England Lionesses manager, Sarina Wiegman has welcomed a “competitive” group in next season’s UEFA Women’s Nations League.
Next season sees the first-ever UEFA Women’s Nations League tournament take place with implications for UEFA Euro 2025 Qualifying, which has seen 51 European teams split into three separate leagues based on their rankings.
England were placed in League A1 where they will face Wiegman’s native country – the Netherlands home and away, likewise against Scotland and Belgium.
Wiegman has consequently welcomed the improved “competitive balance” of this competition, in order to allow “the game to grow and always have competitive games”, so is pleased with how UEFA have addressed that issue.
The revamped format also comes after there were many one-sided 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying campaigns in many groups, including in England’s group where the Lionesses thrashed Latvia 20-0 in November 2021.
This competition will also have implications for UEFA Euro 2025 Qualifying, with Wiegman believing that it will provide “everyone the opportunity to qualify for the EURO.”
On being in the same group as her native country – the Netherlands who England beat in a friendly prior to last summer’s Euro success on home soil, Wiegman has admitted that those games home and away “will be really special because we know each other really well and it is my home country.”
Wiegman though does expect both teams to deliver strong games when they meet as she commented: “I think they will be very competitive games and we saw in the friendly game last year that there was a big difference between the first half [when it was 1-1] and the second half [which finished 5-1].
“It will be really nice to not only play in England but also to play in the Netherlands with England. I expect two very competitive games and high-level games so I’m really excited about them.”
Wiegman also admitted that she can’t wait to face Netherlands Head Coach, Andries Jonker in the dugout which will be “special” for her, having previously played as captain when he was interim coach
Acknowleding that Jonker is trying to evolve the Dutch squad with new tactics and playing style, Wiegman added: “He has changed a couple of things and he is trying to introduce a new style of play so it will be really nice to play against him.”
Wiegman meanwhile has warned fans not to write Belgium off despite thashing the Belgian Red Flame in this year’s Arnold Clark Cup.
Explaining exactly why the Belgians can’t be dimissed, Wiegman said: “I think Belgium are a really good side. At the Arnold Clark Cup they had a lot of injuries and struggled against us because of the squad depth but they still did well at the Arnold Clark Cup.
“In the EURO, they were really good and you really saw the improvements they have made over the years, as I have faced them several times over that time.
“Their coach Ives Serneels has been there for a long time, which gives them a level of consistency and he is really working on building the team.
“They are always tough, they want to play football, they are really organised and they just missed out on qualification for the World Cup, so you can never underestimate a team like Belgium.”
The 53 year-old manager also has refused to take Scotland as a lightweight team despite the Tartan Army having not met England since June 2019, when the Lionesses won their opening clash 2-1 at 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Acknowleding the Auld Enemy rivalry between England and Scotland across both sides of the game, Wiegman has admitted that she is “expecting a good rivalry as lots of their players play in the Women’s Super League so will know our players.”
Wiegman though revealed that she isn’t aware of Scotland’s manager, Pedro Martinez Losa beyond club level, but is wary of the possibility of Scotland causing upsets, after his Tartan Army stunned Australia and Costa Rica in April’s international friendlies with “promising” performances.
“devastating for the players”
England’s attention though is primarily on this summer’s World Cup amidst the possibility of no televised coverage in the UK and much of Western Europe.
Wiegman and her team however have more serious issues to deal with after Fran Kirby, Leah Williamson and Beth Mead were all ruled out of the tournament in recent months with knee-related injuries.
Addressing the reality of the current injury crisis engulfing her Euro-winning squad, Wiegman revealed that the situation is “devastating for the players and they are understandably gutted” to miss out on the World Cup.
Focusing on Williamson and Kirby’s injuries, Wiegman admitted that to lose Williamson is “horrible” after doing “a tremendous job as our captain”, having taken up the role last Spring after Steph Houghton fell out of favour due to an injury-hit campaign.
Wiegman added that she “had hoped” Kirby “would be able to keep progressing” in her recovery, which unfortunately hasn’t worked out as planned.
On what those injuries mean for the team going into the tournament, Wiegman iterated that other players now have “the opportunity to show their quality.”
Wiegman also explained the psychological impact of the situation as she admitted that injuries are “the tough thing and the ruthlessness thing about top sport,” yet the team must “move on and not focus on who isn’t there but instead concentrate on who will be there and who is available,” to chase title success.
In terms of current plans, Wiegman revealed that she is currently “in a good place with our preparations” but is aware that there are many more matches to be completed at club level, before she can assess “who is available for selection and pick the best team.”
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