Category Sports News

England manager Sarina Wiegman says “there is no crisis” despite a chaotic 10 days which has seen three high-profile senior players either retire from international football in the build-up to Euro 2025 or withdraw from the tournament.

Wiegman named a 23-player squad on Thursday for the tournament in Switzerland, which starts on 2 July, where England are defending champions.

She will be without goalkeeper Mary Earps and midfielder Fran Kirby, who have both retired from international football, while defender Millie Bright, who captained the side to the World Cup final in 2023, withdrew from selection to focus on her mental and physical wellbeing.

The loss of three players, who have won a combined 217 caps, in such a short time has led to a potentially unsettling period for the Lionesses – and distractions off the pitch dominated discussions at the end of their Women’s Nations League campaign this week.

“Yeah, of course,]it] has been hard”, said Wiegman. “I think there are three different stories and every story is one on its own.

“]These are] players who have been with us for a long time, who I have been working with for a long time and so that’s hard. “

But the Dutchwoman says she is happy with the atmosphere inside the England camp.

” You]the media] see part of it, you are not in our environment all the time and I can ensure that the training sessions were really good last week, “she said.

” I didn’t see anything]to suggest] that there were no connections within the team. I am really happy]with] where we are right now. “

Wiegman had to address issues around player’s performance-related bonuses in the build-up to the World Cup and there was also heavy scrutiny on her decision to omit former captain Steph Houghton from the Euro 2022 squad in her first year in charge.

” My experiences before is that there is always noise. We expect noise until we go into the tournament, “said Wiegman.

” The difference is, between 2015 and 2017 to now, is that the attention and visibility of the women’s game has increased so much.

Wiegman said she was feeling “good” despite it being a week full of difficult decisions and conversations.

Kirby’s retirement followed Wiegman’s decision not to include her in the Euros squad, while goalkeeper Earps was unhappy at her position as number two.

Wiegman said it is “part of the job” to endure those experiences but she can “move forward” to the Euros now.

“Yes, those hard conversations are not nice. I know what players do and how hard they work to make the squad. It’s hard to give disappointing messages”, she added.

“At the same time, I also had very nice messages to give so that gives me more energy.

” After I have conversations with players, I always think, ‘ OK, what went well? ‘ For me, it is really important that I am honest, that I treat people in the right way.

“Sometimes, you have very good news and, sometimes, you don’t have good news – and I don’t go around the bush with that.

” I just give that message, then I can’t always control how people respond to that. I just hope that they have the clarity to move on. “

Wiegman also said part of the growth of women’s football, and the success of the Lionesses, has added increased demands on her players.

Wiegman claimed the Chelsea captain would have been chosen if she hadn’t withdrawn herself, but Bright’s withdrawal has been a blow for England.

When she learned of Bright’s decision, she responded, “In the last couple of days I learned.” It was disappointing and depressing.

“I just hope she feels better soon because it’s not nice when you’re not feeling well physically and mentally.”

“The profile of England is growing. That is both very exciting and life-changing, but players are not robots at the same time. They also have to deal with these issues.

Scotland vs. Iceland: friendly international

When: Friday, June 6th, When: Hampden Park Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Steve Clarke, head coach, claims that the new players he has recruited are welcoming Scotland, but that he won’t be “experimenting” too much with his team in the friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Seven uncapped players were called up by Clarke for the matches, which were both broadcast live on BBC Scotland on Friday at Hampden and Monday at Vaduz.

Kieron Bowie, Josh Doig, Josh Doig, Josh Doig, Andy Irving and Lennon Miller of Motherwell, and goalkeeping duo Robby McCrorie and Cieran Slicker are all competing for first caps.

However, the head coach claims that Iceland will look familiar to his team.

There must be a cycle and eventually a player turnover with any team. You’re letting these young players in to assess their level, help them determine their goals, and ensure that they are chosen consistently. That is crucial.

The young people are doing well, they say. One or two of them enters this camp earlier than the first time they left.

Clarke has also been impressed by the persistence of his more well-known players in attending these friendships at the conclusion of grueling campaigns.

Captain Andy Robertson is one of them, who has also been impressed by the squad’s recent successes, both in terms of their attitudes and willingness to learn.

We won’t be around forever, Scott McTominay and John McGinn, they say. The young lads are then in charge, the Liverpool full-back said.

They will soon be their squad, and they will then have to raise standards. Therefore, it is crucial for them to comprehend how challenging international football is.

Iceland reached their first major finals since winning the Euro 2016 championship ten years ago.

What followed defied everything, from a nation with a population that was smaller than Edinburgh to the previous era.

Iceland were viewed as fodder for nations who regularly reached major finals because they were regarded as perennial minnows. Scotland and other nations.

The island nation reached the quarter-finals of France, beating England en route, before holding Argentina to the World Cup in Russia two years later, raising the bar for subsequent major tournament qualifications.

Iceland, who are onto their fourth coach since the halcyon days of Lars Lagerback and Heimer Hallgrimsson, have experienced relegation to Nations League C in March with a 5-2 aggregate defeat to Kosovo.

Defenders: Doig (Sassuolo), Hanley (Birmingham City), Hendry (Al-Etiffaq), Johnston (Sturm Graz), Patterson (Everton), Robertson (Celtic), Robertson (Liverpool), Souttar (Rangers), Tierney (Arsenal),

Barron (Rangers), Ferguson (Bologna), Gilmour (West Ham United), McTominay (Napoli), and Miller (Motherwell) are the midfielders.

