Latest final shows England 'in good hands' with Wiegman

Sunday's clash with world champions Spain in the deciding game of the Women's Euro 2025 will be England's third consecutive major tournament final, and a fifth for their remarkable coach Sarina Wiegman.

"We know we are in good hands and that she is a manager who can take teams to finals," said midfielder Ella Toone on Friday when asked about the England coach's impressive record.

"She is a great manager, someone we all have a lot of belief in. It is an unbelievable achievement for her."

The 55-year-old from the Netherlands took over from Phil Neville in September 2021 and the following year led them to their first ever major title in women's international football when they beat Germany in the final of the European Championship at Wembley.

The Lionesses followed that by going all the way to the Women's World Cup final in 2023, although they were ultimately edged out by Spain, losing 1-0 in Sydney.

But now Wiegman's team have the chance to avenge that loss, and retain the European crown, when they face La Roja again in Basel.

They have made it to another final despite stumbling several times along the way in Switzerland, finding themselves 2-0 down against Sweden in the last eight before coming back to win on penalties, and then equalising at the death against Italy in the semi-finals before eventually advancing after extra time.

"I think we have nearly killed her twice this tournament," joked Toone.

"We have definitely aged her, but that is five consecutive tournaments for Sarina being in a final and that is just unbelievable."

She was an assistant with the Dutch national team before taking over as head coach in the run-up to Euro 2017 and leading the Netherlands, as hosts, to the title.

Wiegman followed that by taking them to the World Cup final in 2019, when they were ultimately beaten 2-0 by the United States.

So going into Sunday's showdown at St Jakob-Park, her record reads: two defeats out of two in World Cup finals, but two wins out of two in European Championship finals.

"I am lucky to work with so many good people, good players, good staff, the federation. I think it is so special to play the final –- I still can't believe it myself," Wiegman said in the wake of the victory against Italy.

The previous day she had insisted that her own record was not in her thoughts at all.

"I am just in the job now, working with the team," she said. "Maybe in 10 or 15 years I will think about that!"

Going nowhere

She might also then look back at her career trajectory on the whole, going from playing women's college soccer in the United States in the late 1980s to working as a PE teacher.

In between she became the first Dutch footballer to win 100 caps, but Wiegman's success as a coach has undoubtedly eclipsed her achievements as a player and the England team are clearly in awe of her.

"She is really motivating -- she gets us all in a huddle, we all listen to her, you really hold on to every word she says," added Toone, of Manchester United, when asked about the coach's pre-match speeches.

"No matter what Sarina says you listen because she definitely knows what she is doing."

Whatever happens against Spain, England will be determined to keep hold of Wiegman and her contract runs through to the next World Cup in Brazil in 2027.

"She's a really special coach and we're delighted to have her with us," English FA chief Mark Bullingham told English media this week.

"We are committed to her until 2027 and she is committed to us."

For now, though, her sights are set on winning three consecutive Euros, a feat previously achieved only by Germany's Tina Theune, in 1997, 2001 and 2005.