Latest news with #Euros2023
Sky News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Sky News
England Women thrash Netherlands to keep Euros hopes alive - as Wales on the brink of exit
England Women have convincingly beaten the Netherlands to keep their Euros hopes alive. But Wales are on the brink of exiting the competition. Sarina Wiegman's England came into the tournament as defending champions, but slumped to a 2-1 defeat against France in their opening match on Saturday. In their second game against the Netherlands, the Lionesses took a commanding lead in the must-win tie, and it ended up being a thrashing. However, it was a less successful night for Wales women who fell to a 4-1 loss to group leaders France. While technically still in with a chance of qualifying, Wales women now need a huge victory over England when the two meet on Sunday. England's Lauren James, freshly returned from injury, starred in the 4-0 victory, scoring twice before being substituted off in the second half. Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone were the other goalscorers, while FA patron Prince William was among those cheering on the team in the Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland. The performance was much-needed, as a loss would have left their campaign on a knife-edge, relying on results elsewhere. Going into the competition, the England camp was hit by a series of setbacks as three senior players pulled out for differing reasons. England will play Wales in their third and final group game on Sunday 13 July. Speaking to the BBC after the game, James said: "I enjoyed it a lot, the goals say it all. "We bounced back from the previous game and showed we were more than capable [of] showing the world what we can do." Fellow goalscorer Stanway said: "I've always said, and said the other day, this is about showing who we are. We fought from the very first minute to the very last." Wiegman, who has also led her native Netherlands to Euros glory, lauded her team's response after losing against France. Speaking in a news conference after the game, Wiegman said: "I'm very happy with the performance, we bounced back really well from France. "How the team responded today was really good." Sir Keir Starmer, an Arsenal fan, also celebrated the win with a post on X that said it was a "phenomenal" performance. Wales lose 4-1 Meanwhile, Wales lost 4-1 to France, who now top the group. It has left Rhian Wilkinson's side almost certain to exit the tournament - barring a miracle in their final group game against England. After going behind early on, Wales women drew level in the 13th minute after a VAR check. However, individual errors from Wales helped France pull ahead. The tournament in Switzerland has been Wales women's first major tournament, and they were drawn into a strong group.
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Dutch star Vivianne Miedema sends warning to girlfriend Beth Mead as long-term partners prepare to face each other in England's crunch Euros clash with the Netherlands
The Sarina Wiegman derby takes centre stage this evening and the stakes are sky high. The Dutch coach is in unfamiliar territory after defeat to France on Saturday cost her the first group-stage defeat in her major tournament career and the Lionesses' first in 10 years, with England now on the precipice of a shock exit after back-to-back finals under Wiegman – Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup. The permutations are complicated but ultimately anything less than a win takes it out of England's hands. A defeat would be disastrous, and this could statistically end up becoming the worst title defence in women's Euros history. It's difficult to overstate the fallout if England fail to beat the Netherlands. The Lionesses have been front and centre of this tournament. Turn on any television in Switzerland and England's stars are advertising mobile phones or soft drinks while Alessia Russo peers down from Zurich billboards alongside Spain's mega-star Aitana Bonmati. And Wiegman was on expert damage control yesterday. Transitioning seamlessly between her native Dutch and English, the 55-year-old coach from The Hague reminded the world that France are a world-class team and England are in the toughest of groups. 'It's a football game, and the outcome, of course, has consequences, but that was the same at the Euros final and the World Cup final,' she said. 