Sarina Wiegman has declared her commitment to managing England and revealed her determination to bring home the Women’s World Cup by beating Spain this weekend.
Winning the Euros last year and leading the Lionesses into another final this summer has increased the resolve of the Football Association to keep hold of her.
But she is only under contract until 2025 and the United States currently has a vacancy to lead the three-time Women’s World Cup winners.
However, Wiegman told Sky News: “I want to stay with England.”
The Dutch coach has been dismissive of talk of whether she should aspire to work in the better-funded men’s game – with some rumours even tipping her to succeed Gareth Southgate in recent days.
Now is also not the time to address her pay – which is in the hundreds of thousands of pounds rather than the millions enjoyed by Southgate.
“I’m very happy with my job,” Wiegman said. “I’m happy how the FA treats me. And I’m getting ready for the Spain game.”
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Is Sarina Wiegman the manager who’ll win the World Cup for England?
Winning Sunday’s game against Spain could officially make her England’s most successful-ever manager – a double major trophy winner.
“We really want to leave with that World Cup,” Wiegman said in a beachside interview at England’s World Cup base in Terrigal, New South Wales.
“We have an opponent that’s really strong. What we’re focusing on is how do we want to play, and we’re going to do anything to be at our best. And then hopefully that gives us the success we want,” the coach added.
‘We have our plan’
Success seems to come naturally to Wiegman.
She has lost only one of 38 games in charge of England – and won all of the most important matches.
In all six matches at Euro 2022 – including the final – and all six here in Australia, she has been victorious.
That record of achievement has carried the Lionesses into their first World Cup final.
For her though, success is down to the effort of the team.
“It’s always a team performance, I think what we’re trying to do is create an environment where everyone can be herself,” Wiegman said.
“Football brings us together and we have a group of very, very talented players and the group is also very eager to improve.
“And we want to be at our best. And part of that is also that we were doing our best.
“We take action and we make mistakes, and we accept mistakes. We just support each other at all times and then we have our plan.
“Every time we want to improve and we have clarity on things, how we want to play and what the tasks are.”
Every player is fit and available for selection in Sydney for Sunday’s match.
So how is Wiegman feeling before yet another career milestone?
“Very excited,” she said ahead of the showdown at Stadium Australia. “I have a lot of confidence in our team. I think we’re in a very good place.”
The biggest challenge could be selection – with Lauren James ready to be recalled after serving a two-match ban.
James had been England’s star player at this tournament until a rash red card in the round-of-16 tie against Nigeria almost put their path to the final in jeopardy.
In her absence, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo have also taken their World Cup tallies to three goals.
Wiegman said: “Everyone wants to start but if any player is not starting – which will be 12 players not starting – I know that they’re ready when we need them – that they’re ready to come on and play the best.”
‘Everyone is watching’ in boost to women’s game
Winning the European Championship was a launchpad for the Lionesses to lobby the government for equal access for girls to be able to play football in schools.
Landing England’s first World Cup since the men in 1966 could be another turning point in growing the sport.
“It’s just really, really nice when you get so far in a tournament and you make a final that everyone is watching,” Weigman said. “And that gives a boost to the women’s game in England, but also worldwide, here in Australia.
“You’ve seen the whole country was behind them. And that’s very exciting to be part of.”
Victory in the final could see a pay rise heading Wiegman’s way from The Football Association.
“We will get into that discussion with her,” FA chief executive Mark Bullingham told Sky News. “But the reality is we’re very, very happy with the job she’s doing.
“We think she’s an incredible talent. And we’d love her to stay with us for a long time.”
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Wiegman is already a manager in demand.
“We’ve heard lots of rumours,” Bullingham said. “Obviously, from our side, we can only control what we can control.”
It is two years since she left the Netherlands job after leading her homeland to victory in the 2017 Euros.
However, in the 2019 Women’s World Cup Wiegman’s Dutch side fell short, losing to the USA.
On Sunday, she will be hoping to go one better than she did in 2019 and lift the trophy with England.
She has a steely focus on her mission which will encourage fans of the Lionesses – and intimidate their Spanish opponents.
