Sarina Wiegman Reveals Exciting Opportunities for England World Cup Squad in Upcoming Portugal Warm-up Friendly

Sarina Wiegman has announced that there are still positions available in her England line-up for their World Cup opener against Haiti. This comes before their warm-up match against Portugal over the weekend. The Lionesses will be hosting Portugal at Stadium MK on Saturday before departing for Australia in order to adjust to the time difference ahead of the tournament, which begins on July 22.

During their successful Euro 2022 campaign a year ago, Wiegman's starting XI remained mostly unchanged. However, due to various factors such as injuries, retirements, and form, several positions in her squad look considerably different this time around with less than three weeks until their opening match. Despite this, Wiegman stated that they are getting closer to finalizing their starting XI, but they are still experimenting with certain aspects, leaving uncertainty about the exact line-up in certain positions. She expressed this perspective ahead of Saturday's game.

Therefore, it is necessary to have these two games. However, there may be some uncertainty regarding the starting lineup, as we might make tactical adjustments and introduce new players in the next match. Hence, it's not entirely clear yet, but we are approaching a more defined state.

The team has undergone some changes since the Euros, as is customary. Certain players have departed, while new players have joined, resulting in varied experiences and competition.

There is intense competition in certain positions, thus providing our technical staff and me with more choices regarding who to play and when.

We are currently deliberating on those final aspects, engaging in conversations regarding the roles. Some roles remain unclear at this point, and there may be changes happening suddenly.

England has only one more warm-up game before the World Cup, which will be a closed-doors match against Canada in Australia on July 14. This means they have one less match to prepare for the tournament compared to the previous year's Euros. Wiegman acknowledged that having more friendly matches would have been better, but cited logistical and physical constraints that limited their preparation time.

"I am pleased with this preparation," she expressed. "Undoubtedly, we would have desired a bit more playtime, however, this is the designated schedule, and one must prioritize what works best for both our training regimen and fits within the constraints of our timetable.

"With the need to traverse to the opposite side of the globe, acclimatization becomes essential before entering the group stage. We are fully prepared, and our training sessions contribute significantly to our progression."