Sarina Wiegman just signed a contract extension to lead the England Lionesses through the 2029 Euros, and while that sounds like a victory lap for a coach who’s snagged three European Championships (2017 with the Netherlands, 2022 and 2025 with England) and taken her teams to two World Cup finals, don’t be fooled. This isn’t about cruising. This is about Wiegman taking on what’s being called her hardest challenge yet: a full-blown evolution of the squad that has already taken women’s football to unthinkable heights. When she first took the reins in September 2021, she declared she came “to bring the next level.” She’s done that and then some, exploding the women’s game. Now, the mission is even bigger.
The Lionesses Need a Shake-Up, And Fast
Here’s the deal: even with all that success, some cracks are showing. Seven of the players who started against world champions Spain back in June also started in the Euro 2022 final against Germany. That match against Spain? They got absolutely clobbered, a 4-0 defeat in Mallorca, and it laid bare the gap England has to bridge to hang with the absolute world’s best. That result wasn’t just a bad day at the office, either. It forced England into two rounds of play-offs just to get to next summer’s World Cup. They navigated the first round by beating Greece this month, with games against Ukraine, a team they’ve already beaten twice in 2026, still to come before Christmas.
The core group that brought all this glory? They’re getting older. Defensive stalwarts Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood will be 37 and 36, respectively, by the 2029 Euros. Leah Williamson and Keira Walsh hit 32. Key players like Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway will also be 30. They’re definitely not past their best, but it’s a huge consideration. As record goalscorer Ellen White put it on the Women’s Football Weekly podcast, “We have to continue the evolution of the Lionesses. We can’t stay stagnant or keep trying to win in the same ways all the time.” It’s straight up crunch time.
Wiegman’s Been Scrambling for the Future
It’s not like Wiegman’s been sitting back, ignoring the need for fresh blood. She’s given debuts to 24 players during her time in charge, trying to find those next stars. The thing is, only Lauren James, Hannah Hampton, and Lucia Kendall have truly become established starters from that group. But keep an eye on what happened against Greece. Those games gave us a real glimpse into her next moves. In Crete, Manchester City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown, who’s 23, flashed some serious ball-playing ability. Then in the second leg, 20-year-old Chelsea academy grad Lexi Potter absolutely impressed in midfield. And guess what? Potter is now starting regularly for Chelsea. London City’s Freya Godfrey, 21, and a super talented 18-year-old named Erica Meg Parkinson also got their first caps, showing Wiegman is really scrutinizing all her options.
Former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis hit it on the head on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying Wiegman’s not afraid to bring in players who have never been capped before, that she’s “looking right across the spectrum and asking who’s on form, who can add to my squad, who can fill a position or a couple of different positions?” Steph Houghton, a former Lionesses captain, added on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club that Wiegman “is trying to change a few things,” and that she’s “seeing the progress of young players coming through to press those who have been in the squad for a long time.” The message is clear: the vets need to keep pushing, because the youth are coming.
The next few months are going to be wild for the Lionesses, with those crucial World Cup play-off games against Ukraine before Christmas. It’s not just about winning those matches, it’s about Wiegman finding the right mix of experience and fresh talent to secure the future of the Lionesses and make sure they’re not just at the next level, but pushing beyond.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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