Wiegman not feeling pressure as Wales looms
England coach Sarina Wiegman does not believe the rivalry between her side and Wales puts any additional pressure on the Lionesses ahead of their final Group D fixture at UEFA Women's Euro 2025.
Having suffered a 2-1 loss in its opening match against France, holder England bounced back with a resounding 4-0 win over Wiegman's native Netherlands to get its tournament back on track.
That victory was Wiegman's 13th as a manager at the European championships with Netherlands and England, the joint-most of any coach at the tournament alongside Tina Theune.
The Lionesses currently sit second behind France in Group D, knowing a victory over Rhian Wilkinson's Dragons will secure a quarter-final place.
Wiegman said: "We have our own preparations and we know what is on the line. We will do everything to win the game and get through.
"There is always pressure on England and we will try and play a good game and hopefully we can have the ball a lot and exploit spaces.
"I hope we will see a game where we have a lot of the ball and we play very well in possession, so we don't let it become a fighting game – I am not worried about that."
England has won all three of its previous games at major tournaments (FIFA World Cup/UEFA Euros) when facing a fellow home nation.
England beat Scotland at both UEFA Women's Euro 2017 (6-0) and the 2019 FIFA World Cup (2-1) and most recently beat Northern Ireland 5-0 at UEFA Women's Euro 2022.
It is also unbeaten in all 10 of its meetings with Wales across all competitions – nine wins, one draw – scoring 37 times across those games and conceding just twice.
Wales, which has no points, still harbours slim hopes of making the top two, but it will need a comprehensive win and a defeat for Netherlands against France.
"It is a big game for them, but for us it is too," Wiegman said. "We want to win and get through the group stage. There is passion from their side but we have passion too.
"I learned about the history and the rivalry but, again, we are focused on what we want to do and how we want to play."
England has won 15 of ts past 16 group-stage matches at major tournaments (FIFA World Cup/UEFA Euros), failing to reach the knockout stages most recently at UEFA Women's Euro 2013.
Wales captain Angharad James says her team-mates are determined to halt England's tournament, even if their own progression is unlikely.
"The pressure is all on England. They have to perform. We believe we can upset a very top team. We are ready for the fight," James said.
"As a Welsh woman, do you want to knock England out? Of course you do. It's in our blood and in our DNA. The rivalry has always been there."
