England Women Pre-Match Briefing: Euro 2025 Group Stage vs Wales
This is the final of the latest: • England head coach, Sarina Wiegman • Player Alex Greenwood • The Lionesses as their final group match at the third Euro 2025 group match approaches.
Main Themes & Key Takeaways:
- How England is likely to play the Wales Team: Control, Ball-Carrying & Exploiting pace
Possession Dominance: Wiegman doesn’t hide that he wants England to “have a lot of the ball and … play very good in possession. The idea is to control the game and “move the ball very, very quickly and try to exploit spaces.”
Not a “Fight Game” No, Obviously neither of these two teams will be coming in wanting to send cunts flying into the crowd or whatever, and that is something which Wiegman and Greenwood will making sure to get across to those players, bear in mind however the physical and combative style of play Pauw expected from most virtually all Welsh players. Wiegman explained: “We don’t allow it to come into a fighting game”, Greenwood “If we can be in control for big bits of it, then we take that away”.
Unpicking packed defense: Wiegman expects Wales to be “very compact” as the visiting side, possibly with a “low block. To counter that, England will need to “find space,” “get the ball moving quickly,” be “really tight quarters with the ball and patient.” Well, it’s not like Wales play a deep block all the time – sometimes they are “a bit higher up the pitch too,” she laughs. - Managing Pressure and Rivalry
‘Tension’ for England: The Dutchwoman shrugged aside Wales’s suggestion that the pressure was all on England as the latest example of underhanded tactics to try to play mind games with the opposition. “It’s always pressure on England,” she said — but, equally, the team is on their “own preparation” and is meeting their “expectations… to play a good game.”
England Players See ‘Another Important Game’ While Alex Greenwood acknowledges the “brilliant” rivalrous and fanfare, she adds, “It’s another game, it’s now the most important game that we’re going to play. It’s the realist, Cold War mentality toward the war faction: the ends are good even if the means are grotty.
The (Not So) New Normal, Greenwood said, being one of the best, leaves a target on your back. She sees it as a “pressure that we’ve invited, because we’ve been successful and … one we should be quite proud of.”
Thriving Under Pressure: Greenwood praised his team’s ability to win games when they have been under pressure and referenced Monday’s match against the Netherlands; “we have played under more pressure…. tomorrow becomes the next most-pressure game…..and I think we’re all looking for it já.
- Player Fitness and Tactical Flexibility
Full Squad Ready: “Everyone can play the full 90” is what Wiegman has mentioned, so there are no injuries or minutes pains for anybody on her side.
Rotating starting XI: Wiegman said there was no fixed “blueprint for the 11” and “things change during the tournament.” The team they select will be the “best at this moment” to run out against Wales.”
Alex Greenwood’s Versatility: Greenwood talked about her playing the centre-back and left-back positions. It’s “definitely not as much as is probably what you think,” she said, though, because Wiegman “still allows me to play to my ability on what I like to do at centre back.” She likes the other dimension, it adds to her game from left-back and “minute things that I change“, rather than game-changing ones. “Game plan.” “Opposition.” “What is best for the team?”
- Players to watch: Lauren James and Sophie Ingle.e
Lauren James’s Expression and Team Sport: Alex Greenwood lauded Lauren James as a “top talent” and said it was “great to just see her express herself on the pitch”. It’s a “job of mine also to protect her,” she said. He also saved some accolades for blossoming star James “She’s friggin’ very good another good player, very high for me she’s playing to her strengths and she’s doing thay well but the teams been supporting her well as well and and the other way round, she’s supporting the team, too.”
“Sophie injure “I’m proud of her” Alex Greenwood was speaking to the media after tonight’s game and she was asked about the inclusion of injured Sophie back in the senior set up after a spell of rehab to try and make it back in time and how “isolating” it can be as well as Sophie’s drive to make sure she was back in time for the Euros. - External Observations
Spain on Italy: Alex Greenwood was asked very briefly about Spain against Italy, and she said that they are a “top team” who “keep the ball well.” But “vulnerabilities” had been revealed, she said, as in Italy. Her emphasis “remains on ourselves and Wales.
The following England tactical analysis will scout their personality, brand of play, and key players as they head into an important Euro 2025 group stage meeting.
