Leah Williamson relieved to let go of anxiety ahead of England's Euro opener
England boss Sarina Wiegman, meanwhile, hinted Chelsea forward Lauren James could be more involved against France after marking her comeback from a long hamstring-related absence with an assist in her 30-minute second-half cameo in their Jamaica send-off friendly.
'I've probably held some anxiety, I suppose, up until this moment,' said Williamson, when asked if missing the World Cup and her recovery had given her a new appreciation for this opportunity.
Our opener awaits 👊#Lionesses | @NuffieldHealth pic.twitter.com/ojxS0sJNJ9
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 3, 2025
'Just because I wanted to be here and I wanted to be with the team, I wanted to be here with the team, I wanted to experience another tournament for England, and being away from home is special.
'When you come to another country to represent your country and just take everything in. It's a bit different to England in 2022, so I'm just taking everything in. I'm very excited. Obviously so much has changed, so I'm intrigued to come back and enjoy that tournament football.'
Wiegman and her team have embraced the mantra of this being a 'new England', with seven fresh faces in this 23-player squad featuring in their first major tournament and many of her returnees from the 2022 triumph playing much bigger roles.
'It's a new territory, and we're not necessarily looking at it as a defence, but a new challenge and an opportunity to do something new,' added Williamson.
Williamson does not take the travelling English fan support, who have come out in big numbers, for granted.
She added: 'I think when they look at us they see a team that would give everything for them, and I think they keep coming back for that reason. I hope that continues.'
Wiegman said that while the team will 'never forget' the 'lifetime experience' of lifting the trophy at Wembley: 'You have to move on, and you have to be on top of it. Things are changing very quickly, so we have to do it too.
'We came together in February, and we came to this, saying it's a new challenge. The approach was there anyway, but we called it a new England.'
Focused. ➡️ pic.twitter.com/LPUBA4Te8W
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 3, 2025
Wiegman confirmed James, who scored three goals and added as many assists at the World Cup, was in a 'good place'.
The 23-year-old was out of action for three months before making her long-awaited return in the 63rd minute against Jamaica last Sunday.
Asked if James was fit to start, Wiegman replied: 'We're not going to give you the line-up, but she played 30 minutes last week, so she can play more than that. I think that will say enough.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
30 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Vivianne Miedema nets landmark goal as Wales lose Euro opener to Netherlands
Wales, the lowest ranked team in the competition, had made an encouraging start to the Euro 2025 Group D opener at the Allmend Stadium, but were undone by two clinical Dutch goals either side of the break. After Jill Roord's shot had hit the woodwork, Wales' solid defensive line was eventually breached when Miedema clipped home a fine dipping effort in stoppage time at the end of the first half to bring up her century in style. ⏰ FT | 🏴 0-3 🇳🇱 Defeat in our opening game at #WEURO2025 in Lucerne. — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) July 5, 2025 Victoria Pelova then struck from close range just three minutes into the second half before Esmee Brugts added a third to put the result beyond Rhian Wilkinson's side, who next play France in St Gallen on Wednesday. Despite being pushed deep for long spells, Wales – with Esther Morgan handed a surprise start in a back three – had held their own as the Netherlands struggled to break them down in the final third ahead of the first drinks break. Wales, cheered on by around 3,800 supporters, were again well organised when play continued as the Dutch, who were European champions in 2017, looked to find a cutting edge to all of their possession. Cymru yn creu hanes 🏴 First Women's EURO game ✅#WEURO2025 — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 5, 2025 The Netherlands, though, were soon within inches of taking the lead in the 35th minute. Rhiannon Roberts headed out a long pass which had been launched towards the Wales penalty area. The ball dropped out to Roord, who took a touch before sending a 20-yard drive flying past Wales keeper Olivia Clark but her strike came back off the post. Wales created a decent opening late in the first half when Jess Fishlock laid the the ball off to Lily Woodham, only for her shot to fly over. The Netherlands then broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time through a brilliant finish from Miedema. Historical. 🇳🇱💯#NothingLikeOranje — OranjeLeeuwinnen (@oranjevrouwen) July 5, 2025 There looked little on for the Manchester City forward when she collected the ball on the left just outside the Wales penalty area, before then switching back inside to clip a fine effort up over Clark and into the far corner. Wales fell further behind three minutes after the restart when Danielle van de Donk latched on to a long ball and had the time to pick out Pelova, who fired home from inside the six-yard box. Former Manchester City midfielder Roord then saw another shot crash back off the bar before the Netherlands did get a third goal in the 57th minute. ⚽️ Pelova (48')⚽️ Brugts (57') 🇳🇱 @oranjevrouwen's second half… 🥵#WEURO2025 — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 5, 2025 Jackie Groenen's long-range strike rattled the crossbar again and after Wales failed to clear the danger, Brugts volleyed in a deep cross at the back post. Wales head coach Wilkinson looked to minimise further damage by making some substitutions going into the last 25 minutes, sending on Ffion Morgan, Kayleigh Barton and Rachel Rowe to replace Fishlock, Hannah Cain and Josie Green. Clark was out quickly to make a brave stop at the feet of Lineth Beerensteyn as she raced clear on goal before the Netherlands substitute then saw her late angled strike ruled out for offside.
