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The Guardian
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Hammerings, history and hard times: the seven ages of Sarina Wiegman's England
A barely remembered footnote in the history of England's women's team is the period after Sarina Wiegman's appointment as manager but before her arrival. Wiegman's appointment followed a tumultuous time, with the pandemic forcing a one-year delay to the 2020 Olympics and 2021 Euros. Phil Neville's contract ran until July 2021 and poor form led to the announcement, on 22 April 2020, that he would not stay longer. Four months later, the Football Association announced Wiegman would take over. However, with the Dutchwoman committed to taking the Netherlands, the European champions, to the Tokyo Olympics, England would have to wait. Questions about whether Neville would be handed a short-term deal to lead Team GB at the Olympics were unanswered. In January 2021, shortly before it is believed the FA was about to announce who would travel with Team GB, Neville departed for the Inter Miami head coach role. The FA turned to the recently appointed assistant manager Hege Riise to fill the England role on an interim basis and later asked her to lead Team GB. After a limp end to Neville's tenure, with five defeats, three unconvincing wins and a draw, there was despondency and a sense that the small cracks evident in England's 2019 World Cup run had opened wide. The team were defensively fragile, creatively weak and overreliant on Ellen White's goals digging them out of holes. Riise got off to a good start with a 6-0 England win over Northern Ireland but defeats by France and Canada followed and Team GB crashed out in the Olympic quarter-finals with an agonising 4-3 extra-time defeat by Australia. Wiegman's job was big: to turn around a team that had lost their way, but she came in with solid credentials, having led the Netherlands to the European title in 2017 and a World Cup final in 2019. SW The buildup to Wiegman's first match, a World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia in Southampton, was rocked by an ankle injury to Steph Houghton. Wiegman had named Houghton as the captain and it proved something of a sliding doors moment for the centre-back; one of England's best performers for the previous decade never wore the armband again. To say Wiegman's team made a strong start would be a major understatement. In her first six games England scored a remarkable 53 times without conceding and, in what felt like no time at all, the Lionesses had an air of invincibility. Yes, the standard of the opposition was flattering them, but this free-flowing, confident England suddenly looked incomparable with the side that had limped to defeats a few months previously. Her desire for perfection was evidenced on a torrential night in Riga. England had beaten Latvia 10-0 in some of the soggiest conditions you could imagine, in an eerily flat atmosphere with no fans permitted in the Daugava stadium because of a pandemic-related curfew, and yet Wiegman felt her players had been 'a little bit sloppy'. The Lionesses duly won the reverse fixture 20-0. Draws with Canada and Spain in 2022's Arnold Clark Cup gave England the tougher tests they needed and they lifted that trophy thanks to a memorable win over Germany. The feelgood mood strengthened during their warm-up friendlies for that summer's Euros, as 3-0, 5-1 and 4-0 wins over Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland respectively gave the Lionesses a new aura going into a home tournament. TG Wiegman became the first manager to deliver back-to-back European titles for different nations when England lifted the 2022 European Championship trophy. Everything came together at the right time and everyone – players, coaches, staff, media and fans – seemed to be singing from the same hymn sheet. The unbeaten run to the final helped and again created an air of invincibility, and the manager's blunt honesty on her expectations that endeared her to the players. 'Everybody knows where they stand so there's no guessing games behind closed doors and I think that does take the pressure off,' said Keira Walsh before the tournament. 'The mentality now is just all about doing the best for the team and the team winning, rather than individuals. I think you can see that in the way we play.' Critical to their success was also the building of a pressureless environment. 'I don't know how she does it, to be honest with you,' said Walsh. 