logo
Wiegman says team's resilience was the difference in chaotic game

Wiegman says team's resilience was the difference in chaotic game

Straits Times2 days ago
MANCHESTER, England - An exhausted looking Sarina Wiegman said Thursday's wild finish made England's 3-2 comeback victory over Sweden in their Euro 2025 quarter-final the most chaotic game she had ever been involved in, and the coach praised her team's remarkable resilience.
Late goals by Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang sent the game to extra time, and then eventually an astonishing penalty shootout featuring 14 shots.
"The adrenalin is still flowing, I can't remember anything like this," Wiegman said. "The team just fighting to get back in the game, that's the quality that's so strong in this team, they're together, fighting back, sticking together and just showing so much resilience."
Wiegman subbed on Agyemang, Beth Mead and Esme Morgan in the 70th minute, and then Chloe Kelly shortly after, and the attacking intensity instantly picked up.
"That really helped at that moment," Wiegman said.
The penalty shootout featured more misses than makes, which she said was intense to watch.
"You miss so many penalties, that I was really concerned, but then (Sweden) missed again, that needed a little bit of luck," Wiegman said. "And then of course, they then miss and it is the most horrible way to end. But it made it for us maybe even more exciting."
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
World Trump diagnosed with vein condition causing leg swelling, White House says
World Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. What is it?
Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore
Asia Malaysia's King appoints Wan Ahmad Farid as new Chief Justice
Singapore SPCA appoints Walter Leong as new executive director
World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report
Opinion Is your child getting drawn to drugs? Don't look away and don't give up
Business Granddaughter of late Indonesian tycoon pays $25 million for Singapore bungalow
The coach heaped praise on Bronze, who fired home England's deciding penalty despite limping on a sore right hamstring.
"Lucy Bronze is just one of a kind, I have never, ever seen, seen this before in my life, and I'm very lucky person that I've worked with so many incredible people, incredible football players," Wiegman said.
"But what she does and her mentality ... what defines you is that resilience, that fight. I think the only way to get her off the pitch is in a wheelchair."
One negative on the night was captain Leah Williamson limping off with an ankle injury. Wiegman said she will be assessed on Friday.
"I don't know what it is right now. She couldn't stay on the pitch so we had to take her off," the coach said.
Asked about other potential injuries, the coach summed up her squad as "Really tired. People are really tired."
England next face Italy in the semi-finals on Tuesday in Geneva. REUTERS
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Another last-eight exit for France has players wondering when their turn will come
Another last-eight exit for France has players wondering when their turn will come

Straits Times

time20 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

Another last-eight exit for France has players wondering when their turn will come

Find out what's new on ST website and app. BASEL, Switzerland - France arrived at Euro 2025 riding on one of the hottest streaks in women's football, but another quarter-final exit from a major tournament left the shell-shocked players wondering when it will be their turn to celebrate. France had won 11 in a row before they kicked off against Germany on Saturday, but wilted against the eight-times European champions -- despite having 11 players to Germany's 10 for most of the game -- losing 6-5 in a penalty shootout. "We're wondering when it's going to be smiling for us at last," said Grace Geyoro. Geyoro put France ahead with a 14th-minute penalty in a game that ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time. Les Bleues have now been eliminated in the quarter-finals in seven of the past nine World Cups or Euros. They were also eliminated in the quarters in their last two Olympic appearances, in 2016 and 2024. Germany swept them aside in the 2022 Euro semi-finals. "I don't think we have a psychological problem," said France coach Laurent Bonadei. "We have opponents of quality, and it gets harder and harder. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Singapore 2-in-1 airport police robot on trial can patrol and serve as PMD with ride-hailing feature Asia Rains from Typhoon Wipha batter Hong Kong as it heads for mainland China Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Asia Tearful relatives await news of victims in Vietnam boat capsize Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi Singapore Minor Issues: Why I didn't send my daughters to my brand-name primary school "But I think my players gave us hope; Rome wasn't built in a day." Bonadei, who was hired in August 2024, drew criticism when he left veteran centre-back Wendie Renard and France's all-time leading goalscorer Eugénie Le Sommer off his Euro 2025 squad in favour of younger players. Bonadei quoted Einstein in his decision at the time, saying: "'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.' I want different results for this team so I have gone with a different selection. "It's something I've been thinking about since the start of the season." France defender Sakina Karchaoui called the early exit "totally frustrating." "We had so much faith in this group, in what we've built up and so on," she said. "But we don't have to throw it all away; on the contrary, you have to take a lot of positive things from it. And one day it will pass, we know that." Bonadei pointed out after Saturday's loss that France will clash with Germany again in October in a two-legged Nations League semi-final. Germany, meanwhile, play world champions Spain in the semi-finals on Wednesday. REUTERS

