Euro 2025: Wiegman news conference before England v France

BBC News

21 hours ago

Update:
Date: 16:16 BST 4 July
Title: England to win?
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
I keep changing my mind about how this game might work out for England, and I am sure that will continue right up until kick-off.
I feel like the Lionesses will probably need to be a little conservative if they are to start the defence of their title with a win, but I can see them keeping a clean sheet if they get things right at the back.
England lost two key defensive players, goalkeeper Mary Earps and centre-back Millie Bright, in the run-up to the tournament and while our backline is still at world-class level without them, replacing them has caused some disruption to our defensive unit.
So, I am sure there will still be a few issues that will need to be ironed out as this tournament progresses, but hopefully that won't cost England any goals or points here.
The key for England winning this game will be them being tight at the back - maintaining possession, controlling the game and reducing the number of mistakes. If they can do that and also create some chances for our forward line then our attackers are so ruthless, they will take care of the rest.
Prediction: France 0-1 England.
Update:
Date: 16:16 BST 4 July
Title: Post
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
Right, the news conference has finished and England are continuing their final preparations before their first game at Euro 2025.
Will England get off to a winning start?
We'll leave you with a prediction from former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis.
Update:
Date: 16:13 BST 4 July
Title: 'Her talent speaks for itself'
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
Keira Walsh on the possibility of lining up against her Chelsea team-mate Sandy Baltimore on Saturday: 'Her talent speaks
for itself, you've seen some of the goals she has scored. Seeing her in
training – that's when you see the best of someone when you see them every
single day.
"She's got an incredibly gifted left-foot. For the size of her as
well, I think she's super strong and can hold the ball up really well because
she is quite small.
"She plays left-back most
of the time for Chelsea and with the French team she plays a little bit
further forward. I think Lucy [Bronze] will have played against her a lot in training [for Chelsea].
Hopefully Lucy knows how to get the better of her.'
Update:
Date: 16:11 BST 4 July
Title: 'I held anxiety up until this moment'
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
England
More from Leah Williamson on her feelings after missing the World Cup through injury: "I've probably held some anxiety up until this moment just because I wanted to be here and I wanted to be with the team and experience another tournament for England.
"Being away from home - it's special when you come to another country to represent your country.
So I'm just to take everything in - it's a bit different to England in 2022.
"I am very excited but also so much has changed, so I am intrigued to come back and enjoy tournament football [again]."
Update:
Date: 16:06 BST 4 July
Title: 'Greenwood a player you don't want to let down' - Williamson
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
England
England captain Leah Williamson on playing alongside 'best mate' Alex Greenwood: "Alex is an exceptional ball player. She sees things that not many do. She is always at such a high performance. When you play next to someone like Alex she demands so much of herself and naturally of you too.
She is one of my best mates so I have a good time playing [with her] but she is also one of those players that you don't want to let down because her level is so consistently high."
On differences between Greenwood and previous centre-back partner Millie Bright: "There are loads of differences. Mostly the physicality of it. Millie is blessed in ways that people like me and Alex are probably not. She has those strengths, I think maybe we have to do our talking in a different way."
Update:
Date: 16:02 BST 4 July
Title: Wiegman on asking Hemp to 'give her opinion'
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
England
On asking Lauren Hemp to be more vocal on the pitch, Sarina Wiegman says: "She is a very introverted person but she does have an opinion and we ask her a little bit more to give her opinion.
She has grown so much in football but also as a person and that's what we see too."
Update:
Date: 16:00 BST 4 July
Title: Will James start?
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
England
Wiegman is asked whether Lauren James could start against France.
"We are not going to give you the line-up. She played 30 minutes last week and she can play more than that."
Update:
Date: 15:58 BST 4 July
Title: James 'ready to get more minutes'
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
England
Sarina Wiegman, speaking about Lauren James, who injured her hamstring in April: "She is in a good place. As you noticed, she came on the pitch against Jamaica last week and she is ready to get more minutes tomorrow."
Update:
Date: 15:57 BST 4 July
Title: Post
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
What sort of tournament will Lauren James have?