International friendly: Scotland v Iceland

When: Friday, 6 June Where: Hampden Park Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Head coach Steve Clarke says the new players he has called up are embracing being part of the Scotland squad, but he won’t be “experimenting” with his side too much in the friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Clarke called up seven uncapped players for the matches on Friday at Hampden and in Vaduz on Monday – both live on BBC Scotland.

Hibernian striker Kieron Bowie, Sassuolo left-back Josh Doig, midfield trio Connor Barron of Rangers, West Ham’s Andy Irving and Lennon Miller of Motherwell, and goalkeeping duo Robby McCrorie and Cieran Slicker are all vying for a first cap.

However, the head coach says his side will have a familar look against Iceland.

“With any team, there has to be a cycle and a turnover of players eventually. You’re bringing these young players in to feel the level of the group, to understand where they need to get to, to be selected regularly. That’s important.

“The young ones are in a good place. There’s one or two of them coming into this camp better than the last time they came.”

Clarke has also been impressed by the commitment shown by his more established players at turning up for these friendlies at the end of gruelling campaigns.

Among those is captain Andy Robertson, who has also been impressed by the new faces among the squad, both in terms of their abilities on the training pitch but also in their attitudes and willingness to learn.

“Me, Scott McTominay, John McGinn, we’re not going to be around forever. Then it’s up to the young lads,” the Liverpool full-back said.

“It will soon be their squad, they will then have to step up and set standards. So them understanding how difficult international football is, is crucial.

Iceland stunned the football world 10 years ago, reaching their first ever major finals when they qualified for Euro 2016.

What followed defied everything from a country’s population which is smaller than Edinburgh to what had gone before.

As perennial minnows, Iceland were regarded as fodder for countries who regularly made it to major finals. Countries such as Scotland.

But successive major tournament qualifications raised the bar of the island nation, who went all the way to the quarter-finals in France, beating England en route before holding Argentina at the World Cup in Russia two years later.

It has been tougher in recent years for Iceland, who are onto their fourth coach since the halcyon days of Lars Lagerback and Heimer Hallgrimsson, having suffered relegation to Nations League C in March with a 5-2 aggregate defeat to Kosovo.

Goalkeepers: Gunn (unattached), McCrorie (Kilmarnock), Slicker (Ipswich Town)

Defenders: Doig (Sassuolo), Hanley (Birmingham City), Hendry (Al-Etiffaq), Johnston (Sturm Graz), Scott McKenna (Las Palmas), Patterson (Everton), Ralston (Celtic), Robertson (Liverpool), Souttar (Rangers), Tierney (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Barron (Rangers), Ferguson (Bologna), Gilmour (Napoli), Irving (West Ham United), McGinn (Aston Villa), McTominay (Napoli), Miller (Motherwell)

England manager Sarina Wiegman says her team’s build-up to Euro 2025 “doesn’t feel like a crisis at all” despite a chaotic 10 days which has seen three high-profile senior players either retire from international football or withdraw from the tournament.

Wiegman named a 23-player squad on Thursday for the tournament in Switzerland, which starts on 2 July, where England are defending champions.

She will be without goalkeeper Mary Earps and midfielder Fran Kirby, who have both retired from international football, while defender Millie Bright, who captained the side to the World Cup final in 2023, withdrew from selection to focus on her mental and physical wellbeing.

The loss of three players who have won a combined 217 caps in such a sort time has led to a potentially unsettling period for the Lionesses – and distractions off the pitch dominated discussions at the end of their Women’s Nations League campaign this week.

But Wiegman says she is happy with the atmosphere inside the England camp.

“You [the media] see part of it, you are not in our environment all the time and I can ensure that the training sessions were really good last week,” said the Dutchwoman.

“I didn’t see anything [to suggest] that there were no connections within the team. I am really happy [with] where we are right now.”

Wiegman had to address issues around player’s performance-related bonuses in the build-up to the World Cup and there was also heavy scrutiny on her decision to omit former captain Steph Houghton from the Euro 2022 squad in her first year in charge.

“My experiences before is that there is always noise. We expect noise until we go into the tournament,” said Wiegman.

“The difference is, between 2015 and 2017 to now, is that the attention and visibility of the women’s game has increased so much.

Wiegman said she was feeling “good” despite it being a week full of difficult decisions and conversations.

Kirby’s retirement followed Wiegman’s decision not to include her in the Euros squad, while goalkeeper Earps was unhappy at her position as number two.

Wiegman said it is “part of the job” to endure those experiences but she can “move forward” to the Euros now.

“Yes, those hard conversations are not nice. I know what players do and how hard they work to make the squad. It’s hard to give disappointing messages,” she added.

“At the same time, I also had very nice messages to give so that gives me more energy.

“After I have conversations with players, I always think, ‘OK, what went well?’ For me, it is really important that I am honest, that I treat people in the right way.

“Sometimes, you have very good news and, sometimes, you don’t have good news – and I don’t go around the bush with that.

“I just give that message, then I can’t always control how people respond to that. I just hope that they have the clarity to move on.”

Wiegman also said part of the growth of women’s football, and the success of the Lionesses, has added increased demands on her players.

Bright’s withdrawal has been a blow for England as Wiegman said the Chelsea captain would have been selected had she not ruled herself out.

Asked when she was made aware of Bright’s decision, she said: “In the last couple of days I found out. It was sad and disappointing.

“It’s not nice when you don’t feel well physically and mentally and I just hope she feels better soon.

“England’s profile is growing. That’s life changing and very exciting but at the same time players are not robots. They have to deal with these things too.