Beth Mead says England are prepared for anything

Beth Mead says England will be going into Tuesday’s UEFA EURO 2022 semi-final against Sweden with “plans B, D and C” up their sleeve.

The Lionesses head to Sheffield knowing that victory will take them into Sunday’s EURO Final at Wembley and an opportunity to win the title on home soil.

But Mead and her teammates refuse to concentrate on anything other than Tuesday’s game at a sold-out Bramall Lane, where she says England will be fully prepared for what they will face on the pitch.

Boss Sarina Wiegman spoke after last week’s quarter-final victory over Spain about the importance of being able to change team personnel, shape and tactics in order to turn games in their favour.

And that was perfectly illustrated when Wiegman’s substitutes and tactical changes helped them come from behind to swing the game in their own favour and seal an extra-time win.

“I would say she’s [Wiegman] one of the best coaches I’ve worked under tactically,” admits Mead, who has five goals to her name in the competition so far.

“You know, as a team we’ve worked on all scenarios, good and bad, and credit to Sarina, because she’s instilled them into us again so that we’re aware of it.

“We know when things happen and I think we spoke after the game that it was kind of natural for whatever happened and whatever she made happen.

“People just got on with it, you wouldn’t know there’d been a change and as a team it’s something we’ve worked on.

“Football’s not always straightforward and you need to have a Plan B, C and D, whatever it may be and Sarina has plenty of plans, that’s for sure.”

In Sweden, England know they will face a tough challenge against a nation who have historically had the upper hand in previous contests.

The last meeting with the Scandinavians saw a 2-1 defeat in the 2019 World Cup third-place game and just a few months before that, there was a 2-0 defeat just down the road from Sheffield at Rotherham’s New York Stadium.

And Mead expects a game befitting of the occasion on Tuesday when the teams go head-to-head again.

“I mean, I think every game right now is tough and it’s the semi-final of a EUROs,” she added.

“Maybe Sweden haven’t been at their best but every time we play them, they play pretty good and they’re an athletic team with a lot of quality players.

“So they’re not a team we will take lightly and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”