Sarina Wiegman: England boss says reaching Women's World Cup final is a 'fairytale'

1 year ago 21

Lionesses brag Sarina Wiegman says starring England to a archetypal Women's World Cup last is simply a "fairytale".

After England's 3-1 triumph implicit Australia successful the semi-final, Wiegman is the archetypal manager to instrumentality 2 countries to the last of the tournament, having led the Netherlands to the 2019 showpiece.

"We achieved the final, it's unbelievable," said Wiegman.

She besides achieved back-to-back wins astatine the Women's Euros with the Netherlands successful 2017 and England successful 2022.

"It feels similar we won it [the full tournament], we didn't triumph it, but we won this game," added Wiegman, 53.

She has present reached 4 large tourney finals successful a row, with her 2 triumphs astatine the European Championships separated by a 2-0 decision for her autochthonal Netherlands by the United States successful the 2019 World Cup final.

"The accidental that, arsenic a manager oregon arsenic players, to marque it to finals is truly peculiar - we made it to 4 already," added Wiegman aft England's semi-final success.

"I ne'er instrumentality thing for granted but it's similar I'm surviving a fairytale oregon something.

"We made the archetypal last successful 2017 [with the Netherlands] and thought this is truly special, it mightiness not ever hap again. Then you marque the second, the 3rd and the 4th and inactive deliberation this mightiness ne'er hap again due to the fact that determination is truthful overmuch competition."

England volition play successful a archetypal shot World Cup last since the men's broadside won the 1966 tournament.

"I tin hardly picture however arrogant I americium of the team," said Wiegman.

"This squad has adapted each the time. Before the tournament, during the tourney past this crippled again - however we came done and recovered a mode to triumph again is truthful incredible."

'Out of superlatives to picture Wiegman'

England players Keira Walsh and Ella Toone hug, Sarina Wiegman runs to hug Millie Bright

Before Wiegman took complaint successful September 2021, the Lionesses had made it to 2 consecutive semi-finals nether Mark Sampson and Phil Neville.

But they mislaid connected some occasions - defeated 2-1 successful 2015 by Japan, earlier losing to the United States by the aforesaid scoreline successful 2019.

Since Wiegman's arrival, England person gone connected to triumph 30 of their 38 games, picking up 2 Arnold Clark Cup titles, the Euros trophy and the archetypal Women's Finalissima.

A 30-game unbeaten tally came to an extremity astatine the hands of Australia successful April - their lone decision nether the Dutchwoman to date.

After England's triumph implicit Australia this clip around, skipper Millie Bright said: "The mentality of this radical is thing I person ne'er seen before. That comes done Sarina and the content she gives us."

Former England planetary Izzy Christiansen said the semi-final triumph was "another masterclass" from the England manager.

"I'm retired of superlatives to picture Sarina Wiegman," said Christiansen.

"To travel successful and alteration the culture, instil a winning mentality, to make a marque of shot that is pragmatic, absorbing and lets the endowment flourish.

"We saw successful the starting XI contiguous that she had each of her champion players connected the transportation - immoderate managers conflict to find ways to get the champion retired of their champion players."

Hemp and Russo bask 'strong connection'

Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo observe aft beating Australia

After Chelsea's Sam Kerr cancelled retired Ella Toone's opener for England, it was Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo who stole the amusement for England with the decisive goals.

Hemp showed large determination successful chasing down Australia defender Ellie Carpenter to drawback the second, portion Russo completed the scoreline with a calm decorativeness for her seventh extremity successful 12 appearances astatine large tournaments.

"I came to this contention with truthful overmuch belief. I conscionable privation to beryllium fearless, I privation to amusement what I tin bash connected the biggest stage," said Hemp.

"I consciousness truly fearless astatine the moment. I consciousness similar I'm playing immoderate of my champion shot but evidently there's inactive much to show.

Speaking astir her concern with Russo, Hemp added: "I consciousness similar my transportation with 'Less is truthful strong.

"We enactment disconnected each different truly good and I deliberation we complement each other's strengths. We're some truthful antithetic arsenic players that we conscionable enactment truthful good together.

"Throughout the tourney we person built specified a large transportation connected and disconnected the ball. She's a large idiosyncratic to beryllium my onslaught partner."

Russo said: "I emotion playing with Hempo. First of each we person specified a bully narration disconnected the pitch. I deliberation we cognize however to get the champion retired of each different and she's brilliant."

Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall, who volition person Russo successful the Gunners ranks for the forthcoming WSL play aft her determination from Manchester United, said the England brace are the "two hardest-working guardant players" helium has seen astatine this year's World Cup.

"I deliberation erstwhile you spot her and Lauren Hemp play together, they are not lone bully with the shot and with their movement, they are truthful hard working," said Swede Eidevall.

"Together they ne'er springiness up. They hunt down each shot down to the past inch and it paid disconnected 2 games successful a row."