England ignoring threat of Euros exit ahead of Dutch showdown: Wiegman

Sarina Wiegman insisted on Tuesday her England players are ignoring the pressure of potentially being dumped out of Women's Euro 2025, ahead of a huge clash against the Netherlands.

England stand a very real chance of becoming the first reigning champions to be knocked out of a European championship in the group stage since that format was introduced to the tournament in 1997.

A 2-1 loss against France on Saturday and the Dutch beating Wales has left England third in tough Group D, and makes Wednesday's match in Zurich key for their fate in Switzerland.

"We don't talk about consequences. We talk about our game plan," said Wiegman.

"It's a game. It's a football game. And the outcome, of course, has consequences, but that was the same at the final in the Euros and the final in the World Cup (lost to Spain).

"So then we bring it back to what we have to do, and the focus is on what actions do we have to take to play our best? And that's the conversation we have with the players.

"In good moments it's easier. When it's hard moments, how do we come together and then get back to what we have to do?"

Asked if she enjoyed the pressure, Wiegman said: "Sometimes, and sometimes I don't."

The nature of England's defeat against France sent alarms bells ringing as they were outmuscled and outplayed to the point that Keira Walsh's goal in the 87th minute was their first shot on target.

England will have to turn in a much better display if they are to beat the technically gifted, group-leading Dutch who have Manchester City striker Vivianne Miedema leading the line.

England will be out if they lose to the Dutch and France beat Wales, while a draw would keep them in the tournament but leave their hopes of progression hanging by a thread.

That makes Wednesday's match almost a knockout tie for England, who will at least have everyone fit at the Letzigrund Stadium.

- Friendly rivalry -

Wiegman also insisted playing against her home country will have no impact on how she approaches a match which features club teammates, friends and even partners facing off.

"My full focus is on England. It's on our team together with my technical staff and the staff. What keeps us busy is just what's our game plan," she said.

Striker Alessia Russo will be up against Arsenal teammate and Netherlands goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar with whom she won the Women's Champions League in May.

"She's a world-class goalkeeper and someone that is a very talented player but us as a team, we're very focused on us and how we can create, and the positions that we want to find ourselves in tomorrow night.

"So, yeah, we're aware that they have lots of talented players and Daph's definitely one of them."

Another of Russo's Arsenal teammates, Beth Mead, could potentially have her Euros ended by her partner and Dutch star Miedema, who netted her 100th international goal in the Netherlands' opening 3-0 win against Wales.

When asked whether knocking out Mead would be upsetting, Miedema joked: "I don't think she'll speak to me for a bit.

"It's tough obviously... I've also got some of my best friends in that team but that's also part of football, it's obviously something that I've come up against in club football, in national team football and it's just part of the game," she added.

"Sadly enough I've probably been on the other end of it mostly over the last couple of tournaments so yeah it's part of it and I'll be happy for us if we actually can get through tomorrow."

Andries Jonker's team will be through with a match to spare if they beat England and Wales fail to beat France.

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