Sarina Wiegman and England seek ‘opportunities to try new things’ in final match of 2024 | OneFootball

England Lionesses will host Switzerland at Bramall Lane for their second friendly of the international break. Ahead of the clash in Sheffield, the media spoke to head coach Sarina Wiegman as she prepares for a match that will allow her to ‘experiment with’ some upcoming talents in England.

Regarding team news, both Chloe Kelly and Fran Kirby are ruled out of the match. Kelly suffered a mild concussion, and Kirby a calf injury after coming on as a substitute during the USA match. All other players are available for selection.

Wiegman confirmed she will use player rotation to her advantage. It is all about ‘finding balance’ in the squad depth, between young and experienced players.

International friendlies are the perfect ‘opportunities to try new things’. With the final match of 2024 finally here, the players have one final chance to showcase what they can do on home soil. However, England ‘should not underestimate’ the Swiss defence. The Lionesses will need pace and intelligence on the attack. With every player hoping to be selected in the starting 11 at Euro 2025, the camp is full of competitive rivalry.

Jess Park: A rising star on the international stage

Jess Park spoke to the media after a promising performance against the USA at the weekend. Her dominance in midfield and strength in possession proved her to be an important member of Wiegman’s squad. However, she is aware that the stakes are high. Every player has their eyes on a place in the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 squad.

The Manchester City youngster is ‘getting comfortable in the environment with her teammates and on the pitch’ and closing in on becoming a regular in the England camp. But she is aware that nobody’s spot is guaranteed. When asked about the competition in camp, she said: “If there’s not competition, then it’s not going to bring out the best of you.”

The ‘only way that you learn’ is by facing the challenges an international camp brings. In fact, this is something the midfielder enjoys about international break. With the usual attacking forwards missing out on this camp due to injury, now is the perfect time for Park to prove herself.

This week, the Lionesses are playing in Sheffield, close to Park’s hometown. It is a special moment for her to play in Yorkshire, as she loves ‘being back here’. She also mentioned the importance of making the women’s game accessible nationwide, especially by playing games in different counties. Park is certainly taking her game to new heights to stay in contention for the tournament next summer, but will she have another chance to show Wiegman what she can do at the familiar setting of Bramall Lane?

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Squad rotation

England camp debutants Ruby Mace and Laura Blindkilde-Brown are Wiegman’s newest additions and both will start tonight’s match. When asked, the boss made no hesitation stating that she thinks ‘they’re ready’ to make their senior debuts. Having impressed the Dutchwoman in their caps for the U23s, they are ‘working really hard’ to take their game to another level.

Another young star in question was Grace Clinton. Having impressed the head coach on her Lionesses debut, she is working hard to make her way into the starting lineup. Wiegman spoke highly of Clinton, but noted that she needs to stay switched on at all times. ‘Defensively the understanding needs to be improved’ but she is working on her consistency on the pitch. This season she has become a key player for Manchester United. She is grafting hard on and off the pitch to exceed Wiegman’s expectations of a midfielder in her prime.

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Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones is another young talent who has been on Wiegman’s radar recently. She was asked why she was the only forward who did not get any minutes against the USA. In response, the head coach praised her for ‘really learning and working really hard’ in camp. Beever-Jones is therefore in contention for an appearance against Switzerland, determined to show her true potential and place in an England shirt.

Therefore, the final fixture of the year will be a test for both the head coach and her squad. With a lack of consistency in performance recently, England need a positive result and dominant game to show they are ready for the challenge next summer. On the back of a goalless draw with one of the top teams in women’s football, the Lionesses need ‘people to play at their best level’ and earn their spot in the team. But are they ready for the challenge?

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