{"id":36801,"date":"2026-06-08T14:32:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T14:32:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/36801\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T14:32:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T14:32:22","slug":"sarina-wiegman-to-ring-changes-as-england-look-to-recover-from-spain-drubbing-the-irish-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/36801\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarina Wiegman to ring changes as England look to recover from Spain drubbing \u2013 The Irish News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sarina Wiegman will make changes for England\u2019s final World Cup qualifier after admitting last week\u2019s defeat by Spain felt like a \u201chit on the chin\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Lionesses\u2019 hopes of securing an automatic spot at next year\u2019s tournament in Brazil are out of their hands following their 4-0 thrashing in Majorca on Friday.<\/p>\n

The European champions host Ukraine at Everton\u2019s Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday needing to better Spain\u2019s result in Iceland to take top spot in Group A3.<\/p>\n

Putting in the work \ud83d\udcaa pic.twitter.com\/VQbP30G8k2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Any other outcome would leave them needing to come through the play-offs to qualify.<\/p>\n

\"Live<\/a>\"Cheltenham<\/a><\/p>\n

Wiegman said: \u201cWe said straight after the game on the pitch, \u2018OK, this one\u2019s really hard to take\u2019. It felt like a hit on the chin.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen it\u2019s so important to stick together. It\u2019s really easy when things go well that everyone sticks together but, when you have a setback like this, that\u2019s when we show ourselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that was what the team did. We have trained again, there was good energy in the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

With world champions Spain strong favourites to beat Iceland, England look likely to be facing the longer route to the finals.<\/p>\n

\"HeadHead coach Wiegman (centre right) speaks to players during a training session at Melwood (Peter Byrne\/PA) <\/p>\n

That could have prompted Wiegman to rotate her squad for their last outing of the season but she insisted any changes would be tactical.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a qualifier still, we want to win the game, but there are some tactical decisions to make because we expect different challenges,\u201d said Wiegman ahead of Monday\u2019s training session at Liverpool\u2019s Melwood complex.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I will make some changes. There are some players knocking on the door and I want to see them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ukraine have lost all five of their matches in the group and Wiegman wants England to impose themselves early.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cWhat we can control is our game and it would be really nice for us to get an early goal. That\u2019s what we\u2019re going after.<\/p>\n

Boss \ud83d\udc4a pic.twitter.com\/ImP6esqufw<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to play well, we want to execute, we want to be on the ball a lot.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to create chances, score goals and not concede any. That\u2019s what we\u2019re going after.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt helps a lot if we score early in the game and then we wait for what happens in Reykjavik.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wiegman, who has no fresh injury concerns, will monitor events in Iceland but will not alter her focus.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cWe have someone there. We want to be updated live with what\u2019s going on but we\u2019re not planning on sharing that with players.<\/p>\n

\"LaurenLauren Hemp wants to forget England\u2019s defeat in Spain (Peter Byrne\/PA) <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to win this game and that\u2019s what we\u2019re going after.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winger Lauren Hemp says the team are determined to bounce back from the defeat by Spain.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cThat night it was very hard for me to get some sleep, and for the rest of the girls, but it\u2019s important to look forward to the next.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve all got that experience that we can turn it around. The best thing is to continue to be positive and upbeat because the last thing we want is everyone to be flat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve all stuck around each other and lifted each other up.\u201d<\/p>\n