Following a bruising defeat to Spain on Friday night, England head into their crucial World Cup qualifier against Ukraine determined to deliver a response, with head coach Serena Wiegman and forward Lauren Hemp both stressing resilience, togetherness, and the importance of learning from adversity in their pre-match press conference on Monday,
The Lionesses were comprehensively beaten in their previous outing, a result that has increased the pressure heading into Tuesday’s fixture. However, the message from camp has been clear: reflect quickly, regroup, and refocus.
Wiegman On Spain Defeat
Wiegman did not shy away from the disappointment of Friday’s loss, admitting it was a painful experience for the squad but one they have already worked to move beyond.
“Of course it was a difficult Friday night. That felt hard, that hurt… but we’ve moved on too,
because we have another game.”
The England boss emphasised the quick turnaround as a positive, allowing her side to channel their frustration into preparation.
“We refuelled, we trained again… there was good energy in the team, the team stuck together, and we really want to show that.”
Selection Decisions And Fresh Energy
With another high-stakes qualifier ahead, Wiegman confirmed she is considering changes—both tactically and in personnel.
“It’s a qualifier still, we want to win the game… There are some tactical decisions to make because we expect different challenges .”
“Yes, I will make some changes because some players are knocking on the door and I want to see them too.”
Importantly, she confirmed a clean bill of health:
“Everyone came out well on Friday… everyone is available.”
“We’ve Got A Job To Do”
From a player’s perspective, Hemp admitted reviewing the Spain defeat was difficult but necessary.
“It’s pretty hard… It’s a disappointing result for us as players. But in games like that, you probably learn the most.”
The forward highlighted the squad’s unity as a key strength in bouncing back.
“We’ve come together and stuck together… that’s the most important thing about this team.”
England’s recent history of responding to setbacks such as previous defeats to Germany and France has given the squad confidence that they can do so again.
“We’ve been able to come back and bounce back. That’s what we plan on doing.”
Lessons Learned, But Focus Shifts Forward
Whilst Spain was acknowledged as the better side, Hemp pointed to areas England must improve.
“You’ve got to respect that Spain were the better team… but there are areas in and out of possession we could have done better.”
Still, the emphasis is firmly on the next challenge.
“It’s important that we now look forward… we’ve got another massive game.”
Togetherness Key After Setback
Wiegman revealed the internal review process focused on accountability both individually and collectively.
“It’s really easy when things go well… but at moments when you’re really having a setback like this, then we see who we are.”
“We looked at ourselves. What as an individual could have done better, what as a team could we have done better.”
Despite the heavy defeat, she resisted overreaction, stressing the importance of long-term development.
“When we win, we don’t say everything is perfect… when we lose, we do the exact same thing.”
Immediate Chance To Respond
Both manager and player welcomed the quick turnaround, seeing the Ukraine match as an opportunity to reset.
Hemp said: “It’s always nice to have a game so soon afterwards… we love getting back out on the pitch and proving ourselves.”
She also underlined the team’s motivation to repay the supporters: “The best thing we can do is put on a performance for them.”
Tactical Shift Expected Against Ukraine
Facing Ukraine presents a very different test to Spain, with England expected to dominate possession against a more defensive setup.
Wiegman outlined her expectations: “We want to be on the ball a lot… be dominant, create chances and not concede. It helps a lot if we score early in the game.”
Hemp echoed that sentiment, while acknowledging the challenge: “We respect Ukraine…they made it difficult for us in the previous fixture.”
Qualification Pressure Remains
With Spain also competing for automatic qualification, Wiegman admitted England will be monitoring developments elsewhere but not at the expense of their own focus.
“We have to win this game… that’s what we’re going after.”
She also reflected on the competitiveness of the qualification format: “You knew ahead of this campaign…only the first team qualifies. That makes it really hard.”
Final message: Response Required
After a sobering defeat, England’s mindset is clear. No panic, no excuses, just a response.
As Hemp summed up: “It’s the mentality of the group…We’ve got round each other. We have been training really well, now our focus is on putting on a good, relentless performance”