Rhyl Journal
37 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
George Ford marks 100th Test cap by leading England to victory against Argentina
Alex Coles and debutant Seb Atkinson were shown yellow cards by referee Angus Gardner to temporary reduce Steve Borthwick's team to 13 men in La Plata, but after a superb regard defensive action, England were much improved after the break. Tom Roebuck grabbed a first try within two minutes of the restart and added another after Freddie Steward crossed over. Caden Murley concluded the scoring with five minutes left on a night where co-captain Ford showed his class on his 100th appearance for England. Off to a winning start in the Americas 👊#ARGvENG — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 5, 2025 All eyes were on Ford initially, but it was scrum-half Ben Spencer who did most of the kicking early on with a number of box kicks as Argentina dominated territory. Infringements were a regular occurrence from England and Coles was first to be sent to the sin-bin for a head-on-head contact with Facundo Isa. It was followed by rock-solid English defence led by co-captain Jamie George and after Santiago Carreras missed a simple penalty for Argentina, Ford landed a drop goal to conjure memories of his virtuoso display in the 2023 World Cup group stage. Atkinson followed Coles in being shown a yellow following a succession of team offsides, which reduced England to 13 men. 100 caps and counting for @George_Fordy 💯🌹🙌#ARGvENG — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 5, 2025 However, George again starred to keep Argentina at bay and while Ford missed another drop goal effort, it remained 3-0 at half-time. England started the second period with better intent and needed only 65 seconds to score the first try of the match. A fine carry by Ben Curry was followed by quick ball from Ford and Steward, who found Sale wing Roebuck and he crashed over on the right. Ford failed to add the extras, but quickly made amends with a superb pass to release his former Leicester team-mate Steward for England's second try. This time Ford kicked the conversion and the purple patch continued as Roebuck grabbed another in the 49th minute. 49' | DOUBLE TROUBLE 😎 Tom Roebuck has a brace in La Plata 🔥#ARGvENG — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 5, 2025 After being stopped just short of the try-line after a free-flowing move, Roebuck made no mistake second time around to help England move 22-0 ahead. Pablo Matera helped Argentina to produce an instant response and when Pedro Rubiolo finished off a superb team attack minutes later, the momentum had suddenly shifted. Borthwick turned to his bench as Guy Pepper was introduced for his Test debut, but fittingly it was Ford who took charge on his 100th international outing with two inch-perfect penalties – the second from near the halfway line. Harlequins wing Murley entered the fray with eight minutes later and wrapped up the scoring with an excellent finish before Ford kicked his third conversion to help England begin their summer tour in style.
Rhyl Journal
37 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Below-par England begin European title defence with defeat to France
Lauren James returned to Sarina Wiegman's starting XI and England thought they had struck first against the 2022 semi-finalists but had an early Alessia Russo effort chalked off after a VAR check. Instead Marie-Antoinette Katoto fired in a 36th-minute opener before Chelsea's Sandy Baltimore doubled France's lead three minutes later. Defeat in our #WEURO2025 opener. Our focus quickly turns to Wednesday and matchday two. — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 5, 2025 Late substitutions sparked the Lionesses into life in the closing stages and Walsh gave them hope, halving the deficit in the 87th minute, but they could not salvage a point. With England men's boss Thomas Tuchel watching on from the stands, James got herself involved inside the first minute, latching on to the ball inside France's penalty area before firing a left-footed effort aimed at the top corner off-target. Three minutes later the Chelsea forward was skipping around the edge of the area, sending in a cross that just evaded several England heads. Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton got her first taste of major-tournament action when she came out to collect Selma Bacha's free-kick, earning an appreciative round of applause from the England delegation stationed behind her. Russo thought she had scored after pouncing on the rebound from Lauren Hemp's saved effort, but a VAR check determined Beth Mead had been marginally offside in the build-up to Hemp's initial attempt and the goal was ruled out. Momentum shifted in France's favour, their efforts inching ever closer as Hampton was forced into a good save, sticking out a leg to deny Elisa De Almeida. And it was the Paris St Germain defender whose initial midfield interception was the catalyst for the opener, finding Delphine Cascarino with a well-weighted pass. San Diego Wave forward Cascarino then sent the ball across the face of goal, where Katoto obligingly tapped in. Baltimore doubled their advantage three minutes later, Leah Williamson and her Chelsea team-mate Lucy Bronze unable to contain the in-form Blues star before she rifled into the top right corner. VAR ruled – much to Wiegman's visible chagrin – that Russo had not been fouled in the build-up. The second half got off to a lively start for France, with Hampton denying Grace Geyoro but fumbling her save and having to scramble back just in time to prevent more damage. ⚡️A constant threat ⚡️ 🇫🇷 Delphine Cascarino = #WEUROPOTM in Zurich! #WEURO2025 || @VisaUK — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 5, 2025 James' evening ended after 60 minutes as part of a triple-change for Wiegman. The Lionesses looked to be running out of time and chances by the 77th minute when Grace Clinton made her major tournament debut, followed by Michelle Agyemang's minutes later. But England were suddenly sparked to life, substitute Ella Toone nearly halving the deficit with a deflected effort. Walsh finally clawed one back after France could not fully clear an England corner, the Chelsea midfielder taking advantage, guiding a shot past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin from the edge of the area to give the Lionesses a fighting chance. But, while they finally looked a threat, five minutes of added time were not enough to salvage a draw.
