Sarina Wiegman cautions towards over-confidence forward of the Euros

Sarina Wiegman is uncertain whether or not England ought to take an excessive amount of confidence from their red-hot type in entrance of objective not too long ago into this summer season’s Ladies’s European Championship.

The Lionesses moved to the brink of qualification for subsequent yr’s World Cup as they thrashed Northern Eire 5-0 due to a brace apiece for Lauren Hemp and Georgia Stanway and a objective from Ella Toone.

England have now scored 68 occasions in eight Group D outings, with out conceding, and sit atop the standings, 5 factors away from nearest challengers Austria with solely two matches remaining.

Spectacular although the feat is, Wiegman is properly conscious England might be confronted with far more resilient backlines at Euro 2022 as they bid to get their palms on the trophy for the primary time.

“We actually need to be clear that the opponents we play within the qualification matches, we don’t anticipate that degree of opponents on the Euros,” stated England’s head coach. “It’s going to be more durable to attain.

“In fact it offers us confidence after we rating objectives however we’re conscious and grounded that the extent is just a bit decrease towards most opponents within the World Cup qualification.”

Wiegman, who suspects June’s friendlies towards Belgium and Holland will present extra of an acid check for England, was tight-lipped about whether or not she had selected her greatest XI but forward of Euro 2022.

The Dutch coach is simply seven months into the job and has been disadvantaged of the providers of injured defender Steph Houghton, who’s dealing with a race to be match for the Euros in July after Achilles surgical procedure.

“It’s slightly early to get actually near your first line-up,” Wiegman stated. “It’s what’s going to be the 23 and what’s subsequent and after that.

“We don’t need to resolve now, which is very nice. Gamers (additionally) have to indicate their consistency on the pitch.”

As for his or her win in entrance of a bumper 15,348 attendance at Windsor Park – a report for a girls’s match at Northern Eire, Wiegman added: “The result’s nice. I’m actually pleased with it.

“I feel it was a really mature efficiency from us. I feel we dominated the sport all through the 90 minutes.

“We hoped to attain a couple of extra objectives within the first half and be slightly extra medical however 4 objectives within the second half could be very good to see.”

Defeat ends Northern Eire’s World Cup qualification hopes after falling six factors behind Austria.

Whereas they’ll nonetheless transfer degree on factors with Austria, Northern Eire’s inferior head-to-head report has extinguished their already slim hopes of a play-off berth for the competitors in Australia and New Zealand.

Head coach Kenny Shiels stated: “I can see the expansion and we’re getting nearer however they’re ranked as World Cup favourites, they haven’t conceded a objective on this group, this simply epitomises the magnitude of the duty.”