Netherlands v England
UEFA Women's Nations League
7pm BST, Tuesday 26 September 2023
Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht 

Sarina Wiegman acknowledges returning to the Netherlands with her England side is ‘very special’ but, as always, remains 100 per cent focused on helping the Lionesses secure victory on Tuesday night.

Wiegman was the first player to reach 100 caps for the Netherlands before going on to become their head coach.

She then guided the country to their first major trophy at the UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 before finishing runners-up in the Women’s World Cup which was to follow in 2019.

It is a feat Wiegman replicated after becoming England boss in 2021, lifting the UEFA Women’s EURO in 2022 and just missing out on a maiden Women’s World Cup last month.

This isn’t the first time Wiegman has faced the Netherlands since becoming head coach, with the Lionesses winning 5-1 last year, but it is her first game with the Lionesses back in her homeland.

Speaking to the media on Monday morning, Wiegman said: "It's just very special. [The teams] know each other really well. I know most of the staff, the players and it's in the Netherlands so lots of people will be in the stands.

"When we arrived, some memories came back but of course, you have to move on. We have a big game tomorrow so we have to focus on that game."

We love a rondo 👊 pic.twitter.com/CmobcvjcBW

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) September 25, 2023

England face the Netherlands in the sides’ second UEFA Women’s Nations League, with the Lionesses beating Scotland 2-1 in Sunderland on Friday night and tomorrow’s hosts losing 2-1 to neighbours Belgium due to an injury-time goal.

Only one team from each League A group qualify for next year’s semi-finals and with only the two finalists reaching the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – unless hosts France also make the final – both teams will be desperate to secure the win.

Wiegman continued: "If we are not playing the Netherlands, then of course I want them to do well but tomorrow we are playing against them and we want to win the game.

"I can turn that off – I have to, it's my job. I want the Netherlands to have the best but we want to be first in the league."

Wiegman confirmed England have a full squad to choose from heading into the game at Stadion Galgenwaard in Utrecht.

When there's one day 'till we play. 😁 pic.twitter.com/0pxXX1I7QA

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) September 25, 2023

That means Alessia Russo, who was rested for Friday’s win over Scotland, is available once more.

Russo’s strike partner for much of the Women’s World Cup, Lauren Hemp, joined Wiegman at the press conference and spoke of how much she has improved under the head coach.

Hemp said: "Sarina is a fantastic coach. Ever since she got the job, I feel like she's taken this team to a whole new level. For me personally, I'm learning every single day.

"I feel like I'm getting so much better and getting so much more confident as the days go by. We've got a great coaching staff and she's the head of it. She's unbelievable.

"At the end of training sessions, we're always doing things that help us individually so I feel like that's something that I'm implementing in my game."

Netherlands in profile

Match Stats

● England have only lost two of their previous 14 matches in all competitions against Netherlands (W9 D3), losing a friendly 1-0 in March 2007 and the EURO 2017 semi-finals 3-0 when Sarina Wiegman was in charge of them.

● Since winning two of their first three internationals hosting England (L1), Netherlands are without a win in their last six such games (D1 L5), failing to score in their previous four such games.

● England have lost just one of their 31 competitive internationals under Sarina Wiegman (W26 D4), losing 1-0 to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final. The Lionesses have now conceded at least once in each of their previous four competitive games; their longest such run since July 2015 under Mark Sampson (six games).

● Following a six-game unbeaten run between April and August 2023 (W5 D1), Netherlands have lost each of their last two internationals – not since November 2016 have they lost three successive games, the last of which was against England (1-0).

● England have won each of their last six away internationals, scoring 41 goals and keeping a clean sheet each time, only between April 2016 and July 2017 have they ever been on a longer winning run before (seven games).

● Lauren Hemp, who scored the winning goal in England’s 2-1 UEFA Women’s Nations League opener against Scotland, has scored 14 international goals under Sarina Wiegman, only Beth Mead (21) and Ella Toone (16) have netted more for the Lionesses during that spell.