Germans face race to recover after emotional Women's Euro win over France
Germans face race to recover after emotional Women's Euro win over France

Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • Straits Times

Germans face race to recover after emotional Women's Euro win over France

Germany's players face a race to mentally recover for Wednesday's Euro 2025 semi-final against Spain after they were left drained following their epic 6-5 win on penalties against France on Saturday, when they had to fight back from a goal and a player down. With defender Kathrin Hendrich sent off in the 13th minute, Christian Wueck's side had to put in a Herculean effort to pull off a 1-1 draw after extra time. It set the stage for goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger's stellar shootout performance as she scored from the spot and saved two of France's penalties to send the Germans through. "We just have to shake this pain off, look at who we have as resources. We need to take action, the doctors, physical therapists and our staff have to intervene, and I hope we can recover the players within three days," German coach Wueck told reporters. "Of course, this game was very emotional because of our progression but in football, half of the worth is due to emotions and I think that's what decided for this game. Everybody who has enjoyed our win knows that." After suffering a blow by losing 4-1 to Sweden in their final group game, the enormous physical effort required to defeat the French left several players in Wueck's squad carrying knocks, bumps and bruises, and the 52-year-old coach said it was their mental strength that carried them into the last four. "We had enough time to be mentally fresh and recover, it was okay to have one day without football (after the Sweden game). The reaction that our team has shown is a performance level we have been able to maintain for more than 120 minutes," he said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Singapore 2-in-1 airport police robot on trial can patrol and serve as PMD with ride-hailing feature Asia Rains from Typhoon Wipha batter Hong Kong as it heads for mainland China Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Asia Tearful relatives await news of victims in Vietnam boat capsize Singapore ComfortDelDro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi Singapore Minor Issues: Why I didn't send my daughters to my brand-name primary school "I always promised this to the team that mentality beats the rest, and this is what we have proven today." Germany take on Spain in their semi-final in Zurich on Wednesday, with reigning champions England facing Italy the day before in Geneva. REUTERS

Germans face race to recover after emotional Women's Euro win over France
Germans face race to recover after emotional Women's Euro win over France

CNA

timean hour ago

  • CNA

Germans face race to recover after emotional Women's Euro win over France

Germany's players face a race to mentally recover for Wednesday's Euro 2025 semi-final against Spain after they were left drained following their epic 6-5 win on penalties against France on Saturday, when they had to fight back from a goal and a player down. With defender Kathrin Hendrich sent off in the 13th minute, Christian Wueck's side had to put in a Herculean effort to pull off a 1-1 draw after extra time. It set the stage for goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger's stellar shootout performance as she scored from the spot and saved two of France's penalties to send the Germans through. "We just have to shake this pain off, look at who we have as resources. We need to take action, the doctors, physical therapists and our staff have to intervene, and I hope we can recover the players within three days," German coach Wueck told reporters. "Of course, this game was very emotional because of our progression but in football, half of the worth is due to emotions and I think that's what decided for this game. Everybody who has enjoyed our win knows that." After suffering a blow by losing 4-1 to Sweden in their final group game, the enormous physical effort required to defeat the French left several players in Wueck's squad carrying knocks, bumps and bruises, and the 52-year-old coach said it was their mental strength that carried them into the last four. "We had enough time to be mentally fresh and recover, it was okay to have one day without football (after the Sweden game). The reaction that our team has shown is a performance level we have been able to maintain for more than 120 minutes," he said. "I always promised this to the team that mentality beats the rest, and this is what we have proven today." Germany take on Spain in their semi-final in Zurich on Wednesday, with reigning champions England facing Italy the day before in Geneva.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store