Latest news with #Euros
The Sun
an hour ago
- General
- The Sun
Lauren Hemp insists England ‘have respect' for Spain but will be ready for tough pre-Euros test against world champions
LAUREN HEMP reckons England are ready to go toe-to-toe with Spain after their six-goal Nations League pummelling of Portugal. Following her international comeback yesterday evening the fit-again forward admitted she missed playing in front of Lionesses fans. 4 4 4 Before her side's pivotal pre- Euros duel with Spain the Lioness, 24, made a successful return to England action for the first time since last October. Their 6-0 humbling of Portugal involved four different players scoring for the reigning European champions. They include Chelsea's Aggie Beever-Jones who registered her first international hat-trick Defeat of their Nations League group A3 rivals would put England in the contest's finals. It would also fire a warning to their foes' at this year's Euros, with World Cup winners Spain likely to be one of the biggest threats. Before their Tuesday duel in Barcelona, Hemp said: "The confidence (in the squad) is high. "We've got a lot of respect for Spain and we've had so many great games against them. "We're going to make sure we're ready and rested for that game and we'll make sure we start that match as we did this one (against Portugal)." Hemp's England shift at Wembley last night was her first in seven months and follows her recovery from a knee injury. Her last Lioness game before then was a 2-1 friendly defeat of South Africa last October. A match that was followed by Hemp undergoing a knee op a month later that would leave her sidelined until her Man City return in April. In front of a 48,531-strong crowd, it looked as if she had never been away as she, Beever-Jones and Beth Mead terrorised Portugal's woeful defence. Hemp added: "It's been a long journey and there have been times when I've thought, 'when am I actually getting back on the pitch' after having a few setbacks. "But it's great to be back in an England shirt and doing what I love doing. Hopefully there is still more to come.' "It's been a long seven months but coming back felt great. "The fans are great and they're always great and I've missed that as well with not being in the mix for a little while (due to injury)." Defeat of Spain would see England register their second victory over the World Cup winners in the Nations League this year. The last duel between the sides resulted in 1-0 win for Sarina Wiegman's players at Wembley in February. On whether victory would serve as a warning to the Lionesses Euros' rivals, Hemp said: 'There's still a little while to go. "It's important that we still put in the performances leading up to the Euros. "But at the moment we feel we're in a great place." With Beever-Jones notching her first senior England hat-trick and Mead and Chloe Kelly scoring, Sarina Wiegman feels she has a Euros selection headache with her forwards. On June 5 the England boss, 55, will announce who has made it into her 23-player squad for the tournament that starts on July 2 in Switzerland. Wiegman has backed Lauren James to battle her way into contention with the Chelsea forward's recovery from a hamstring injury progressing. She said: "We have so many options up front in the England squad right now. 4 "What we also hope for is LJ (Lauren James) coming back too. She's still in rehab and doing good. "I hope every striker will be fit including those who we have now in the squad with LJ added to that. "Then it's going to be really hard for me to make decisions for the Euros squad."
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Sarina Wiegman still weighing up options before naming England's Euros squad
Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones certainly made a case for inclusion on Friday night, when she became just the second Lioness to score a hat-trick at Wembley in England's 6-0 Nations League dismantling of Portugal. Wiegman agreed she and her team needed to consider a number of factors – including fitness and relationships – when choosing which 23 players would defend England's title in Switzerland. Time to relive all six goals! 😍 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) May 30, 2025 'Of course you want these connections,' said Wiegman. 'Some players play more together than others. You have your opponents and of course, we still have players that are building too, so can they go to the level they had before they had injuries? 'I don't know yet. We're still trying out things and finding the balance.' England must beat World Cup holders Spain in their final Nations League group-stage meeting on Tuesday to clinch top of their group and advance to the autumn knockouts, which will determine the 2025 winners. It is also a final opportunity for players who might feel they are on the fringe to fight for their spot in Switzerland. Clinching at least second spot in Group Three through the Portugal triumph means England avoid a more complicated play-off situation and secure a more-favourable qualifying pathway for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. Lauren Hemp made her first England appearance since October on Friday (Adam Davy/PA) Long-term injured trio Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp all returned to the pitch against Portugal, the latter starting and looking in form on Friday night. 'They've worked so hard to get where they are right now and that's what they showed,' added Wiegman. 'If you haven't put all the work in it to this point, then you cannot have a good performance, so I'm really happy with that. 'Of course we need to keep building, the Euros are really coming close and at the same time, we want to perform in the Nations League, so we are trying to find that balance.' One of the biggest questions ahead of Thursday's announcement is whether or not Chelsea forward Lauren James – who scored three goals and added three assists at the 2023 World Cup – will have recovered enough from the hamstring injury she sustained in April. Wiegman hopes James will be fit in time for the tournament (Zed Jameson/PA) Arsenal striker Alessia Russo was forced to sit out Friday night's encounter with a calf issue, but Wiegman said before the contest that she hoped the Women's Super League joint-Golden Boot winner would be available to face Spain. 'We have so many options up front in the squad right now,' Wiegman added. 'And what we also hope for is that LJ (James) is coming back too. 'She's already up and doing good, so trying to build her too, seeing what the competition of course will be. 'I hope every striker will be fit that we have now in the squad and LJ added to that, it's going to be really hard for me to make decisions for the Euros squad.'
