England manager Sarina Wiegman and captain Leah Williamson insisted they are ready for the pressure ahead of their opening game at the European Championship.
The Lionesses will take on Austria on Wednesday evening for a record-breaking 74,000 sold-out at Old Trafford in the hopes of setting a milestone for the remainder of the tournament.
Unbeaten since Wiegman took over in September, with 12 wins from 14 games and 84 goals scored, they warmed up for this tournament with a 3-0 win over Belgium, a 5-1 drubbing of the Netherlands and a 4-0 thump. over Switzerland.
England insist they are ready to handle the pressure during the 2022 European Championship
Sarina Wiegman has not yet tasted the leadership, and it is her job to deliver glory on her own terrain
Wiegman led the Orange squad to victory at home in 2017 and five years later it is her job to repeat that achievement with England.
“It’s really unbelievable, it’s really exciting,” Wiegman said. ‘You feel that everyone is really ready, we just want to go.
“Everything is bigger, the expectation is higher and the level of the game is higher. It’s hard to compare (to 2017), but the players are more experienced.
‘I want to share experiences with the players, but in this group we also have players who have experienced many great matches at the highest level.
Lionesses captain Leah Williamson says the team will rely on the support of large crowds
“The game has developed so quickly that many countries are favorites for this tournament because the level is so high. It’s really hard to predict. Many countries are in good shape, so are we. But strange things can happen in tournaments.’
Williamson only played six minutes at the 2019 World Cup, but at the tender age of 25 she has the responsibility of leading her country at a home tournament. It’s a task she feels more than ready for.
“I am very proud, I am sure that tomorrow when I look back, it will be a moment that I will remember forever,” she said.
“The team is in a great place in terms of fitness and having all those things in your control.
England will start the tournament against Austria as they try to put down their marker
“We are not robots, there will be nerves, we are aware of the expectation, but from the camp it is all about excitement. This is my job, if I wasn’t ready, if I wasn’t allowed to enjoy it, why should I do it?
“We ticked the boxes we had to tick, knowing how great this moment is.
“We know what to expect and are ready. Pressure is a privilege, it’s something we embrace. That’s part of the job, but that doesn’t mean we won’t enjoy it at the same time. Sarina has experience with (pressure) and that’s something she wants us to embrace.
“It’s something we weren’t very good at in the past. We love that there will be a full stadium and most of them will be there for us. It’s an advantage, we plan to use it.’
Williamson insists it’s ‘normal’ to be in the public eye for the showpiece, describing it as ‘good’
An image of Williamson was projected on London’s Tower Bridge on Monday and she was also the face of crisp packets and drinking bottles.
“It’s not normal, is it?” Williamson acknowledged. “But it’s good, it means that the visibility of us as a team and the women’s game is recognized, as it should be. It’s strange, but it’s good for the game.”
England are expected to beat Austria, but their opponents are not pushovers, having reached the semi-finals of this tournament five years ago.
Just one goal separated the two sides as they faced each other in November’s World Cup qualifier, with the Lionesses coming out on top, and Wiegman expects an equally tough game on Wednesday night.
Wiegman has been given a selection dilemma about the position of her skipper for the opener
“Austria is a very strong team,” said Wiegman. “Their togetherness is really good, they are strong, physically good and they were very well organized when we played them in November and they still are. We’ve looked at the games they’ve played recently.
“We’re just preparing as best we can, we’re focused on our own style and how to use our strengths. If we play our best game, we’ll be more on the ball and dominate the game more.”
The biggest selection headache for Wiegman concerns her captain’s position and whether she will start in defence, such as at Arsenal, or central midfield.
“Playing for England is enough,” Williamson insisted. “I’d like to be on the pitch, I’ll do what I have to do for the team.”