July 9 – England manager Sarina Wiegman has downplayed the consequences of defeat against the Netherlands, but England are starring down the barrel in a must-win game.
Later this afternoon it will be do or die for the defending champions who find themselves with their backs against the wall in the group of death following a 2-1 opening defeat at the hands of France. England will be out of the tournament if they lose to the Netherlands and France avoid defeat to Wales. They would be the first reigning champions to exit the tournament in the group stages.
“We don’t talk about consequences, we talk about our game plan,” said Wiegman. “We bring it back to that it’s a game, it’s a football game, and the outcome, of course, has consequences, but that was the same at the final, at the Euros and the World Cup.”
The Dutch manager has reached the last four major finals at the European championship and World Cup with the Netherlands in 2017 and 2019, and the Lionesses in 2022 and 2023, but ahead of Euro 2025, questions were raised about Wiegman’s pedigree to rejuvenate a team during a new cycle.
Following the loss to France, those concerns have grown even louder. The decision to field Lauren James backfired as England’s midfield was overrun.
“We bring it back to what we have to do, and the focus is on what actions we have to take to play our best, and that’s the conversations we have when we train,” said Wiegman. “Of course it’s gonna be an intense game, and we knew this was going to be a hard group. We are focusing on our game plan and just executing that.
“What we’re occupied with is playing football, executing a task, sticking together and doing that together. Getting the right connections, and just work really hard and do everything to win the game.”
Striker Alessia Russo said that England were their own biggest critics. The England camp has avoided talks of a crisis, but the 90 minutes against the Netherlands, who cruised past Wales 3-0 in their opening match, will be an early final with their European title on the line.
“Ultimately we don’t like losing but when a result like that happens you have to reflect and come together as a team,” said Russo.
“We have bounced back before. We know we weren’t up to it against France but in our own standards we want to be better. That sets the bar for us. We’re our own biggest critics as players so we’re all ready to get out there and have another good game.”
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