As the countdown to Women’s Euro 2025 begins, England prepares to face their group stage opponents: Wales, France, and the Netherlands. Whatever happens on the pitch this tournament will provide a significant challenge for the Lionesses. With recent retirements of crucial players, and one recently announced stepping back in their competitive career, the pressure has been amplified.
The recent retirements from international football of Fran Kirby and Mary Earps were huge blows for the squad. To add insult to injury, England stalwart Millie Bright announced that she will not feature in the upcoming tournament, further muddying England’s campaign. Despite these disappointments, Jordan Nobbs thinks the team still has a “fantastic opportunity” to make this tournament a special one.
Nobbs, who remains a vital part of the team, expressed her confidence during a recent women’s football event hosted by Viagogo. She stressed the importance of unwavering leadership within the team. With Sarina Wiegman’s leadership at the helm as head coach, such leadership is even more crucial.
“They’re very big characters and they will be tough holes to fill, but Sarina knows what she’s doing and hopefully the likes of Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, they all have leadership qualities within that team that will still be a huge part in leading the Lionesses to the final.” – Jordan Nobbs
Reigning World Champions England head into this final looking to rectify their disappointment from a 2nd place finish to Spain at the World Cup 2 years ago. More recently, they lost to Spain 2-1, a defeat which cost them a place in the Nations League finals. Not improbably, the national team has folded in two of three games of late, leading many to question if they’re prepared for this summer’s Euros.
Nonetheless, Nobbs remains optimistic about England’s prospects. She particularly lauded Wiegman’s management style, which she says will help take the heat off the players. Nobbs remarked on Wiegman’s approach:
“She’s probably one of the most honest managers I’ve ever worked with. I think she wants to know where you stand. She wants to know what role you’ll have in the team.” – Jordan Nobbs
The tournament will take place across 11 cities in 11 European countries. The Lionesses take on Jamaica in their last pre-Euro friendly before heading into the tournament. The game will be an important tuneup step before entering a high-stakes, highly competitive group stage against some of the best players in the world.
The Netherlands enters Euro 2025 with a strong squad that includes Champions League winners and past Euro champions. This just enhances the competitive nature of the tournament.
After coming off two defeats, England are fired up to return to winning ways. The Lionesses will draw on their collective leadership qualities and rediscover a winning mentality. Nobbs concluded her remarks by expressing faith in the team’s potential:
“We’ve seen them win the Euros, come second in the World Cup, so I think with the winning mentality, the players they’ve got, I think they’ve got a great chance.” – Jordan Nobbs
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