Sarina Wiegman: Your support really helped us

England head coach Sarina Wiegman sat down with Lionesses: Down Under connected by EE co-host Kyle Walker the morning after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final to reflect on another historic tournament for her team.

Sarina, this isn’t how we wanted the story to end but what are your reflections this morning?

Of course, I'm very disappointed that we didn't win. But most of all, I'm proud of the team. Considering how we performed during the tournament and all the challenges we faced before and during the tournament, how we grew into the tournament and we stuck together to play our best game, I think we've done really well.

So I'm proud of the team. I'm a little disappointed but Spain were really good, too. They were fine margins but they played just a little bit better.

Have you seen the players this morning? How are they doing?

I've seen some of the players this morning. They are still waking up. Last night, we all came together with our families and friends. Now we're heading home, disappointed, but also proud.

Despite the result in the final, there is still so much to be proud of in this entire journey this team has been on.

Absolutely. Before the tournament we had a lot of challenges and then in the tournament we had challenges. The team adapted all the time and showed resilience.

It's such a pleasure to work with this group. There's so much commitment and eagerness to improve and to grow and do better every single day.

You mentioned fine margins, a word on Spain. We knew it would be a tough match?

Spain played a very good tournament and deserved their win. Although after the penalty, I thought this was our moment, and I was genuinely convinced we would score a goal and then the game would have been totally different.

We had chances to score, especially in the beginning, but Spain's possession game was very good so congratulations to them.

A lot of players made their mark on the world stage and some even went to their first World Cup here. How much talent is in this team and how much potential is there for the future?

We've shown there is a lot of talent and we have shown there are also areas in which to grow. We had some injuries where players stepped up. Participating in a tournament for the first time is such a big thing to have in the bag to move forward and hopefully to the next tournament.

It is easy to forget in the heat of the moment but how impressive is it that this England team have made it further than any other team before?

You try to play at your best. We had our challenges and we had very hard games. We've also played against countries from every continent, each with their own philosophy, and we found a way to win.

I'm really proud to have made it to the final. Then you hope to win the final but I know it is hard to make a final anyway and it is special to do so.

Just a word on the tournament. It has been a historic and record-breaking World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. What do you hope this tournament does to the wider growth of women’s football across the world?

This tournament has broken records. We received such a warm welcome, everything was so well organised, the people here were so nice to us and tried to facilitate us the best way they could, and we felt that.

The crowds were very exciting and very impressive too. The level of the game has improved so much, in physicality, in a technical way, the tactical way and every country needs to step up to stay at the top.

The countries just beneath the top are getting closer and closer and I just hope that worldwide, people will have seen it and the people who are responsible now say ‘ok, we have to take the women’s game to the next level and we are now going to give it a boost’.

From their first kick to their first World Cup Final, we’re all so proud of you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ri55bKXo9k

— England Football (@EnglandFootball) August 20, 2023

Finally, do you have a message for the England fans, both here in Australia and back home?

We have had such incredible support out of England. I haven’t seen all of it but I've heard it and of course I have seen the pictures. We have felt your support and it has been incredible, both here in Australia and in England.

Thank you so much for your support. It really helped us and I hope you continue supporting us. We'll always give our best to keep performing.

It has been an incredible journey and I just want to say thank you to you and the staff, to everyone who has been out here and of course the team. What a special trip it has been.

It has been, definitely. Thank you. Now let’s go for some more.