'So then we bring it back to what do we have to do? And the focus is on what actions do we have to take to play our best, and that's the conversations that we have with the players. That's what we train.' Wiegman, who won this tournament as head coach of tonight's opponents in 2017, has plenty of insider knowledge of the threat that the Dutch can bring, with many of the current squad integral to that triumph eight years ago. None more so than Vivianne Miedema, the all-time WSL record goal scorer and girlfriend of Lioness star Beth Mead. Mead has clarified that the two have not been trading insider knowledge ahead of their match - 'We keep in contact but when it gets closer to our games, we don't talk about football whatsoever,' the Arsenal winger has previously said – but is well aware of the threat her long-term partner poses to her dreams of retaining the Euros title. Miedema has struggled for consistency since moving to Manchester City this season but was back to her best against Wales in the opening group stage game with a stunning effort from 18 yards out – her 100th goal in her 126 appearances for her national team. Not one of them has come from the penalty spot. The Dutch forward came out firing, insisting that the pair will 'not be friends tomorrow,' adding: 'I will do everything I can to win tomorrow. If I have to do something that is not good for Beth, then I will do it.' The 28-year-old is not only the only player on this Dutch side who can cause the Lionesses problems, with there being other hugely influential WSL stars within their ranks. Amongst them are Arsenal's Champions League winning goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, who was rushed back from injury for the final such is her importance to that team, as well as Gunners midfielder Victoria Pelova and City's departing No 10 Jill Roord. But Wiegman and England striker Alessia Russo towed the party line that their preparations for the upcoming game have been focused purely on themselves – and not on their familiar opponents. 'We're aware that they have lots of talented players but we've more been looking at ourselves and how we can best prepare,' Arsenal's Golden Boot winner said. England have been able to bounce back from situations like this before, such has been their inconsistent form coming into this tournament. Disappointing performances against sub-par sides have been met by dazzling displays against the likes of Spain and United States. 'It's a big part of what we are as a team,' Russo added. 'We have players that can create something out of nothing. 'I think making sure that everyone's in a good headspace going into that game tomorrow is important, and that's what we've been doing as a team. Ultimately, we have a game plan, but we've got individuals who can create a bit of magic as well.' Here there is no margin for error, and tonight we can really see what this 'new England' is all about.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wendie Renard insists France career not over amid ‘disbelief, injustice' of Euro 2025 omission
Wendie Renard insists her 'career is not over' after France's former captain was dropped by manager Laurent Bonadei, describing the 'disbelief, injustice' she has felt. OL Lyonnes centre-back Renard, with 168 international appearances and considered a legend of the game, was not selected for the two Nations League games against Switzerland (May 30) and Iceland (June 3). At that point, according to Renard, she had not been told what that meant for the European Championships. Advertisement 'I understood from the press conference (to announce the Euros squad on June 5) that I wouldn't be playing,' Renard told Martinique La Premiere, a France TV channel. 'I got a call from the coach beforehand because there were two Nations League matches before. But after that, it's the coach's decision, and I have to respect and accept it. But it's incomprehensible. 'We ask ourselves lots of questions, questions that are in my head and that I will keep to myself. There is disbelief, injustice. I can wake up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror. 'I gave it my all. Only God knows why I am not on that list. I wish this team success and hope they win the title. Choices have been made, and I can only wish them success.' Advertisement Renard had been France captain since 2013 but has endured some turbulent times with the national team. After taking charge in late 2017, coach Corinne Diacre stripped Renard of the captaincy. Renard writes in her book, Mon Etoile (My Star), that Diacre said she was at '40 per cent of her capacity with the French team' and 'perhaps the armband took up too much of her energy'. In March 2023, Renard withdrew herself from selection for that year's World Cup, stating she 'can no longer support the current system which is far from the requirements of the highest level'. Following the sacking of Diacre, Renard returned to the squad under Herve Renard (no relation to Wendie) but was unable to guide her team beyond the quarter-final stage of the World Cup or the 2024 Paris Olympics. Advertisement 'I have always given 30,000, 40,000 per cent for this shirt, which I hold above everything else,' she said. 'That will always be the case because I believe my career is not over. It's the coach's decision, but everything in its own time.' France start their Euro campaign against defending champions England on Saturday in Group D. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. France, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Meet the only English manager at the Euros
