England manager Sarina Wiegman has revealed how she stays calm ahead of major tournaments, as well as providing insight into how the Lionesses are preparing for Euro 2025.
The weeks leading up to a major international tournament can be some of the most stressful for football managers and England boss Sarina Wiegman is no different.
Despite winning back-to-back European Championships with the Netherlands in 2018 and then England in 2022, Wiegman still gets nervous just like any other coach.
“Before the tournament, I’ll take some actions, try to take some time off, a little further away from the tournament, because the closer it gets, I just want to get ready and you just want to get into it.” Wiegman said on Episode five of That Lionesses Podcast.
“I try to relax, and I just have to make sure that when I go into the tournament I’m fit and also fresh because it’s going to be intense, and you actually don’t want to switch off because it’s game, three days, game, three days, sometimes four, but in the group stages three days in between.”
England face a tough schedule in Group D this year with games against Wales and the Netherlands, with their first match coming against France in Zurich.
WATCH: That Lionesses Podcast episode 5
Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses prepared for Euro 2025
As one of the tournament favourites, the Lionesses will be hoping for a good preparation for Euro 2025 and they face Jamaica in their final friendly on June 29th before the Championship.
Despite some big names withdrawing from the team this year, Wiegman is confident in the group of players that she has at her disposal this summer: “I think we have many qualities, I’m very happy with the squad,” she said.
“I think we have players who have a lot of experience in tournaments, because they went to a couple, or even more. We have seven players who are in a major tournament for the first time and I think they can really help each other so that’s a good balance.
“I also think that we have different qualities in the squad, so what’s needed in games, I think we have.”
Wiegman was boosted by the return of Lauren James earlier this week with the Chelsea star recovering from a hamstring injury just before the tournament gets underway.
The Lionesses are 4/1 to win the Euros according to the best UK betting sites, as they look to make history and win at back to back European Championship’s.
