Wiegman: 'I’m really excited about the team'

Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman reacted to today’s announcement after naming her squad for the upcoming UEFA Women’s EURO 2025.

Wiegman’s 23-player squad will head out to Switzerland for this summer’s major tournament and the England boss admitted she had some difficult decisions to make as part of the process.

“It’s always difficult because you can pick 23 and you’d like to pick a little more because players have been in the environment and done well but at the end, you have to make those decisions which for 23 players is very good but for some players, disappointing,” said Wiegman.

“We’ve had the whole process, we’ve seen the team a lot over the last week and the last months. That’s the main part of the job to make decisions – who to select, who to play and during games, who to sub and things like that.

“Those hard conversations are not nice because I know how hard players work to make the squad. At the same time, I also had very nice messages to give so that gives me some more energy too.”

Having sustained a hamstring injury while playing for the Lionesses against Belgium in April and returning to Chelsea, Lauren James makes Wiegman’s squad as the England boss provided an encouraging update on the forward’s fitness.

“We don’t see it as a risk,” explained Wiegman. “We’re just building her. We have some time – we still have a month.

“She’s training really well at club. She’s at the point where we hoped she would be at this stage. She keeps progressing and hopefully when she comes into camp, she can go into training with us and keep progressing towards the first game on 5 July.”

Arsenal’s Michelle Agyemang, who spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion, is one of seven forwards to make the squad.

During the April international window, the 19 year old was called up to replace the injured Alessia Russo, making the step up from the England women’s under-19s, with Agyemang going on to score on her debut against Belgium and it was enough to impress Wiegman.

“I think she brings something different and I hope she can show that in the summer,” added Wiegman. “I think we’re really strong up front. Also, we have so many different qualities with the players we’ve picked.

“What she showed when necessary was so much physicality. I’ve seen it in training sessions and what she did in Belgium. Of course, we all still remember her first goal for us against Belgium. I think that’s good to have in the team. We’ll see what she can bring.”

Grace Clinton, Jess Park, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone and Keira Walsh comprise Wiegman’s midfield cohort but the Lionesses head coach highlighted the flexibility within the team.

“We have to announce it as our midfielders, strikers and defenders,” noted Wiegman. “I think we can move around some players in different positions. On paper, it looks like we’re not so in depth but I think in the team, we are enough in depth in midfield.”

With a number of new faces making the squad compared to last time out in the tournament in 2022 when the Lionesses made history by lifting the trophy on home soil, Wiegman also addressed the balance of experience and youth within the team.

“When I came in, there were many players very experienced but I do think we have enough experience in the team,” said Wiegman. “There’s players who have played at a major tournament. Also, with playing at such a high level at club, you are experienced playing for big crowds so I don’t think that’s a problem.

“With the players that are coming in and playing at their first tournament, they’re so eager too. That balance and those dynamics are pretty good in our team.

“I’m really excited about the team and that the EUROs are so close now.”