England supervisor Sarina Wiegman says it’ll really feel “particular however unusual” to face her house nation the Netherlands within the Ladies’s Nations League.
Wiegman led the Netherlands to Euro 2017 glory on house soil earlier than profitable Euro 2022 with England at Wembley.
It’s the first time she has returned to her homeland along with her present aspect and the groups will play in Utrecht.
“After all I’ve some reminiscences right here and so do the English. It is very good being right here,” mentioned Wiegman.
“It is simply very particular. We all know one another very well. I do know many of the workers, the gamers and it is within the Netherlands so a lot of individuals will probably be within the stands.
“Once we arrived, now we have some reminiscences that got here again. After all you must transfer on. Now we have a giant recreation tomorrow so now we have to give attention to that recreation.”
England received their first Ladies’s Nations League match on Friday, beating Scotland 2-1 at Sunderland’s Stadium of Gentle.
It places them on three factors within the four-team group A1 together with Belgium, who beat the Netherlands 2-1.
England are the nominated nation on behalf of Workforce GB to attempt to make sure qualification for the Paris Olympics. To take action, they need to win the group and attain the Nations League ultimate or end third if hosts France are within the ultimate two.
The Lionesses don’t have any contemporary damage issues for Tuesday’s match at Stadion Galgenwaard (kick-off 19:00 BST), with Arsenal striker Alessia Russo accessible after being rested in opposition to Scotland.
‘All the pieces is 3 times as large in England’
Wiegman loved large success whereas in control of the Netherlands, guiding them to a primary main trophy at Euro 2017, then a World Cup ultimate in 2019.
She joined England in September 2021, main them on a 30-game unbeaten run which included victory at Euro 2022, earlier than reaching the 2023 World Cup ultimate.
Requested to check the 2 totally different experiences, Wiegman mentioned: “The massive distinction is that the ladies’s recreation has developed rather a lot. In England, all the things is 3 times as large.
“The media consideration is larger, the variety of gamers now we have accessible is extra, the league is absolutely skilled, additionally the FA [Football Association] is a a lot larger affiliation than the Dutch affiliation is.
“So many individuals are concerned within the ladies’s recreation. We’re a number of steps forward.”
Wiegman’s success, mixed with elevated visibility throughout her time in England, has meant there’s “rather more consideration” on the Lionesses boss.
“To begin with, it is very particular to undergo this. The place we had been, from 500 spectators to now, when issues are fully totally different,” she added.
“I all the time attempt to see how we are able to carry out even higher. That’s what I am specializing in. However there’s rather more consideration on me. That is one thing to get used to. It’s kind of odd! The world round me modified however I attempt to preserve calm.”
Wiegman admitted she nonetheless speaks with a number of of the Dutch gamers on “private issues” or “after some matches” however there is just one staff she needs to see come out as winners on Tuesday.
“If we aren’t taking part in the Netherlands, then after all I would like them to do effectively however tomorrow we’re taking part in in opposition to them and we wish to win the sport,” mentioned Wiegman.
“I can flip that off – I’ve to, it is my job. I would like the Netherlands to have one of the best – however we wish to be first within the league.”
‘I am getting a lot extra assured’
One participant to have benefitted from Wiegman’s arrival is Manchester Metropolis winger Lauren Hemp.
She scored three targets on the Ladies’s World Cup this summer season, taking part in in a extra central place up entrance alongside Arsenal striker Russo.
Hemp says she enjoys being “challenged” by Wiegman and has “confidence and perception” in her recreation.
“Sarina is a unbelievable coach. Ever since she obtained the job, I really feel like she’s taken this staff to a complete new stage. For me personally, I am studying each single day,” added Hemp.
“I really feel like I am getting so significantly better and getting a lot extra assured as the times go by. We have an excellent teaching workers and he or she’s the top of it. She’s unbelievable.
“On the finish of coaching classes, we’re all the time doing elements that assist us individually so I really feel like that is one thing that I am implementing in my recreation.”