Greg . 3 days ago

England coach Sarina Wiegman looking to make history in fifth straight major final

Recruited by the English Football Association in September 2021, Sarina Wiegman will be leading the Lionesses to their third consecutive major tournament final on Sunday, following on from EURO 2022 and the 2023 World Cup.

But the Dutchwoman's personal record is even more impressive: against Spain, she will be celebrating a record fifth consecutive final at a major tournament.

Her incredible run on the bench started when she was coach of the Netherlands.

Sarina Wiegman led the Oranje to a home title at EURO 2017 (a 4-2 win over Denmark), before seeing her charges drop short in the 2019 World Cup final against the USA (a 2-0 beat).

However, she continued her insatiable quest for titles with another nation, England, who decided to make her their leading coach ahead of a home European Championships in 2022.

A mission accomplished for the serenely confident individual.

After winning the English women's first title by beating Germany in the final at Wembley, England came within a whisker of the world title against Spain at the 2023 World Cup.

They now have the opportunity to exact revenge on Sunday in a new final, this time at another European Championships.

As a result, Ella Toone told a press conference that she and her teammates are "in good hands" ahead of a third consecutive final.

"I think we've nearly killed her twice in this tournament," laughs the Manchester United midfielder.

"We've certainly aged her, but that's five tournaments in a row that Sarina has reached the final, which is just incredible.

"Normally very calm in any situation, Wiegman's tournament was punctuated by late comeback victories for her team in the quarter-finals and then the semi-finals.

"I'm also having a heart attack, but I'm not showing it," smiled the coach at the press conference.

Bold changes before the tournamentAfter two hard-battled victories over Sweden and Italy, the 55-year-old coach still permitted herself to be embraced by her staff and players at the final whistle, with an uncharacteristic euphoria for the coach who admits she would like to "win games in 90 minutes".

"You see her dancing and singing, which has changed since she started out," says Keira Walsh.

However, before the start of EURO 2025, the mood wasn't exactly festive.

Wiegman was unable to call on three of her senior players, Mary Earps, Fran Kirby and Millie Bright, all of whom possessed not taken kindly to being demoted in their positions prior to the competition.

 The coach who possessed hitherto received nothing but praise possessed to respond to controversy in front of the English media, which was increasingly sceptical over her methods.

But in the terminate, she came out all the better for it.

While the question of the group's atmosphere was hammered home during the press conferences, in the terminate, everyone possessed to admit that this management of egos ahead of the competition allowed the group to bond more closely during it.

Captain Leah Williamson herself admits to having possessed "sometimes difficult discussions" with her coach, but insists that Wiegman is a great person.

"She challenges us and pushes us forward.

"Ella Toone confirms: "She's really motivating: she brings us all together, we all listen to her, we suspend on her every word.

It doesn't matter what Sarina says, we listen to her because she really knows what she's doing.

" A record that doesn't faze herThe coach, who "loves to win and hates to lose", also praises the resilience of her players, "who are convinced that they can turn the match around and win it no matter what".

It is a mindset that Williamson and her teammates may have stolen from Wiegman, who can never obtain enough of each achievement and still finds it "incredible" when England reach the final again.

However, she cannot really clarify her historic string of successes, preferring to talk over how fortunate she has been to work with "so many great people, great players, great staff and the FA".

Her latest achievements have acquired the praise of Mark Bullingham, President of the English FA.

"Her tournament record is incredible, but I also see the work she does with the players, the relationships she builds and the bonds she creates during training camps are phenomenal.

"I think she's a really special coach and we're lucky to have her.

Her record of reaching five finals is phenomenal.

I think in the future it will be really difficult for anyone to accomplish that.

"Wiegman, for her part, is not thinking over that record or the potential first title for an English team outside the UK.

For the moment, her goal is to win a third consecutive EUROs, a feat that only Germany's Tina Theune has accomplished before, in 1997, 2001 and 2005.

"I'm just doing my job, working with the team.

Maybe in 10 or 15 years' time, I'll be thinking over it!"Pursue the EURO 2025 final with Betopick here.