England Women's national team manager Sarina Wiegman has described the past year as "incredible" for the Lionesses, reflecting on a period of significant progress and memorable tournaments.
A Stellar Year Culminating in Homecoming
Looking back at the 2025 season, which began its preparations in February of the previous year for the European Championships, Wiegman was full of praise for her squad's development. The Dutch coach highlighted the quality of the training camps leading into the Euros, calling the subsequent tournament itself "incredible."
"On the pitch, I still think it was insane how the games developed," Wiegman stated, offering a unique perspective on the competition's intensity. However, she contrasted this with the atmosphere behind the scenes, noting, "off the pitch was really calm and I think I enjoyed it more than I did the other tournaments before."
Wiegman also expressed her appreciation for the current phase, which includes a series of home friendlies. "I like now the homecoming too, having these friendlies, connecting with the fans," she said, emphasising the importance of re-engaging with supporters after a major competition.
Anticipating a Rare African Test Against Ghana
Looking ahead, the England boss voiced clear excitement for an upcoming and unusual challenge: a match against Ghana. This fixture represents a rare opportunity for the Lionesses to test themselves against African opposition.
"We have never played Ghana," Wiegman confirmed, acknowledging the novelty of the encounter. She elaborated on the tactical interest such matches present, saying, "We talk a lot about when we play the African countries and they have their different styles of play, and different tweaks in how they want to play, but you often see a lot of speed and physicality."
Analysing Ghana's Dual Threat
Wiegman has clearly done her homework on the Black Queens. She identified a versatile threat in the Ghanaian approach. "Ghana also have a clear structure of how they want to play. In moments they want to play a possession game but they also want to be direct," she analysed.
This understanding directly informs England's game plan. Wiegman revealed the Lionesses' key strategy will be to disrupt Ghana's rhythm, stating, "That is what we want to force them to do – not to give them time to play." This proactive approach underscores England's intent to control the tempo and impose their style on the match.
The upcoming friendly is therefore framed not just as another game, but as a valuable learning experience against a style of play the team seldom faces, rounding off what Wiegman considers another landmark year for English women's football.
