The UEFA Women’s EURO is now less than a month away and with the Lionesses’ warm-up fixtures on the horizon, the excitement around the camp at St George’s Park is being seen on and off the training pitch.
FAWSL Full-Time again visited England’s training base in midweek and we spoke to Arsenal forward Beth Mead who talked about the excitement building in the camp along with the exceptionally high standards which are being demanded from the players by head coach Sarina Wiegman.
“It’s an exciting prospect,” Mead said. “To play in England, not many people can probably say they’ve played in a home EUROs, so I think the girls are really excited about that.”
The Lionesses host Belgium at Molineux on Thursday in the first of three friendlies that head coach Wiegman hopes will prepare the girls in the best way possible for the month of football that will follow.
On the importance of these games, Mead said “I think all the games have got to set the tone. They’re different teams and we’ve got to play our style of play and play some good football and hopefully put ourselves in good stead for the EUROs.
“They’re all very important games but we’re looking forward to them.”
Last time out at Molineux in February, the Lionesses lifted the newly-formed Arnold Clark Cup in front of more than 12,000 fans. Mead admitted that she is looking forward to England’s return to Wolverhampton.
She said “It will be good memories to go back to. It will obviously be a completely different game but a game we’re looking forward to and as footballers, we love playing football so we’re looking forward to it.”
Head coach Wiegman took charge of the group for the first time in September last year and since then, the girls have scored 72 goals in just 11 games under their new management. Mead said that the Lionesses boss has set very high standards for the players but she is benefitting personally from Wiegman’s methods.
“I think that’s the standards we hold ourselves to now,” said Mead. “We have scored a lot of goals in qualifying but we could’ve scored more and we’ve missed a lot of chances.
“Sarina’s keeping us on our toes and she’ll always expect more. We know no team is perfect but she is striving for perfection and that’s what we want as players.
“For me personally with Sarina, I know where I’ve stood and what she’s expected of me. She’s given me a lot of confidence so for me, it’s been easy to go on the pitch and do what I know I can do and have the backing of my manager. I’d say I’ve been a lot more free and the expectations that she has of me, I understand a lot more than I probably have in the past.”
Wiegman is the first permanent non-English Lionesses head coach after taking over from Phil Neville and she knows what it’s like to win a tournament on home turf after guiding The Netherlands to glory at the last EUROs in 2017.
Commenting on the different management styles of the two coaches, Mead said “Under Phil, it was very much like hard work and now we’re just on the pitch enjoying our football and the hard work comes with that.
“It’s part of our DNA. Everyone just feels free, in a good head space and we’re just really enjoying being here right now.”
England’s international friendly against Belgium at Molineux kicks-off at 8pm on Thursday evening.
By Megan Garbutt
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