England head coach Sarina Wiegman is well aware of the intense rivalry between the Lionesses and Wales—but insists her side will approach Sunday’s pivotal Euro 2025 group-stage match in St. Gallen with cool heads and clear focus.
Speaking ahead of the final Group A game, Wiegman said she has taken time to understand the historical rivalry between the two nations, but her priority remains guiding England into the quarter-finals as they look to defend their European title.
“I’ve learned about the history and the rivalry, but for us it’s about how we want to play,” Wiegman told reporters. “There’s always pressure on England, but we’ll try to control the game, keep the ball, and exploit the spaces.”
Victory over Wales would guarantee England a spot in the last eight. They could also advance with a draw—provided the Netherlands don’t beat France—or even a narrow loss, as long as the Dutch fail to win.
Wales, meanwhile, still have a slim path to the knockout stage but need to beat England by at least four goals and hope France defeat the Netherlands.
England will enter the match on a high after a commanding 4-0 win over the Netherlands on Wednesday, a performance that proved their ability to deliver under pressure following last week’s 2-1 defeat to France—the only loss in Wiegman’s 14-match Euros coaching career.
Defender Alex Greenwood echoed her manager’s sentiments, stressing that England won’t be distracted by outside narratives.
“We’re used to having a target on our backs,” she said. “That’s the price of success, and we should be proud of it. But we focus on our own standards and the game plan.”
Greenwood believes the squad thrives in high-stakes environments: “We enjoy pressure, but more importantly, we thrive in it. The Netherlands game was a must-win, and we rose to the occasion. Sunday is another high-pressure moment—and we’re looking forward to it.”
Sunday’s match will be Wiegman’s 15th European Championship fixture as a head coach. She famously guided the Netherlands to the 2017 title before leading England to glory in 2022. Her record now stands at 13 wins from 14 Euros games.
With the reigning champions on the verge of another knockout stage appearance, Wiegman and her squad are staying grounded, focused, and ready to rise above the noise once again.