'It's easy for me to sit here and say it feels less tense, because it just does.' During the tournament the manager was unshakeable. Sticking with the same starting XI throughout was a masterstroke, with Alessia Russo and Ella Toone providing impetus and an element of the unknown from the bench. The team also had luck on their side, in that they sustained no significant injuries and that when Wiegman and the back-up keeper Hannah Hampton contracted Covid-19, it was around the time of the final group game with England already through. An injury to Germany's Alexandra Popp in the warm-up before the final was a huge literal and psychological boost. SW Wiegman's European champions took on the then world champions, the United States, at Wembley in October 2022 and recorded a memorable victory, and the manager's unbeaten streak would continue to April 2023, taking in two further trophies: a safely retained Arnold Clark Cup and a new piece of silverware, the Finalissima, secured via a penalty shootout against Brazil, the champions of South America. England winning on penalties? This was a team breaking history in so many ways. The honeymoon had to end eventually, though, and Wiegman's first defeat arrived at Brentford against Australia. Worse was to come that month, when Leah Williamson sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury, joining Beth Mead on the knee injury absentee list for the World Cup. Then Millie Bright was a doubt for the tournament and Wiegman's first streak of misfortune had arrived. The players, meanwhile, were embroiled in a row with the FA over bonuses and commercial deals, which spilled into the public domain on the eve of the World Cup. Bright was passed fit just in time to fly to Australia but England were seemingly stumbling, for the first time under Wiegman. Or were they? TG Wiegman produced her first tactical surprise and it worked to good effect, a 3-5-2 formation, utilising Lauren Hemp as a more central forward, helping England progress from what had been an uninspiring pair of opening 1-0 victories over Haiti and Denmark to putting six goals past China. The Lionesses had to show their dogged defensive side in this campaign but displayed their nous in big games to find a way to Wiegman's fourth consecutive major tournament final. There were rumours of rivals trying to poach her but before the final in Sydney but Mark Bullingham said the FA would '100% reject' any approaches. 'We think Sarina is doing a great job and hope she continues doing it for a long time,' the FA's chief executive said. 'Sarina could do anything she wants in football.' The Lionesses left Australia immensely disappointed, after losing 1-0 to Spain, an agonising second World Cup final defeat in a row for Wiegman, but months later Wiegman extended her contract until after the 2027 World Cup to have another crack with England at that ultimate prize. TG England have played 24 games since the World Cup, winning 14, drawing four and losing six. Placed alongside the unbeaten run before the 2022 Euros, this doesn't look great but the introduction of the Nations League has significantly increased the calibre of teams England face on a regular basis. 'The levels of the game are improving so much,' Wiegman said in February. 'You can't just take for granted that you'll win … Before the Nations League we would play different countries from different levels – we're never going to win 20-0 again. I don't think that's competitive anyway.' England have twice failed to qualify for the Nations League finals, which included missing out on Olympic qualification for Team GB. It hasn't been smooth sailing. The Lionesses have looked unconvincing at times, particularly defensively, and a little too predictable. But nothing can progress upwards all the time and injuries have also had an impact, with Williamson taking time to return to her best, Hemp, Alex Greenwood and Georgia Stanway also sustaining knee injuries and Lauren James among others unavailable at various points. SW The May-June 2025 international camp was the most turbulent of Wiegman's tenure, by far, amid three high-profile withdrawals, for three different reasons. Mary Earps retired from England duty, and the sadness of Wiegman's face was unmistakable as she discussed the matter, in possibly the most cagey of her press conferences to date, the head coach saying: 'I don't give any information about these private conversations.' Soon after, Fran Kirby also ended her England career, after Wiegman – typically direct and honest – had explained she would not pick her for the Euros. When Bright withdrew from Euros selection the next day to look after her mental health and an exhausted knee, suddenly there were suggestions of a crisis, but Wiegman produced a defiant performance at her squad-announcement press conference and switched the mood. 'I don't go around the bush,' she said, of the way she handles conversations with players. Behind the scenes, as England arrived at St George's Park for their Euros training camp, the mood began to lift. Hemp, Stanway and crucially James were fit-again, and a morale-boosting 7-0 victory over Jamaica meant England flew to Switzerland full of confidence. TG
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Hammerings, history and hard times: the seven ages of Sarina Wiegman's England
A barely remembered footnote in the history of England's women's team is the period after Sarina Wiegman's appointment as manager but before her arrival. Wiegman's appointment followed a tumultuous time, with the pandemic forcing a one-year delay to the 2020 Olympics and 2021 Euros. Phil Neville's contract ran until July 2021 and poor form led to the announcement, on 22 April 2020, that he would not stay longer. Four months later, the Football Association announced Wiegman would take over. However, with the Dutchwoman committed to taking the Netherlands, the European champions, to the Tokyo Olympics, England would have to wait. Questions about whether Neville would be handed a short-term deal to lead Team GB at the Olympics were unanswered. In January 2021, shortly before it is believed the FA was about to announce who would travel with Team GB, Neville departed for the Inter Miami head coach role. The FA turned to the recently appointed assistant manager Hege Riise to fill the England role on an interim basis and later asked her to lead Team GB. After a limp end to Neville's tenure, with five defeats, three unconvincing wins and a draw, there was despondency and a sense that the small cracks evident in England's 2019 World Cup run had opened wide. The team were defensively fragile, creatively weak and overreliant on Ellen White's goals digging them out of holes. Riise got off to a good start with a 6-0 England win over Northern Ireland but defeats by France and Canada followed and Team GB crashed out in the Olympic quarter-finals with an agonising 4-3 extra-time defeat by Australia. Wiegman's job was big: to turn around a team that had lost their way, but she came in with solid credentials, having led the Netherlands to the European title in 2017 and a World Cup final in 2019. SW The buildup to Wiegman's first match, a World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia in Southampton, was rocked by an ankle injury to Steph Houghton. Wiegman had named Houghton as the captain and it proved something of a sliding doors moment for the centre-back; one of England's best performers for the previous decade never wore the armband again. To say Wiegman's team made a strong start would be a major understatement. In her first six games England scored a remarkable 53 times without conceding and, in what felt like no time at all, the Lionesses had an air of invincibility. Yes, the standard of the opposition was flattering them, but this free-flowing, confident England suddenly looked incomparable with the side that had limped to defeats a few months previously. Her desire for perfection was evidenced on a torrential night in Riga. England had beaten Latvia 10-0 in some of the soggiest conditions you could imagine, in an eerily flat atmosphere with no fans permitted in the Daugava stadium because of a pandemic-related curfew, and yet Wiegman felt her players had been 'a little bit sloppy'. The Lionesses duly won the reverse fixture 20-0. Draws with Canada and Spain in 2022's Arnold Clark Cup gave England the tougher tests they needed and they lifted that trophy thanks to a memorable win over Germany. The feelgood mood strengthened during their warm-up friendlies for that summer's Euros, as 3-0, 5-1 and 4-0 wins over Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland respectively gave the Lionesses a new aura going into a home tournament. TG Wiegman became the first manager to deliver back-to-back European titles for different nations when England lifted the 2022 European Championship trophy. Everything came together at the right time and everyone – players, coaches, staff, media and fans – seemed to be singing from the same hymn sheet. The unbeaten run to the final helped and again created an air of invincibility, and the manager's blunt honesty on her expectations that endeared her to the players. 'Everybody knows where they stand so there's no guessing games behind closed doors and I think that does take the pressure off,' said Keira Walsh before the tournament. 'The mentality now is just all about doing the best for the team and the team winning, rather than individuals. I think you can see that in the way we play.' Critical to their success was also the building of a pressureless environment. 'I don't know how she does it, to be honest with you,' said Walsh. 'It's easy for me to sit here and say it feels less tense, because it just does.' During the tournament the manager was unshakeable. Sticking with the same starting XI throughout was a masterstroke, with Alessia Russo and Ella Toone providing impetus and an element of the unknown from the bench. The team also had luck on their side, in that they sustained no significant injuries and that when Wiegman and the back-up keeper Hannah Hampton got Covid, it was around the time of the final group game with England already through. An injury to Germany's Alexandra Popp in the warm-up before the final was a huge literal and psychological boost. SW Wiegman's European champions took on the then world champions, the United States, at Wembley in October 2022 and recorded a memorable victory, and the manager's unbeaten streak would continue to April 2023, taking in two further trophies: a safely retained Arnold Clark Cup and a new piece of silverware, the Finalissima, secured via a penalty shootout against Brazil, the champions of South America. England winning on penalties? This was a team breaking history in so many ways. The honeymoon had to end eventually, though, and Wiegman's first defeat arrived at Brentford against Australia. Worse was to come that month, when Leah Williamson sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury, joining Beth Mead on the knee injury absentee list for the World Cup. Then Millie Bright was a doubt for the World Cup and Wiegman's first streak of misfortune had arrived. The players, meanwhile, were embroiled in a row with the FA over bonuses and commercial deals, which spilled into the public domain on the eve of the World Cup. Bright was passed fit just in time to fly to Australia but England were seemingly stumbling, for the first time under Wiegman. Or were they? TG Wiegman produced her first tactical surprise and it worked to good effect, a 3-5-2, utilising Lauren Hemp as a more central forward, helping England progress from what had been an uninspiring pair of opening 1-0 victories over Haiti and Denmark to putting six goals past China. The Lionesses had to show their dogged defensive side in this campaign but displayed their nous in big games to find a way to Wiegman's fourth consecutive major tournament final. There were rumours of rivals trying to poach her but before the final in Sydney but Mark Bullingham said the FA would '100% reject' any approaches. 'We think Sarina is doing a great job and hope she continues doing it for a long time,' the FA's chief executive said. 'Sarina could do anything she wants in football.' The Lionesses left Australia immensely disappointed, after losing 1-0 to Spain, an agonising second World Cup final defeat in a row for Wiegman, but months later Wiegman extended her contract until after the 2027 World Cup to have another crack with England at that ultimate prize. TG England have played 24 games since the World Cup, winning 14, drawing four and losing six. Placed alongside the unbeaten run before the 2022 Euros, this doesn't look great but the introduction of the Nations League has significantly increased the calibre of teams England face on a regular basis. 'The levels of the game are improving so much,' Wiegman said in February. 'You can't just take for granted that you'll win … Before the Nations League we would play different countries from different levels – we're never going to win 20-0 again. I don't think that's competitive anyway.' England have twice failed to qualify for the Nations League finals, which included missing out on Olympic qualification for Team GB. It hasn't been smooth sailing. The Lionesses have looked unconvincing at times, particularly defensively, and a little too predictable. But nothing can progress upwards all the time and injuries have also had an impact, with Williamson taking time to return to her best, Hemp, Alex Greenwood and Georgia Stanway also sustaining knee injuries and Lauren James among others unavailable at various points. SW The May-June 2025 international camp was the most turbulent of Wiegman's tenure, by far, amid three high-profile withdrawals, for three different reasons. Mary Earps retired from England duty, and the sadness of Wiegman's face was unmistakable as she discussed the matter, in possibly the most cagey of her press conferences to date, the head coach saying: 'I don't give any information about these private conversations.' Soon after, Fran Kirby also ended her England career, after Wiegman – typically direct and honest – had explained she would not pick her for the Euros. When Bright withdrew from Euros selection the next day to look after her mental health and an exhausted knee, suddenly there were suggestions of a crisis, but Wiegman produced a defiant performance at her squad-announcement press conference and switched the mood. 'I don't go around the bush,' she said, of the way she handles conversations with players. Behind the scenes, as England arrived at St George's Park for their Euros training camp, the mood began to lift. Hemp, Stanway and crucially James were fit-again, and a morale-boosting 7-0 victory over Jamaica meant England flew to Switzerland full of confidence. TG
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Euro 2025: Norway team guide – can a new head coach help them finally reach their potential?
A team with superstar potential that has never found the chemistry required to live up to it — that is the reputation Norway are attempting to disabuse this summer. Recent tournament history is not kind: they were dumped out of the Euro 2022 group stages after an 8-0 thumping by eventual winners England, then knocked out in the round of 16 in the 2023 World Cup by Japan, the latter overshadowed by off-pitch drama with former manager Hege Riise. Advertisement New head coach Gemma Grainger has imbued calm since taking charge in January 2024, but the 1991 World Cup champions need to prove they belong among the continent's elite. Who is the manager? Grainger was Wales' national team head coach between 2021 and 2024, before replacing Riise just two months before the Euro 2025 qualification campaign. The 42-year-old's coaching journey spans Leeds Women, Middlesbrough and the England youth development system. She was also part of the England senior coaching team for Euro 2017. The Middlesbrough-born coach is a big proponent of team bonding exercises and is known to bring in keynote speakers during camps and gift individual players motivational books. How do they play? Grainger deploys a back four, with variations on a 4-4-2 diamond and traditional 4-3-3. She prefers her sides to control possession and build up patiently from the back, but against more dominant opponents, she has learned when to concede on principles and attempt to turn Norway into a sharper team in transition. But her preference is to play slick, attacking football. Who are their three most influential players? A number of Norway's players have a case to be included here, but the headline acts are Barcelona forward Caroline Graham Hansen, Chelsea midfielder Guro Reiten and midfielder Ingrid Engen, who recently signed with OL Lyonnes from Barcelona. Advertisement Graham Hansen thrived in Spain during the 2024-25 season, notching 21 goal involvements (11 goals, 10 assists) across 22 league appearances. Few players can match Reiten's creativity, but she endured a stop-start season for Chelsea due to injury. Even so, she featured in 24 matches across the Women's Super League (WSL) and Champions League, scoring 10 goals and helping the club to a historic domestic treble. Engen has long been one of Norway's most important players, but her efforts with Barcelona in defence and midfield mean her vision, versatility and ability to break up play and transition into attacks are now appreciated on a global level. Other influential players include Atletico Madrid's Vilde Boe Risa and Manchester United duo Celin Bizet and Elisabeth Terland, who both enjoyed a positive 2024-25. Bizet contributed two goals and six assists, and Terland 10 goals and five assists as United finished third in the WSL. What is their biggest strength? Norway's attacking strength is significant. As mentioned above, Graham Hansen and Reiten are amongst the world's best, the former making a strong case each year to be considered the world's best player. Veteran striker Ada Hegerberg is still a force to be reckoned with, while Manchester United duo Bizet and Terland represent the next generation. That is all without mentioning Boe Risa or Arsenal's Frida Maanum. The latter scored 13 goals and provided four more across 41 appearances in all competitions this season. What weakness might other teams be able to exploit? Chemistry has been the missing ingredient for so long and it still feels that this will be the key issue heading into the Euros. Despite a plethora of quality players, Norway still struggle to sew their strengths together, mostly due to the fact Grainger has not been able to field a consistent starting XI for almost the entire time she has been in charge. Without any friendlies in the calendar, Grainger has also had to prioritise results over experimentation. Any notable absences? Reiten's return to full fitness before the end of the domestic season is a huge plus for Norway. At the moment, the squad look to be heading into the Euros at full strength, which is something Grainger has not had the pleasure of saying for some time. What is their strongest starting XI? How have they performed over the past 12 months? Since Grainger took over in January 2024, Norway have lost just two of their 15 matches. However, they have drawn five and against higher-ranked opponents, such as France and the Netherlands, they have yet to find victory across six matches, while also drawing with Italy and Finland. They finished second in their Nations League group but were 10 points behind leaders France, a sign of the gap still needing to be bridged. What are they expected to achieve at these Euros? Norway were drawn into a favourable group alongside hosts Switzerland, Iceland and Finland. The expectation is that they should top the group comfortably and advance to the knockout stages. From there, question marks emerge. Advertisement While Norway have looked more cohesive since Grainger's arrival, they still do not seem to be operating at full throttle and results have not yet been as convincing as they should have been. They drew twice with Iceland in their Nations League group, albeit they got the better of Switzerland twice. There is clearly scope for a surprise or two. Did you know? Grainger is a big fan of darts. In fact, the Middlesbrough-born coach loves any pub sport. Her favourite darts player at the moment is 18-year-old prodigy Luke Littler. Norway have twice won the Euros, doing so in 1987 and 1993. They also won the Women's World Cup in 1995 and the Olympics in 2000. However, it is now a quarter of a century since the team lifted silverware on the international stage. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. UK Women's Football, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
22-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Euro 2025: Norway team guide – can a new head coach help them finally reach their potential?
A team with superstar potential that has never found the chemistry required to live up to it — that is the reputation Norway are attempting to disabuse this summer. Recent tournament history is not kind: they were dumped out of the Euro 2022 group stages after an 8-0 thumping by eventual winners England, then knocked out in the round of 16 in the 2023 World Cup by Japan, the latter overshadowed by off-pitch drama with former manager Hege Riise. New head coach Gemma Grainger has imbued calm since taking charge in January 2024, but the 1991 World Cup champions need to prove they belong among the continent's elite. Grainger was Wales' national team head coach between 2021 and 2024, before replacing Riise just two months before the Euro 2025 qualification campaign. The 42-year-old's coaching journey spans Leeds Women, Middlesbrough and the England youth development system. She was also part of the England senior coaching team for Euro 2017. The Middlesbrough-born coach is a big proponent of team bonding exercises and is known to bring in keynote speakers during camps and gift individual players motivational books. Grainger deploys a back four, with variations on a 4-4-2 diamond and traditional 4-3-3. She prefers her sides to control possession and build up patiently from the back, but against more dominant opponents, she has learned when to concede on principles and attempt to turn Norway into a sharper team in transition. But her preference is to play slick, attacking football. A number of Norway's players have a case to be included here, but the headline acts are Barcelona forward Caroline Graham Hansen, Chelsea midfielder Guro Reiten and midfielder Ingrid Engen, who recently signed with OL Lyonnes from Barcelona. Graham Hansen thrived in Spain during the 2024-25 season, notching 21 goal involvements (11 goals, 10 assists) across 22 league appearances. Few players can match Reiten's creativity, but she endured a stop-start season for Chelsea due to injury. Even so, she featured in 24 matches across the Women's Super League (WSL) and Champions League, scoring 10 goals and helping the club to a historic domestic treble. Advertisement Engen has long been one of Norway's most important players, but her efforts with Barcelona in defence and midfield mean her vision, versatility and ability to break up play and transition into attacks are now appreciated on a global level. Other influential players include Atletico Madrid's Vilde Boe Risa and Manchester United duo Celin Bizet and Elisabeth Terland, who both enjoyed a positive 2024-25. Bizet contributed two goals and six assists, and Terland 10 goals and five assists as United finished third in the WSL. Norway's attacking strength is significant. As mentioned above, Graham Hansen and Reiten are amongst the world's best, the former making a strong case each year to be considered the world's best player. Veteran striker Ada Hegerberg is still a force to be reckoned with, while Manchester United duo Bizet and Terland represent the next generation. That is all without mentioning Boe Risa or Arsenal's Frida Maanum. The latter scored 13 goals and provided four more across 41 appearances in all competitions this season. Chemistry has been the missing ingredient for so long and it still feels that this will be the key issue heading into the Euros. Despite a plethora of quality players, Norway still struggle to sew their strengths together, mostly due to the fact Grainger has not been able to field a consistent starting XI for almost the entire time she has been in charge. Without any friendlies in the calendar, Grainger has also had to prioritise results over experimentation. Reiten's return to full fitness before the end of the domestic season is a huge plus for Norway. At the moment, the squad look to be heading into the Euros at full strength, which is something Grainger has not had the pleasure of saying for some time. Since Grainger took over in January 2024, Norway have lost just two of their 15 matches. However, they have drawn five and against higher-ranked opponents, such as France and the Netherlands, they have yet to find victory across six matches, while also drawing with Italy and Finland. They finished second in their Nations League group but were 10 points behind leaders France, a sign of the gap still needing to be bridged. Norway were drawn into a favourable group alongside hosts Switzerland, Iceland and Finland. The expectation is that they should top the group comfortably and advance to the knockout stages. From there, question marks emerge. While Norway have looked more cohesive since Grainger's arrival, they still do not seem to be operating at full throttle and results have not yet been as convincing as they should have been. They drew twice with Iceland in their Nations League group, albeit they got the better of Switzerland twice. There is clearly scope for a surprise or two. Grainger is a big fan of darts. In fact, the Middlesbrough-born coach loves any pub sport. Her favourite darts player at the moment is 18-year-old prodigy Luke Littler. Norway have twice won the Euros, doing so in 1987 and 1993. They also won the Women's World Cup in 1995 and the Olympics in 2000. However, it is now a quarter of a century since the team lifted silverware on the international stage.
