Sarina Wiegman dismisses suggestion of crisis in England camp ahead of Euro 2025 | OneFootball

Wiegman insists Lionesses have ‘moved on’ after retirements and squad withdrawals

Sarina Wiegman has dismissed talk that England are in a state of crisis ahead of their defence of their Euros crown this summer.

England named their squad for Euro 2025 on Thursday after a disrupted build-up.

It has led to accusations that the Lionesses are in crisis, but Wiegman has insisted the squad is in a good place.

“We know what is happening in the team and I think there is competition going on in the team. And I hope there is competition going on in the team.

“We are going with this 23 to the Euros now and I feel very comfortable with this team. I am very happy with the team and I am very excited, and I am looking forward to it.

“You see part of it, you are not in our environment all the time and I can ensure [you] that the training sessions have been really good last week.

“What you could see in Portugal, I thought that was a very energetic game and a good game. You saw all these connections.

“I didn’t see anything that there were no connections within the team. So that’s for me, having had conversations, lots of football conversations, also in camp, seeing what happened on pitch and off the pitch with the team, I am really happy where we are right now.”

England’s disrupted build-up began last week when Earps announced she was retiring, amid reports she had lost her spot as the Lionesses’ No1 goalkeeper.

Kirby followed suit on Tuesday after being told she was not part of the squad.

“After I have conversations with players, I always think, okay, what went well,” said Wiegman.

“I think, for me, it is really important that I that I am honest, that I treat people in the right way.

“Sometimes, you have very good news and, sometimes, you don’t have good news - and I don’t go around the bush with that.

“I just give that message, then I can’t always control how people respond on that. I just hope that they have the clarity that they can move on and then afterwards staff that can give them support.

“I think you should have a look at every individual situation. I think at some points players think: ‘I have had such an incredible journey, now it is time for other ones, I am not picked that much so it is time to move on’.

“I think that is a natural process, too. Other players coming in that also comes with the growth of the game.”