England Women’s National Team Prepares for Crucial Euro 2024 Qualifiers
Sarina Wiegman, the manager of the England Women’s National Team, has expressed that it feels “strange” to be preparing for two crucial European Championship qualifiers in the middle of the summer off-season. However, the Lionesses are fully focused on ensuring they qualify for next summer’s Euro 2024 finals in Switzerland.
Wiegman’s England squad has been training in the Netherlands since Monday, ahead of their upcoming qualifiers against the Republic of Ireland at Carrow Road on July 12th and away to Sweden in Gothenburg on July 16th. The defending champions know that two victories in these matches would guarantee their automatic qualification for the tournament.
“That was a very important victory, and necessary. What we proved [to] ourselves, again, is that we can play at the highest level and play very well,” Wiegman said on Wednesday.
The addition of a July women’s international fixture window has been a topic of much controversy due to concerns around player burnout. Despite finding the situation odd, Wiegman believes her team has been buoyed by their recent 2-1 away victory over France on June 4th, a performance she hopes will now set the standard for her squad.
On Thursday, England will face Wiegman’s former side, the Netherlands, in a behind-closed-doors friendly, with the priority being on building up match minutes and fitness. While goalkeeper Mary Earps (hip) and left-back Niamh Charles (calf) both missed the France trip through injury and are continuing to rehab, Wiegman expects them, and all the players currently in camp, to be fit in time for the Republic of Ireland match.
Bayern Munich midfielder Georgia Stanway is absent from England training this week because her club has already started pre-season training. Wiegman acknowledged the unusual nature of the current summer, stating, “It’s a strange summer because we are preparing for two games and there is no football.“
Despite the challenges, the England manager emphasized the team’s professionalism and their focus on performing at the highest possible level in the upcoming qualifiers. “We’re professionals, we want to perform at the highest possible level on the 12th and the 16th and we will get prepared for that. That’s what we’re working on. All our attention goes to that. After that I’ll have some time off too. To be honest, it feels a little bit strange.“
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