● Only Lauren James (Eight – four goals, four assists) has been involved in more goals for England in 2023 than Rachel Daly (Six – three goals, three assists), setting up Hemp against Scotland last time out.

● Netherlands’ Jill Roord has scored more goals than any other player for the national team in 2023 (six), netting five of those goals in her last five appearances, including the opening goal in their 2-1 UEFA Women’s Nations League defeat to Belgium last time out.

England Squad News

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Sarina Wiegman has made two changes to England’s starting line-up for their UEFA Women’s Nations League match against the Netherlands.

Ella Toone comes into the side in place of Lauren James, while Alessia Russo – who was rested for Friday night’s 2-1 win over Scotland – replaces Chloe Kelly, with the Arsenal striker taking the number nine shirt and Rachel Daly wearing the number seven in Utrecht.

England: 1 Mary Earps (Manchester United), 2 Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), 3 Jess Carter (Chelsea), 4 Katie Zelem (Manchester United), 5 Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), 6 Millie Bright (Chelsea) ©, 7 Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), 8 Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), 9 Alessia Russo (Arsenal), 10 Ella Toone (Manchester United), 11 Lauren Hemp (Manchester City)

Substitutes: 12 Chloe Kelly (Manchester City, 13 Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), 14 Lauren James (Chelsea), 15 Esme Morgan (Manchester City), 16 Niamh Charles (Chelsea), 17 Laura Coombs (Manchester City), 18 Lucy Parker (West Ham United), 19 Jess Park (Manchester City), 20 Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), 21 Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City), 22 Katie Robinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), 23 Lucy Staniforth (Aston Villa)

England suffered defeat in the second game of their UEFA Women’s Nations League campaign with a 2-1 loss to the Netherlands in Utrecht. 

Lieke Martens’ goal in the 34th minute sparked the game into life before England inched closer to an equaliser either side of the break. 

The leveller came through Alessia Russo, who curled the ball home before Renate Jansen’s last-minute strike saw Sarina Wiegman taste defeat on her return to the Netherlands. 

England had to weather heavy pressure from the hosts in the opening exchanges, with an attacking move from Lauren Hemp providing respite from England’s defensive efforts. 

Victoria Pelova was the Netherlands’ brightest player in the first half, creating the first shot of the game from the edge of the area, but Millie Bright was able to block the attempt. 

The Lionesses soon responded as slick passing across the midfield found Rachel Daly, who's cross into the box bounced inches wide of the goal. 

With half an hour gone, Mary Earps faced her first test of the evening as she saved from close range after Caitlin Djikstra found herself with just the England keeper to beat, but she couldn't get past Earps. 

The Dutch then took the lead in the 34th minute as Jill Roord, who appeared to be in an offside position, squared the ball to Martens and her curling shot found the back of the net. 

England were centimetres away from an equaliser seven minutes later, as Daly beat Pelova to a ball in the box and volleyed onto the post. 

Lauren Hemp and Lucy Bronze then forced Netherlands shot-stopper Daphne van Domselaar into two saves as the Lionesses came ever closer to an equaliser. 

Lineth Beerensteyn responded as the game opened up, hitting the bar with a long-range shot in the last act of the first half. 

Hemp continued to be England’s bright spark in the second half as she had a shot cleared off the line having been set up by Bronze. 

She did the same minutes later, firing in from close range before the keeper pulled off an impressive save to deny Hemp on the half-volley. 

Russo was the next England attacker to test van Domselaar as she rose to meet a cross from Hemp, and three minutes later she had the equaliser. 

The forward was left in space in the box and, despite falling backwards, was able to curl the ball home in the 64th minute for her 15th goal in 30 England appearances. 

England and the Netherlands were both looking for a winning goal but it was the hosts who scored it.

Leeuwinnen launched a counter-attack that ended with a vociferous strike from substitute Jansen to see the home side take the win in the final minute of the game. 

The Lionesses will be back in Women’s Nations League action on 27 October when they take on Belgium at Leicester City, with tickets still available.