North Wales Chronicle
5 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Sarina Wiegman still weighing up options before naming England's Euros squad
Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones certainly made a case for inclusion on Friday night, when she became just the second Lioness to score a hat-trick at Wembley in England's 6-0 Nations League dismantling of Portugal. Wiegman agreed she and her team needed to consider a number of factors – including fitness and relationships – when choosing which 23 players would defend England's title in Switzerland. Time to relive all six goals! 😍 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) May 30, 2025 'Of course you want these connections,' said Wiegman. 'Some players play more together than others. You have your opponents and of course, we still have players that are building too, so can they go to the level they had before they had injuries? 'I don't know yet. We're still trying out things and finding the balance.' England must beat World Cup holders Spain in their final Nations League group-stage meeting on Tuesday to clinch top of their group and advance to the autumn knockouts, which will determine the 2025 winners. It is also a final opportunity for players who might feel they are on the fringe to fight for their spot in Switzerland. Clinching at least second spot in Group Three through the Portugal triumph means England avoid a more complicated play-off situation and secure a more-favourable qualifying pathway for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. Long-term injured trio Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp all returned to the pitch against Portugal, the latter starting and looking in form on Friday night. 'They've worked so hard to get where they are right now and that's what they showed,' added Wiegman. 'If you haven't put all the work in it to this point, then you cannot have a good performance, so I'm really happy with that. 'Of course we need to keep building, the Euros are really coming close and at the same time, we want to perform in the Nations League, so we are trying to find that balance.' One of the biggest questions ahead of Thursday's announcement is whether or not Chelsea forward Lauren James – who scored three goals and added three assists at the 2023 World Cup – will have recovered enough from the hamstring injury she sustained in April. Arsenal striker Alessia Russo was forced to sit out Friday night's encounter with a calf issue, but Wiegman said before the contest that she hoped the Women's Super League joint-Golden Boot winner would be available to face Spain. 'We have so many options up front in the squad right now,' Wiegman added. 'And what we also hope for is that LJ (James) is coming back too. 'She's already up and doing good, so trying to build her too, seeing what the competition of course will be. 'I hope every striker will be fit that we have now in the squad and LJ added to that, it's going to be really hard for me to make decisions for the Euros squad.'
