Sarina Wiegman is set to announce the England squad for Women’s Euro 2025. She’s expected to make the official announcement on Thursday. The manager provided updates about some important players. Georgia Stanway, Millie Bright and Lauren James are all put to the test in judging their current fitness as the Lionesses prepare to face Haiti and Denmark in warm up matches.
Stanway is back in the starting line-up, with a huge welcome return! This milestone amplifies the story of her miraculous return from knee surgery, which she underwent in November 2024. After being benched for much of 2025, her return comes just in time for perhaps the most important tournament of them all. Wiegman expressed optimism about Stanway’s condition, stating, “She is in a very good place but hasn’t played for such a long time.”
Meanwhile, Millie Bright’s situation remains uncertain. She recently pulled herself out of the roster for two friendlies against Portugal and Spain because of physical and mental exhaustion. Wiegman said she will address Bright’s availability for Euro 2025 in the next few days. That’s why this discussion is so important, because England is about to be tested like never before.
Lauren James, too, is recuperating positively from a thigh injury, ahead of the quarterfinals. Although she was absent from the match-day squad against Spain, Wiegman highlighted her positive trajectory: “James is on the pitch and is in the position we expect her to be. She is progressing in her rehab.”
Recent Matches and Performance Insights
England recently faced Spain in a challenging penultimate fixture before Euro 2025, suffering a 2-1 defeat. In the aftermath of Leah Williamson’s post-match comments lamenting how England created little in the way of real danger. “We didn’t really have any real threat. Under those circumstances, under that much pressure, against a quality top side, that’s what can happen sometimes,” she said.
Wiegman responded to the loss by understanding there are important lessons to be learned going forward. With the team heading into the Euros, she says these insights are critical. “It’s a learning moment. I wouldn’t say I’m concerned; they did something different and then you want to exploit the space they leave in behind, but you need to keep the ball first,” she remarked.
Aside from the substitutions, Wiegman made big tactical adjustments in the game. At halftime, she had kept it close, but she played it safe, substituting Stanway for Missy Bo Kearns. “We didn’t want to take a risk of getting another injury,” Wiegman explained. “We wanted to win this game but had to have a close look for the Euros by managing the load.”
Looking Ahead to Euro 2025
There’s a lot of excitement heading into the Women’s Euro 2025. England’s schedule pits them against Jamaica in their final warm-up fixture on June 29 before opening their World Cup campaign against France on July 5. The team’s second group stage match will come quick against the Netherlands on July 9.
Wiegman expressed confidence in her preparations, stating, “I’m close to the squad and will announce on Thursday. That is very close and [I’m] close to the starting line-up, but there is a month to go.” Still, even in the midst of these successes, she knows that team dynamics can shift in an instant.
During this time, Williamson made it clear that building on recent performance would be key leading into the tournament. “We just have to be a bit better on the ball. Find solutions quicker. It’s a great lesson. Maybe that’s been the inconsistency throughout the campaign,” she stated.
Goalkeeping Changes and Team Dynamics
With Mary Earps retiring from international football, Hannah Hampton has now established herself as the first-choice goalkeeper for England. With that transition, it presents another layer of challenge as Wiegman puts the final touches on her squad.
The unknown of some players’ fitness goes into the mix, still making Wiegman’s selection process a bit tricky. Especially during the uncertainty of this crucial moment in England’s path, her track record and leadership bring a welcome sense of reassurance.
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