It's easy to see why Gemma Grainger gets mistaken for a Norwegian. Sitting in the sunshine outside a coffee shop near her Oslo flat, she looks very much at home. It's only when she speaks and you hear her north-east accent do you realise, she is distinctly English."I always thought that I was tall in height until I came here," 5ft 10in Grainger tells BBC Sport. "Then I realised these are my people because I'm average height here, which is nice."The 42-year-old from Middlesbrough took over as head coach of Norway's women's team 18 months ago. And since then, she has had to adapt to a new kind of culture off the pitch and build a new one on week she will take on the biggest challenge of her career when she leads the national side into the Euros. It also makes her the only English head coach at the for Grainger, who was previously assistant coach to the Lionesses under Mark Sampson and head coach of Wales, there are no mixed allegiances here."This is something I've worked for my whole career. So, I'm incredibly proud and privileged to work with this group of players."They've given me this opportunity because they see something in me. And for me, I want to repay that. So, when we go into this tournament, I want to be the coach that can bring this team success."I want Wales and England to do well," she says, before adding with a laugh - "except for when they're playing Norway". 'Not a manager who screams' One of the first things you notice about Grainger is her very calm demeanour. The second, is her pure love for the game. Even as manager of a national team, she thinks nothing of giving up an evening to coach a session to has close coaching relationships with USA head coach Emma Hayes and ex-England boss Gareth Southgate. She sees players as people first and has spent the last year and a half building a "holistic" culture at Norway that allows the players to be themselves."As an international manager, it's about taking care of people. It's about making sure that when they come here and when they leave, they can't wait to come back," she says."When they're here, I make sure that they can be who they are. And from my perspective, I really value leadership within the team, so I give them the opportunity to own that."It's about the good moments, the uncomfortable moments and honesty and that is the strongest part of our team." And her warm approach has been well received by the squad, including women's football icon Ada Hegerberg, Norway's captain."She's a very empathic woman," she told BBC Sport. "She sees the human in you first off and I value that a lot. She's a very intelligent woman, we've had a lot of funny discussions and I enjoy that."It's been really refreshing for us to get that mentality into the group. She's been a big plus for us."And her thoughts were echoed by defender Guro Bergsvand. "She's very calm and very passionate about what she wants from the team and what values we have as a team."She cares about her players, but she wants to get the best out of each one. She's not going to be the coach who screams in the locker room."Norway's previous appearance at a major tournament, the 2023 World Cup, was overshadowed by player unrest under former coach Hege president of the Norwegian FA, Lise Klaveness, admits that Grainger was not on their initial list of candidates when they started to recruit for a new head coach and was only added to increase the number of females they saw. But once Grainger sat in front of them, they knew they had the right person."She really impressed us through a very thorough process. She's very nerdy, she loves football. She's very professional, warm, kind and value based."One of the things that's impressed me most is how open she is to Norwegian culture and new challenges. She's a mediator, she's honest but she's good at making people connect. 'We want to make the country proud' Norway were once a powerhouse of women's football. They won the World Cup in 1995, were crowned European Champions in 1987 and 1993 and added an Olympic gold medal in 2000. However, recent tournaments have not been kind to the side, despite producing a long line of global last reached a major final at the European Championship in 2013 and have failed to get out of the group at the last two Euros. At the 2022 tournament, they suffered a humiliating 8-0 defeat by the Lionesses in the group Grainger they beat Northern Ireland 7-0 on aggregate to qualify for the Euros via the play-offs, while they have had mixed results in their recent Women's Nations League group, where they finished second behind summer they open their tournament against hosts Switzerland and then play Finland and Iceland in Group Grainger, the only way is up."Coming from the outside is one of my biggest strengths because I don't feel the things that they [the players] feel. I see the potential in this team."Norwegian people are very passionate about football. Very passionate about the national team. So, for us, there is pressure. We want to make sure that we do the country proud but also that you see a team that you enjoy watching."The expectation is for us to get out the group. I'm not going to sit here and say we're going to win it, because we want to take a game at a time. It's a cliche, it's boring but it's how it's going to be."Women's football has never been more competitive, the margins are fine and they're getting finer."We're going to see a lot of teams putting themselves under pressure to win it because I think expectations are high in many countries. But for us, it's