Wiegman's squad. 'I knew it was the moment where I'd outstayed my welcome,' she posted on Instagram. Wiegman said she believes it was important to be 'honest' and 'treat people in the right way.' 'Sometimes you have good news, sometimes you don't have good news,' Wiegman said. 'I didn't beat around the bush with that — I just give that message. I can't control how people respond to that.' James hasn't played for two months James, the Chelsea forward, injured a hamstring against Belgium on April 4 and hasn't played for club or country since. She was the biggest doubt ahead of Wiegman's squad selection but was included among the attacking options that also featured Michelle Agyemang. She is a highly rated 19-year-old forward who has played once for England — scoring after 41 seconds. England at the Euros England is in a group with France, the Netherlands and Wales. The first game of the title defense is against the French on July 5. ___ AP soccer: recommended
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Health
- Fox Sports
England star Millie Bright pulls out of selection for Women's Euros for health reasons
Associated Press England defender Millie Bright withdrew herself from selection for the European Championship on Wednesday because of health reasons. "Right now I'm not able to give 100% mentally or physically,' Bright wrote in a post on Instagram. The absence of the 31-year-old Bright — a long-time, first-choice center back for her country — is another blow to England coach Sarina Wiegman, who saw experienced goalkeeper Mary Earps announce her retirement from international soccer last week. On Tuesday, another stalwart of the England team — midfielder Fran Kirby — also retired from national team duty. Bright made herself unavailable for the recent England camp featuring games against Portugal and Spain and later said on a podcast: 'Mentally and physically I'm at my limits." Wiegman said after the 2-1 loss to Spain on Tuesday that she would have a conversation with Bright about her availability for the Euros in Switzerland next month, where England will be defending its title from 2022. The following afternoon, Bright used social media to announce she would not be taking part in the Euros. She described it as 'one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make' and said it came after 'careful thought and discussions with the team.' 'Football has given me so much, and representing my country has always been my greatest honor," said Bright, who has made 88 appearances for England and played in the team that won the Euros in 2022 before captaining the side on its run to the World Cup final in 2023. 'My pride and ego tells me to go but I think the team and the fans deserve more.' She said as stepping back from the team "is the right thing for my health, my future in the game and most importantly the team.' 'It wouldn't be fair," she said, "for me to take the place and opportunity away from another player who is ready and able to give everything for the badge and country.' Bright has just helped Chelsea to win the Women's Super League-FA Cup-League Cup treble in the recently completed domestic season. Turbulent week for Wiegman England's squad will be shorn of experience in Switzerland, with confirmation of Bright's absence coming soon after the international retirements of Earps and Kirby – two other members of the Euro 2022-winning team. Earps, a colorful and charismatic presence in the squad, played 53 games for her country but had lost her place in the team to Chelsea's Hannah Hampton. Kirby announced to her England teammates in the locker room after the loss to Spain that she was retiring from internationals. She played 77 games and had been told by Wiegman that she wasn't going to be selected for the Euros. Wiegman will name her final squad for the Euros on Thursday. England's first game of its title defense is against France on July 5. ___ AP soccer:
