Latest news with #SarinaWiegman
New York Times
31 minutes ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Euro 2025: Netherlands team guide – a stellar squad with injury issues and a daunting task
As former European champions, having won this competition on home soil when managed by Sarina Wiegman in 2017, the Netherlands know what it takes to win. But this summer looks to be one of their toughest challenges yet on the big stage. They have struggled of late, affected by injuries to key players, including top scorer Vivianne Miedema, and being drawn into the tournament's most difficult group alongside title holders England and Euro 2022 semi-finalists France makes for plenty of jeopardy. Euro 2025 is a finale of sorts for Andries Jonker. The 62-year-old former Barcelona assistant manager's contract expires following this tournament and it was announced in January he would be leaving the role after three years, with Arjan Veurink — Wiegman's current assistant with England — succeeding him. Advertisement Jonker's legacy is complicated. After the Euro 2022 debacle that ended in a quarter-finals exit under Mark Parsons, he became a salvation figure, reinvigorating a team and a nation that once threatened to dominate the global game. That Jonker did so is unsurprising. His CV includes being on Louis van Gaal's coaching staff at Barca and Bayern Munich, roles at FC Volendam, MVV Maastricht, Willem II and Wolfsburg, as well as being director of the academy at Arsenal for three years. However, some uninspired performances and constant rotations over the past year have led some fans to question whether his magic touch might be deserting him. Jonker has been known to use various formations, switching from a 5-3-2 to a more familiar 4-3-3 depending on the opposition. Dominance in possession is still the ideal and, in both tactical setups, the defenders are asked to push high up the pitch in order to pressure the opposition quickly, particularly in the centre, to force turnovers. The Netherlands are not short of candidates here, but a player growing in stature for Jonker's side is Wieke Kaptein. The 19-year-old Chelsea midfielder has had a breakthrough year with the serial Women's Super League champions and has consistently shown a work ethic, composure and intelligence beyond her years in the centre of the pitch. Equally important is Wolfsburg forward Lineth Beerensteyn. The 28-year-old was the Netherlands' top scorer during the qualification campaign for Euro 2025 and her 17 league goals in 20 appearances this season will inspire confidence. And of course, no list would be accurate without including Miedema. The Manchester City striker is one of the global game's most ferocious and intelligent goalscorers. All of this is to say: fitness is the biggest influential player for the Dutch. In their final round of Nations League matches a month ago, they were without first-choice goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, as well as attacking totems Beerensteyn and Miedema. The Netherlands' quality on the ball is inarguable and young talents such as Kaptein and Barcelona's Esmee Brugts are complementing more established players such as Danielle van de Donk, Beerensteyn and Miedema well. Even these young players already have major tournament experience — a huge strength given their tough group. Getting to the knockout phase will take guile as much as craft, something the Dutch boast in abundance. The Netherlands head into the European Championship without an established starting XI. That is not inherently bad and tactical flexibility, particularly during a major tournament, is usually a boon. But with recurring injuries to key players such as Jill Roord, Miedema and Victoria Pelova — and regular rotations in defence — chemistry has been hard to hone. Often, players look unsure of team-mates' positions and can consequently concede possession in dangerous situations. They have not had good luck when it comes to fitness. Beerensteyn, Miedema and Van Domselaar were the most recent names on the injury list and the impact was clear as the Dutch were thumped 4-0 away to Germany in the Nations League at the end of May. Beerensteyn is said to be ready to return to competitive play ahead of the summer and Miedema left their training camp altogether before that international break finished due to fitness issues but returned to action and scored twice in a 2-1 friendly win over Finland on Thursday. The Netherlands have quietly gone about their business since the start of 2024, losing five of their 18 matches. Yet performances have not always been convincing and results have begun to suffer. Draws with Finland and Italy were disappointing, but not as damaging as that heavy defeat in Germany, who finished top of their Nations League group. There was also a dull 1-1 draw with Scotland in their final Nations League game a few days later. Ask a Netherlands supporter what the likelihood is of their team going far in Switzerland this summer and the answer is textbook: let's make it out of the group first. True enough, Group D is not for the weak of heart: France and England, plus a Wales side making their major tournament debut. Conclusion? At least one big hitter is going home early. The Dutch boast an elite squad and have nous in stepping up on the big stage (you don't win a European Championship and then reach the final of a World Cup two years later by fluke). Yet, recent performances have been shaky and without an established starting XI, they remain a bit of a mystery. Get through the group, however, and this lot could go far. The Netherlands announced in April that England women's assistant head coach Veurink will replace Jonker after Euro 2025. Veurink served as an assistant under Wiegman when she was in charge of the Dutch women's side from 2017 to 2021, winning Euro 2017 and reaching the 2019 World Cup final. GO DEEPER Arjan Veurink, England's 'tactical genius' who is Sarina Wiegman's right-hand man The 38-year-old then followed Wiegman to England in 2021 and helped them win the Euros on home soil the following year. He is considered a 'tactical genius' by some in the English squad.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
FA chief shares thoughts on Sarina Wiegman's England future ahead of Lionesses' Euros title defence
FA CHIEF Mark Bullingham expects Sarina Wiegman to carry on as England boss - even if her team endured a Euros group stage exit. And the Football Association's top exec thinks the women's game will continue to grow no matter where the Lionesses finish in the tournament. 4 4 4 Holders England are just seven days away from commencing the defence of the Euros title they won at Wembley three years ago. They will battle it out for knockout place with an in-form France who they play in Zurich, Switzerland on July 5 before duels with the Netherlands and Wales. Last January Wiegman, 55, extended her contract, which was due to expire after this summer's Euros, until after the 2027 World Cup. The Dutch coach is regarded as one of the most successful England managers having guided the team to Euros glory and their first ever World Cup final. On whether a group-stage exit would force the FA to consider her position, Bullingham said: "I don't see any scenario changing that. "We're delighted that Sarina's in place until 2027 On whether Wiegman's reign could go beyond the next Women's World Cup, he added: "We haven't looked beyond that time scale yet or engaged in those conversations. "We feel we have us locked into this tournament and the next and that feels very good for us. "That's not to say we wouldn't have a conversation at some point in the future but it's too early for that really." England's group D opener with France comes nine days after new research revealed a decrease in average broadcast audiences for Women's Super League games. A Women's Sport Trust study found the average UK broadcast audience for the WSL had declined by 35% year on year. However with England World Cup final clash with Spain being the most-watched women's sport event on TV in 2023, Bullingham believes the game will continue to grow and attract large audiences He said: "We see every international tournament as an opportunity to accelerate growth rather than it being a negative. "If you look at the last World Cup being in Australia - the challenge with the time zones made it difficult for teams in Europe to achieve really high figures. "But actually, we were still, despite that, achieving good figures so we're really confident that we'll achieve good figures this time around." 4 Plans to build a statue of England's Women's team are still ongoing according to the FA. The football authority entered into discussions about its design following the last Women's World Cup. The FA says it is "completely committed" to the project with the commissioning process currently at an advanced stage with an update likely to be provided after the summer.
South Wales Argus
9 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Anna Moorhouse ready to step up after Mary Earps' shock exit
Moorhouse received her first call-up to the Lionesses squad last summer has been a regular in Sarina Wiegman's squad since. The Orlando Pride keeper is yet to make her international debut, but 30-year-old is confident her experience elsewhere will stand her in good stead should the call come. 'My role doesn't change that much but I probably have to be a little bit more prepared in case something does happen,' she said, as part of a new LG OLED TV collaboration ahead of this summer. 'I was always prepared for that. 'I would love to get that first cap, it is something I have dreamed of for so many years. I will be ready if it comes, if it doesn't, I will still be ready and I will prepare Hannah in the right way. 'I have a lot of experience that comes with age, seeing so many games and being in different countries, different situations.' Moorhouse will head to Switzerland fresh from the regular NWSL season where her Orlando Pride side are attempting to defend the title they won last November. 'It makes it easier, especially for a goalkeeper,' she added. 'You don't get 10 minutes here, a couple of minutes there. You have to be ready for a full 90 or nothing. 'It helps that if I am called upon, I will be fresh and in the mentality of playing games, so I have that rhythm. My season should be peaking by the time the competition comes around.' Should Moorhouse take the pitch this summer, it will be just reward for a path less taken to the top. The 30-year-old has never represented her country at any age group and spent time in Bordeaux before establishing herself as a top-class No.1 stateside. 'It just shows you don't know how close you are, you don't know when things are going to happen,' she reflected. 'A lot of players have the traditional route through the age groups; I have never played for England. 'It just shows that everyone is on their own path, you can't look at other people and compare yourself to them. If you keep working hard, it could happen. 'This time last year, I didn't even know England were interested. I am just going with it and enjoying the time I have. I know I don't have 10 years of playing ahead of me.' The Lionesses will play their part in huge a summer of sport, with rugby's Red Roses and the England women's cricket side also taking on major tournaments. LG is helping the nation get closer to the action with LG OLED TVs and with all of the Lionesses' matches on free-to-air TV, Moorhouse knows first-hand the importance of making sport available to all. 'Growing up we didn't have all the subscriptions, so any game on BBC or ITV was on – it didn't matter what game it was,' she said. 'Being able to watch on TV makes it so much more accessible.' Members of the two England women's teams caught up with LG at St George's Park recently as part of the leading TV manufacturer's ongoing partnership with The FA and the RFU. The LG All In Pledge encourages people to engage and watch women's sport. Together we can grow support through fandom and audience numbers to inspire new players to pick up the sport themselves, as watching changes everything. For more information, go to
Glasgow Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Anna Moorhouse ready to step up after Mary Earps' shock exit
Moorhouse received her first call-up to the Lionesses squad last summer has been a regular in Sarina Wiegman's squad since. The Orlando Pride keeper is yet to make her international debut, but 30-year-old is confident her experience elsewhere will stand her in good stead should the call come. 'My role doesn't change that much but I probably have to be a little bit more prepared in case something does happen,' she said, as part of a new LG OLED TV collaboration ahead of this summer. 'I was always prepared for that. 'I would love to get that first cap, it is something I have dreamed of for so many years. I will be ready if it comes, if it doesn't, I will still be ready and I will prepare Hannah in the right way. 'I have a lot of experience that comes with age, seeing so many games and being in different countries, different situations.' Moorhouse will head to Switzerland fresh from the regular NWSL season where her Orlando Pride side are attempting to defend the title they won last November. 'It makes it easier, especially for a goalkeeper,' she added. 'You don't get 10 minutes here, a couple of minutes there. You have to be ready for a full 90 or nothing. 'It helps that if I am called upon, I will be fresh and in the mentality of playing games, so I have that rhythm. My season should be peaking by the time the competition comes around.' Should Moorhouse take the pitch this summer, it will be just reward for a path less taken to the top. The 30-year-old has never represented her country at any age group and spent time in Bordeaux before establishing herself as a top-class No.1 stateside. 'It just shows you don't know how close you are, you don't know when things are going to happen,' she reflected. 'A lot of players have the traditional route through the age groups; I have never played for England. 'It just shows that everyone is on their own path, you can't look at other people and compare yourself to them. If you keep working hard, it could happen. 'This time last year, I didn't even know England were interested. I am just going with it and enjoying the time I have. I know I don't have 10 years of playing ahead of me.' The Lionesses will play their part in huge a summer of sport, with rugby's Red Roses and the England women's cricket side also taking on major tournaments. LG is helping the nation get closer to the action with LG OLED TVs and with all of the Lionesses' matches on free-to-air TV, Moorhouse knows first-hand the importance of making sport available to all. 'Growing up we didn't have all the subscriptions, so any game on BBC or ITV was on – it didn't matter what game it was,' she said. 'Being able to watch on TV makes it so much more accessible.' Members of the two England women's teams caught up with LG at St George's Park recently as part of the leading TV manufacturer's ongoing partnership with The FA and the RFU. The LG All In Pledge encourages people to engage and watch women's sport. Together we can grow support through fandom and audience numbers to inspire new players to pick up the sport themselves, as watching changes everything. For more information, go to
Telegraph
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
England vs Jamaica predictions: Women's international friendly tips and odds
Our expert has three tips for the women's friendly international between England and Jamaica at Wembley Stadium on Sunday (kick-off, 5pm). We're expecting a dominant victory for the Lionesses in the final fixture before the Women's Euro 2025 tournament. England Women vs Jamaica Women tips England -4 handicap @ 6/5 with bet365 First half to have to most goals @ 13/8 with bet365 Alessia Russo first goalscorer @ 7/2 with bet365 Odds courtesy of bet365 Correct at the time of publication and subject to change. Already a bet365 member? Check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. England to head off on a high This is England's final game before they defend their crown at Euro 2025 in Switzerland. The Lionesses have given themselves a gentle warm-up fixture: Jamaica were beaten 4-0 by the USA this month and have lost each of their last three games. England have won their last two home 6-0 against Portugal and 5-0 against Belgium 5-0, so there is reason to believe they can go at least one better than the USA and overcome a -4 handicap. Game of two halves in store Sarina Wiegman is likely to start with a strong England team that will bear close resemblance to the line-up for their opening Euro 2025 fixture against France. But she will also surely use this as an opportunity to give chances to fringe players in the second half and rest her most important performers. With the second half likely to be regularly punctuated by substitutions, I'm expecting the first half to produce the most goals. England were 5-0 up by half-time in their last home match against Portugal, only scoring once more after the break. Russo key to England hopes Alessia Russo was one of the star performers when England won Euro 2022, coming off the bench in all six games and scoring four goals. Now a regular starter for her country, the Arsenal striker has a total of 22 goals in 50 international appearances. The 26-year-old found the net 20 times in 41 games for the Gunners last season. Russo scored the opening goal in a 2-1 defeat by Spain in the Lionesses' last outing and I'm backing her to get England off the mark again. England Women vs Jamaica Women odds All odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