Update:
Date: 15:55 BST 4 July
Title: 'We're very well prepared' - Wiegman
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
England
England head coach Sarina Wiegman: "The team looks really good, I think we are ready, we had our last session this morning and everyone came through well.
I think we had some good weeks where we trained, we could do some tactics and I think we are very well prepared.
"You see the bonding. We have worked really, really hard and I definitely think we are ready to go tomorrow."
Update:
Date: 15:53 BST 4 July
Title: 'We are ready to defend our title'
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
Sarina Wiegman says the Lionesses are "ready" for Euro 2025 and are excited to get their group campaign under way.
Update:
Date: 15:52 BST 4 July
Title: Watch live: England news conference
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
England
Sarina Wiegman and Leah Williamson have arrived.
Remember, you can watch what they have to say at the top of the page.
Update:
Date: 15:49 BST 4 July
Title: Post
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
Emma SandersBBC Sport women's football news reporter with the England team
Uefa have confirmed that Euro 2025 matches played tomorrow - including England v France - and on Sunday will also hold a moment of silence in memory of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva.
Update:
Date: 15:46 BST 4 July
Title: Post
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
BBC Radio 5 Live
A reminder that you can listen to Saturday's match on BBC Radio 5 Live. Former England midfielder Izzy Christiansen will be alongside Vicki Sparks at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich.
Build-up starts at 19:00 BST and don't forget there is a Women's Euros 606 at 22:30 when Natalie Pike and former England forward Toni Duggan will be taking your calls.
Update:
Date: 15:43 BST 4 July
Title: Post
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
As we wait for Sarina Wiegman and Leah Williamson to appear, here's some content to get you in the mood for tomorrow's game:
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'I'm really happy where we are right now'
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'I was worried I wasn't going to make it' - Hemp
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'I went in shaking!' - Jill Scott on Reality TV-style England Euro squad selection
Update:
Date: 15:39 BST 4 July
Title: Drinks breaks during England game?
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
It looks like another hot day in Switzerland and several England players have been pictured cooling down with drinks at training this week.
According to the weather forecast, temperatures could reach as high as 30C (86F) in Zurich on Saturday although they are likely to fall to 26C (78F) by kick-off.
That's still pretty hot and there could be stoppages in play for drinks breaks.
Read more: Sweltering Switzerland - how hot is Euro 2025 going to be?
Update:
Date: 15:36 BST 4 July
Title: Oh no, Russo!
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
We all know about Alessia Russo. But what about Russo the eight-year-old African pygmy goat, who loves predicting football results?
Russo, from All Things Wild in Worcestershire, was presented with two feeding stations - one adorned with an England flag, the other, which she ate from, bearing France's colours.
"Russo really is 'the GOAT' when it comes to making decisions...so it would not surprise me in the slightest if her predictions turned out to be correct," said Matt Parker, manager of the Honeybourne zoo.
"But we're all rooting for the Lionesses to retain their European title - even if Russo isn't convinced about the opening game."
Read more here.
Update:
Date: 15:34 BST 4 July
Title: Watch: Wiegman & Williamson news conference
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
England
Remember, this will be a final chance to hear from Sarina Wiegman before England's opening game of Euro 2025 against France on Saturday.
The Lionesses head coach will be joined in today's news conference by captain Leah Williamson.
We will bring you their quotes, but you can also follow them by clicking on the 'Watch Live' play icon at the top of this page.
The news conference is due to begin around 15:45 BST.
Update:
Date: 15:31 BST 4 July
Title: Inspiring a nation
Content: France v England (Sat, 20:00 BST)
England
Remember the joyous scenes in 2022 when the Lionesses won the Euros in front of their own fans?
The impact of winning a home Euros three years ago was huge, with FA figures showing that 129,000 more girls have become involved in school football in the host cities alone.
There will be millions watching England on TV this summer hoping one day to follow in the footsteps of Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze and Lauren James.
Update:
Date: 15:28 BST 4 July
Title: Get Involved: Will England defend title?
Content: #bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
The_gym_instructor: England aren't playing too well. I predict we will lose against France, draw with the Dutch and beat Wales, but finish third on goal difference. Sarina will quit and England will stagnate. The rest of Europe have caught up. Spain or Germany to win it.