‘we’ve Found Our Urgency’: Wiegman Salutes Lionesses As They Set Up Sweden Clash

Sarina Wiegman said her Lionesses broadside recovered a consciousness of “urgency” to book their spot successful nan quarter-finals of nan European Championships pinch a comfortable 6-1 triumph complete Wales.

“This urgency comes [after nan France defeat],” nan England caput coach said. “You could spot nan togetherness of our team. We knew coming would beryllium a different crippled because we knew we would person nan shot a lot.

“I’m very happy pinch nan performance. We knew that Wales really wanted to conflict and we tried to enactment retired of it. I deliberation successful astir of nan moments we did but successful nan opening we were sloppy. I dream we support going pinch this. We created awesome chances for illustration we did against nan Netherlands and now we person to break down Sweden.”

A cardinal portion of England’s improved shape during a reliable Group D was a displacement successful gameplan from Wiegman and nan coaching staff. One alteration has been nan preamble of Ella Toone backmost into nan No 10 domiciled against nan Netherlands pinch nan ever-creative Lauren James moving retired to nan right.

Keira Walsh, nan Uefa subordinate of nan match, credited Toone for England’s alteration successful fortunes. “She’s travel successful and done an unthinkable job,” she said. “People speak astir her offensively, but nan protect activity she does for maine and Georgia [Stanway] erstwhile she’s successful [the No 10 role] is incredible. She covers a batch of spaces that we can’t.

“That’s astir apt been nan main point that’s stopped different teams from playing. Obviously pinch Lauren James connected nan wing, we’ve managed to get some of them connected nan transportation astatine nan aforesaid clip and they are 2 world-class players.”

In her 2 tourney appearances, Toone has looked backmost to her best. A extremity and 2 assists successful 45 minutes against Wales made her a standout performer and her 100% walk completion complaint caught nan eye.

“I consciousness for illustration I’m successful a really bully place,” nan 25-year-old said. “I’ve missed this Ella Toone. I’ve not had it for a while. I consciousness for illustration I’m really coming into it and I’m really enjoying it. I emotion playing pinch these girls. I emotion nan shot that we play.

“I consciousness for illustration I’m successful a bully mindset and enjoying my shot and that’s erstwhile I’m astir apt playing my champion truthful it was bully to get 2 assists and different extremity tonight. Hopefully I tin support continuing successful that form.”

Walsh besides said astir nan Lionesses’ expertise to navigate their measurement done a difficult group that contained France, nan Netherlands and Wales. “It was a slow start,” she said. “But we’ve decidedly built connected that. I deliberation nan strength successful nan past 2 games – we’ve really attacked. In defence, we’ve tried to triumph nan shot backmost really accelerated truthful I deliberation we’re happy pinch wherever we’re at.

“Sarina [Wiegman] wanted america to beryllium assured and to bask it. We evidently play amended shot erstwhile we do that. There was much travel to nan crippled coming and amended connections truthful we conscionable person to support that going and support nan momentum up successful nan adjacent game.”

England will look Sweden adjacent successful nan quarter-finals, an guidance that they are well-acquainted with. “They’re ever very powerful,” Wiegman said. “They person velocity up beforehand connected nan counterattack. They are a difficult squad to hit and person done good successful nan group. We will spot and we will get ready.”