Wiegman Emphasises Top-Level Performance Needed for England Against Iceland
England manager Sarina Wiegman has issued a clear warning to her squad, insisting they must operate at their absolute peak to secure victory against Iceland in their upcoming World Cup qualifier. The match is scheduled for Saturday at the City Ground in Nottingham, marking the Lionesses' second fixture in the qualifying campaign.
Strong Start to Qualifying Campaign
The England team launched their World Cup qualifying efforts in impressive fashion on Tuesday, delivering a dominant 6-1 triumph over Ukraine in Antalya. Alessia Russo, Georgia Stanway, and Jess Park each contributed a brace of goals, showcasing the team's attacking prowess. After a goalless first half, Russo ignited the scoring after the break, with all six England goals coming in the second period.
This performance elevated Russo's international goal tally to 29, and the striker expressed her enthusiasm for representing the national side. "Everyone's in a good place, confident and people are loving playing for England," Russo stated. "I love scoring and playing for England so when you get to do them both it's incredible. We are focused on winning every game we go into."
Wiegman's Cautious Approach to Iceland Challenge
Despite the resounding victory, Wiegman is not underestimating the threat posed by Iceland. She highlighted their disciplined, physical, and direct style of play, which combines pace and defensive resilience. "I think a very strong test. They are very disciplined and physical, direct with a lot of pace. Tough to beat and we think we will have the ball a lot but hard to break down the defence," Wiegman explained.
The manager stressed that the team's focus remains solely on Iceland, not looking ahead to future matches like the upcoming rematch with Spain next month, which recalls the Euros final last summer and the World Cup final in 2023. "We are not talking about Spain, we are only talking about Iceland and we know it will be a tough game tomorrow," she added. "They have some very dangerous attacks with their directness and are tough to beat and we are getting ready and have to be at our top level to win this game."
Team Cohesion and Individual Performances
Wiegman praised the team's mentality and cohesion during the Ukraine match, noting their adherence to the game plan. "We stuck with the plan, everyone did their tasks together. That's key in those moments, we stayed calm whilst there was also some freedom up front. That says a lot of the mentality of the team," she remarked.
Jess Park, in particular, continued her standout season with a pair of goals against Ukraine, bringing her total to 11 goals for both club and country across all competitions this season. Russo commended the 24-year-old Manchester United player, highlighting her growth and impact. "She's had an incredible season both at club and internationally, and is a player that has grown a lot," Russo said. "I think as you grow and Sarina instils the freedom and confidence, you see that coming out massively and she can score some great goals as well, I love playing with her."
Injury Setback for Greenwood
In a setback for the squad, defender Alex Greenwood has been ruled out due to a minor muscle injury. After missing Tuesday's game and undergoing further assessment, she has withdrawn from the squad. Wiegman confirmed the news, stating, "Unfortunately, Alex didn't make it. She has a minor muscle injury. She was desperate to go out last Tuesday and also tomorrow. We all tried to make it work but it's just too early and not worth the risk."
As England prepares for the Iceland clash, the emphasis remains on maintaining focus and delivering a performance that matches Wiegman's high standards to secure another crucial qualifying victory.
