Published 01 July 2023 4 min read
England Women's Senior Team
England's Sarina Wiegman and Alessia Russo react to Portugal draw
The Lionesses' head coach and striker sum up their feelings after England were held in Milton Keynes
MATCH CENTRE: ENGLAND 0-0 PORTUGAL
England head coach Sarina Wiegman felt she learned a little more about her team, after seeing them held to a draw by Portugal.
In what was their final game on home soil before travelling to Australia for this summer’s World Cup Finals, the Lionesses were greeted by a sold-out crowd in Milton Keynes.
But they came up against a well-drilled and resilient Portuguese side, who will also be heading down under for what will be their first appearance at this stage of the competition.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t score a goal but we have seen a lot of things,” said Wiegman after the game.
“It was a little different, the team in the first and second half and I think we were too slow in our possession game and had too many players behind the ball, so when we did pass it forward, then we didn’t have enough players.
“I think we were better in the second half with players higher up the pitch and with moments when we played quicker but we also had moments where we were too long on the ball and we were running with the ball too much.
“Although we did make lots of chances and we should have, of course, scored them.
“I’m convinced we can do better. And yet, if we score a couple of goals, no-one says anything.
“We could’ve been up 3-0, we had one tricky moment but they didn’t have a chance and that is what is hopeful. We also used a lot of players, they have to adapt to each other again and I think they did those things really well because that looks simple, but it is not simple.”
In what was their final game on home soil before travelling to Australia for this summer’s World Cup Finals, the Lionesses were greeted by a sold-out crowd in Milton Keynes.
But they came up against a well-drilled and resilient Portuguese side, who will also be heading down under for what will be their first appearance at this stage of the competition.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t score a goal but we have seen a lot of things,” said Wiegman after the game.
“It was a little different, the team in the first and second half and I think we were too slow in our possession game and had too many players behind the ball, so when we did pass it forward, then we didn’t have enough players.
“I think we were better in the second half with players higher up the pitch and with moments when we played quicker but we also had moments where we were too long on the ball and we were running with the ball too much.
“Although we did make lots of chances and we should have, of course, scored them.
“I’m convinced we can do better. And yet, if we score a couple of goals, no-one says anything.
“We could’ve been up 3-0, we had one tricky moment but they didn’t have a chance and that is what is hopeful. We also used a lot of players, they have to adapt to each other again and I think they did those things really well because that looks simple, but it is not simple.”
02 Jul 2023
6:26
Pitchside and BTS at England's game with Portugal
Take a look at all the action up close and enjoy all the exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from Stadium MK
Wiegman and her squad will fly to Australia next week where their preparations for the World Cup will continue ahead of their opening game with Haiti on Saturday 22 July.
“It is pretty exciting, it is fun to play against different styles of play,” added Wiegman.
“We start with our style of play, how we want to play and our principles and then we will look at what the opponent do and try to take out their strengths and exploit their weaknesses. That is always how we do it, we start with us.
“This was the first game with the team for the long time, so this is good, and we will travel from Wednesday.
“It will take a little time to get adjusted in Australia, then we have one more moment to play [behind closed doors game with Canada] and then we should be ready.”
“It is pretty exciting, it is fun to play against different styles of play,” added Wiegman.
“We start with our style of play, how we want to play and our principles and then we will look at what the opponent do and try to take out their strengths and exploit their weaknesses. That is always how we do it, we start with us.
“This was the first game with the team for the long time, so this is good, and we will travel from Wednesday.
“It will take a little time to get adjusted in Australia, then we have one more moment to play [behind closed doors game with Canada] and then we should be ready.”
For striker Alessia Russo, who came on as a second-half substitute and almost broke the deadlock with an effort, it was equally frustrating not to have got the win.
“It was frustrating but there is lots to build on,” she said. “It’s our first game back after a little bit of break so it’s really important to get a game in and to come and play in front of the incredible fans once more.
“But we will have to build on that performance going into the tournament. Today we had a lot of chances, me personally I should have finished as well.
“It is tough but we are finding new connections, there’s lots of different players playing together and there are so many talented forwards in this team that it is just about building those connections and come the World Cup we will all be ready and firing.”
“It was frustrating but there is lots to build on,” she said. “It’s our first game back after a little bit of break so it’s really important to get a game in and to come and play in front of the incredible fans once more.
“But we will have to build on that performance going into the tournament. Today we had a lot of chances, me personally I should have finished as well.
“It is tough but we are finding new connections, there’s lots of different players playing together and there are so many talented forwards in this team that it is just about building those connections and come the World Cup we will all be ready and firing.”