Sarina Wiegman, head coach of the England women’s national football team, has sounded alarm bells. She thinks the quality of playing surfaces in recent high-profile cup matches have been terrible. This issue has been highlighted ahead of England's upcoming double header against Belgium next month, drawing attention to the need for improved standards in the women's game.
The Lionesses are next preparing to face Belgium at Ashton Gate on April 4th. Only to be followed four days later by a trip to Leuven for another thrilling contest. Wiegman's comments come in the wake of criticism surrounding the pitch at Derby's Pride Park, which hosted the Women's League Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City. Erin Cuthbert, who played in the final, called the pitch “unrealistic for a final.”
Wiegman’s campaign for player safety and performance has focused on the fact that athletes deserve to compete without the threat of injury on poor-quality pitches.
"Players deserve to show their performances at the highest level and take away the risks of injury."
The England coach will be looking to build upon the team’s new-found confidence gained from that stunning win over Spain at Wembley. England secured a 1-0 win following their Group A3 fixture in February, which resulted in a 1-1 draw against Portugal. Wiegman hopes that these accomplishments will build the foundation of the team’s depth as they head toward the Euros.
While these are encouraging developments, Wiegman has expressed frustration with the lack of consideration for the conditions players are put into even during important matches.
"It's really disappointing. You would hope they would be playing [Champions League matches] in the Bernabeu."
Whether it be performance or safety related, the growing concern surrounding pitch quality affects everyone. Lousy playing conditions increase the chance of injury, something Wiegman is adamant must be improved.
"You want better pitches. It's a little bit dangerous, too. We have to keep working on these things."
As England prepare for their camp in April, it is a crucial time for Wiegman. This is her penultimate opportunity to test her squad ahead of finalising selections for the European Championships.
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