Sarina Wiegman eyes Nations League victories for England in their first competitive tests this year ahead of Euros
NOTHING less than two wins is the aim for Sarina Wiegman and England when they face Portugal and Spain in the Women’s Nations League.
While the start of their Euros title campaign is five months away, the Lionesses are fully focused on the present.
Group place finishes at the end of the Nations League will dictate which sides are placed in each league for the European qualifying games for the 2027 World Cup.
Teams who finish in first and second place in each League A group stay in the top league for the qualifiers.
England boss Wiegman, whose side are in group three of League A, said: “We’re going to approach these games to win this Nations League.
“This is also important to get us in the best position for the draw, for the qualification for the World Cup.
“That’s a little further away, but that’s why these games are very important too.”
Speaking to reporters at England’s base in the city of Albufeira in Portugal’s Algarve, full-back Lucy Bronze added: “Everyone’s always going to have one eye on the summer, that’s for sure.
“But as Sarina said, We are focused on one game at a time. It is important to us.
“I think the Nations League, the setup now, means that every game matters so much.
“All the teams around us are getting better.
“So it is important that we focus on the here and now.”
While the here and now is a clash with Portugal in Portimao tonight followed by a February 26 Wembley duel with Spain, some fans will look at both as a rehearsal for England’s Euros campaign.
In 134 days the Lionesses will kickstart their quest to remain European Champions.
Their historic triumph in July 2022 was off the back of winning the six games they played at the tournament.
Results which included a gritty quarter-final defeat of Spain on their way to beating Germany 2-1 in the final at Wembley.
Much has changed on the international stage since then with Spain now a tougher force to be reckoned with, particularly when facing their European rivals.
The team, managed by Montserrat Tome, won seven of their eight Women’s Nations League on their way to becoming the contest’s 2024 winners.
Their victory last February, following a 2-0 defeat of France in Seville, came six months after beating England in the World Cup final in Australia.
In 2024 we gained a lot of experience, whether it was good or bad. We learned a lot from that which is going to give us a bit more of an edge.
Along with France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, Spain are among the sides likely to be the biggest challengers to the Lionesses for Euros glory.
Having lost and drawn two of their last international fixtures, England are eager to get off to a solid start before this summer’s Euros and their next Nations League fixtures in April.
While the team beat South Africa and Switzerland in friendlies last October and December they also drew 0-0 with the USA and lost 4-3 to Germany at Wembley.
Bronze adds: “In 2024, maybe some results didn’t go our way.
“The most important thing is when we get to the summer, that’s when we want to make sure we’re performing for that tournament (the Euros).
“In 2024 we gained a lot of experience, whether it was good or bad.
“We learned a lot from that, which is going to give us a bit more of an edge.”
Filling void left by midfield mainstay Georgia Stanway
Since her breakthrough as the youngest player in England’s 2019 World Cup squad Georgia Stanway has become a lynchpin in the team’s midfield.
But the Bayern Munich star is in a race to be fit before the Euros.
A collateral ligament tear in Stanway’s right knee means England will be without one of their most influential figures from their 2022 Euros-winning squad for tonight’s game and their clash with Spain.
A player who was the last to score for the Lionesses against Spain in a major tournament.
Stanway’s absence has left Wiegman needing to look to midfield alternatives for one of her most tenacious all-round players.
Bayern expects the midfielder who helped them to two title wins since 2022 her to be out for “several months” following her knee op in January.
The 75-capped Lioness played in all six games for England at the 2022 Euros.
Her link-up play with Keira Walsh and Wiegman’s forwards has proven effective in some of the Lionesses’ most high stakes encounters in recent years.
In Stanway’s absence Grace Clinton will be among their midfield options in an eight role.
Last February Clinton shone on her senior international debut, playing in this position during a 7-2 hammering of Austria.
A natural is how Wiegman described the midfielder who has impressed with her dribbling ability.
It took the United player, who spent last season on loan at Tottenham, just 19 minutes to score after making her first start for Wiegman’s England.
Other potential alternatives include skipper Leah Williamson and Leicester ace Ruby Mace.
England chief Wiegman said: “We have a lot of things in consideration and you’ll see who we’ll pick.
“Of course we think about many, many scenarios, what the options are and at the end, we’ll pick one.”