genuinely about making sure that we're the team that we want to be."We will channel everything into every game to get out of that group. And then of course, once you get out the group, you take it from there. Familiar faces await in the semi-finals Grainger is not someone who craves the spotlight, but her coaching CV is vast and impressive. From starting out at Leeds United 15 years ago, she quickly moved her way through the England youth teams which gave her valuable experience of major no doubt that was part of the reason that Lionesses head coach Sampson asked her to join the England senior coaching set up for the 2017 Euros. A tournament where England made the semi-finals."I predominately worked with the forward players in that tournament. So, a lot of my memories on the pitch were working with Jodie Taylor [who claimed the Golden Boot]. That's something that I remember fondly."When you're the assistant, you get the luxury of spending time on the pitch. The more time on the pitch, the more time with the players." But when asked if one day she would like to return to the England set up as manager, the answer is clear, at the moment Norway is her only focus."Right now, I'm incredibly happy. The support that I have here with the federation and the work that I'm doing with Norway is absolutely the right place for me to be. But one day, I could be interested."Grainger got her first senior international head coach role when Wales appointed her in 2021, which she says was a "very proud" moment, and went on to guide them to the brink of World Cup qualification in when Norway made their approach for her three years later, she said she knew it was not an opportunity she could turn Norway reach the semi-finals, Grainger could find herself coming up against one of her former sides, with both England and Wales fighting it out in Group still splits her time between Norway and England, but her Norwegian is a work in progress."I understand it now. It's actually a smaller language so there's a lot of words that they use in English, which is good for me. But it's coming along and it's something that I've tried to embrace. The team talks are still in English though."The last 18 months have been incredible. I honestly have embraced the culture, the lifestyle, the football. So I'm having a great time."
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'World's sexiest footballer' Alisha Lehmann scores brand new sponsorship deal - days after she was part of Swiss Women side who lost to Under 15 boys team
Alisha Lehmann, dubbed the 'world's sexiest footballer', has secured a new sponsorship deal. Lehmann, 26, who used to go out with former Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz, is currently preparing for the Women's Euros with Switzerland. The tournament is being hosted in the 26-year-old's home country and they get their campaign underway in Basel on Wednesday with a clash against Norway. But, ahead of the tournament, Lehmann has been busy off the pitch and on Sunday she unveiled a new partnership with swimwear company Tezenis. The Italian brand is known for its urban and youthful style and offers a wide range of trendy items, while it has also been praised for its competitive pricing. And Lehmann revealed news of the partnership with an Instagram post of her wearing a red bikini from Tezenis. The post was a video, in which Lehmann could be seen sunbathing before she took a ball from a bag and started doing kick-ups, while the Swiss star even added a few skills in there. The 26-year-old added the caption: 'Same energy. Different uniform @tezenisofficial.' It is unclear where the video was shot, but it appeared to be a luxurious location, with Lehmann on the beach in the blazing sunshine during the clip. Meanwhile, the new link-up for Lehmann comes just days after she was part of a Swiss outfit that lost 7-1 to Under 15 male side FC Luzern in a warm-up game ahead of the Euros. Footage of the match circulated on social media and reportedly received 70,000 views on TikTok before being deleted. Switzerland played a second-string team, with boss Pia Sundhage fielding 26 players. Swiss Football Association media spokesperson Sven Micosse defended the result after the game and gave further context to the defeat. She told Swiss outlet Blick: 'It's not uncommon in women's football to compete against junior teams. 'The goal: to bring a certain competitive element. The focus during this phase of preparation is on the physical aspect. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alisha Lehmann (@alishalehmann7) Lehmann was part of the Switzerland squad that lost 7-1 to a boys Under 15 team last week 'Regardless of the result, these training games are very similar to our international matches in terms of intensity and mileage.' Lehmann, who plays for Juventus, is the national team's most famous player and boasts 16.7million followers on Instagram and 12m on TikTok. However, she was only handed a last-minute call up to the Swiss squad for this summer's tournament after being initially snubbed by Sundhage. The 26-year-old was given a spot in the squad after FC Koln midfielder Alena Bienz withdrew with an ankle injury.
