The fact that the Lionesses were considered serious title contenders even before the tournament and that top performers such as Beth Mead, Ellen White, Lucy Bronze or Bavaria’s newcomer Georgia Stanway are playing an outstanding European Championship is probably primarily due to Wiegman, who took over as coach in September 2021 from the somewhat unfortunate Phil Neville has taken over.
The title dream is alive
“It clicked from the start,” said the Dutchwoman, who won the European Championship with her home country in 2017, in a BBC interview. “You feel an energy – and that people have confidence in how we want to work and play. I don’t take that for granted but you have to believe in what you’re doing.” Not only Wiegman and her players have that belief, but the whole football nation.
The 52-year-old Dutchwoman, who has gone into every game of this European Championship with the same line-up, has improved the English team everywhere. The offensive is more creative, faster and more efficient, the midfield is more stable and aggressive, the defense seems calmer and safer. Wiegman regularly emphasizes that her team is prepared for all scenarios. You could see that against Sweden. The English team struggled at first, but then found their way into the game and ended up dominating their opponents.
Observers are already certain that the thrilling performances that the English women have put on at this tournament so far will give the development of women’s football a further boost. But a final victory in the classic against Germany and the first major title for an English team since the men’s World Cup in their own country in 1966 would be the ultimate kick – literally.
In addition, the Lionesses still have a score to settle with Germany, because when England were second in the final in 2009, they lost 6-2 to the DFB selection. With this team it is hard to imagine that such a debacle would be repeated in the sold-out Wembley Stadium in front of a record crowd of 90,000 spectators. Eight-year-old Tess also has a say in the matter.