Leader Live
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Sarina Wiegman still weighing up options before naming England's Euros squad
Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones certainly made a case for inclusion on Friday night, when she became just the second Lioness to score a hat-trick at Wembley in England's 6-0 Nations League dismantling of Portugal. Wiegman agreed she and her team needed to consider a number of factors – including fitness and relationships – when choosing which 23 players would defend England's title in Switzerland. Time to relive all six goals! 😍 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) May 30, 2025 'Of course you want these connections,' said Wiegman. 'Some players play more together than others. You have your opponents and of course, we still have players that are building too, so can they go to the level they had before they had injuries? 'I don't know yet. We're still trying out things and finding the balance.' England must beat World Cup holders Spain in their final Nations League group-stage meeting on Tuesday to clinch top of their group and advance to the autumn knockouts, which will determine the 2025 winners. It is also a final opportunity for players who might feel they are on the fringe to fight for their spot in Switzerland. Clinching at least second spot in Group Three through the Portugal triumph means England avoid a more complicated play-off situation and secure a more-favourable qualifying pathway for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. Lauren Hemp made her first England appearance since October on Friday (Adam Davy/PA) Long-term injured trio Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp all returned to the pitch against Portugal, the latter starting and looking in form on Friday night. 'They've worked so hard to get where they are right now and that's what they showed,' added Wiegman. 'If you haven't put all the work in it to this point, then you cannot have a good performance, so I'm really happy with that. 'Of course we need to keep building, the Euros are really coming close and at the same time, we want to perform in the Nations League, so we are trying to find that balance.' One of the biggest questions ahead of Thursday's announcement is whether or not Chelsea forward Lauren James – who scored three goals and added three assists at the 2023 World Cup – will have recovered enough from the hamstring injury she sustained in April. Wiegman hopes James will be fit in time for the tournament (Zed Jameson/PA) Arsenal striker Alessia Russo was forced to sit out Friday night's encounter with a calf issue, but Wiegman said before the contest that she hoped the Women's Super League joint-Golden Boot winner would be available to face Spain. 'We have so many options up front in the squad right now,' Wiegman added. 'And what we also hope for is that LJ (James) is coming back too. 'She's already up and doing good, so trying to build her too, seeing what the competition of course will be. 'I hope every striker will be fit that we have now in the squad and LJ added to that, it's going to be really hard for me to make decisions for the Euros squad.'
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Chelsea identify second striker target after Delap as two stars head for exit
Chelsea are in the process of finalising the £30million signing of Liam Delap but the Blues are also chasing a left-winger and there could yet be further arrivals in attack Chelsea will explore the signing of a second striker - despite already pulling off a major early coup by agreeing terms with £30million Liam Delap. The UEFA Conference League winners are continuing to monitor the forward market for opportunities, although they're now prioritising the capture of a left-winger. The Blues are expected to hold talks with Eintracht Frankfurt centre-forward Hugo Ekitike's agent Karl Mwalako Buchmann over the course of the next week. Chelsea are also long-term admirers of Arsenal target Benjamin Sesko and have tracked Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres with Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku both expected to depart west London this summer. There is also optimism Delap could yet feature for Chelsea at the Club World Cup over the U21 European Championships with England. The 22-year-old is poised to undergo his medical on Monday after snubbing interest from the likes of Manchester United, Newcastle, Everton and Nottingham Forest and should there be no late hitches, he would technically be available for this summer's tournament in the United States because Chelsea are not obliged to release him for the U21 Euros as per FIFA rules. Nicolas Jackson remains a firm part of Enzo Maresca's plans, however, the Senegal international now has a fight on his hands to remain the club's first-choice No.9 next season. Various suitors from Europe have made exploratory checks on Jackson's availability in recent months via his reps but currently, he's expected to stay put after penning a new two-year contract last September. Maresca has previously stated that he also believes Jackson has the tools to play from the left flank if required but Chelsea are keen to continue building a competitive squad after securing Champions League qualification. Ekitike is viewed as an interesting prospect with huge potential by both Chelsea and Liverpool but Eintracht Frankfurt are currently commanding a bumper package worth up to £84m (€100m) and it's currently unlikely any club will reach that figure. Brighton's Joao Pedro is not thought to be a name of serious interest at this stage despite being linked with a move to Stamford Bridge while Ipswich are showing loan interest in Marc Guiu, who is rated very highly internally at Chelsea. Meanwhile, the Blues are currently negotiating with Jadon Sancho as they would be open to triggering his £25m buy-out clause following his loan spell from Manchester United. Chelsea would have to pay a £5m penalty clause to send him back to Old Trafford, however, Sancho would likely be required to take a pay-cut if he is to seal a permanent switch to Stamford Bridge. The Chelsea hierarchy plan to recruit a left-winger regardless of Sancho's situation as Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended. Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is among the key names of interest but Chelsea are also long-term admirers of Athletic Club's Nico Williams and have other targets on their radar having previously looked at Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho in January.
