Lionesses face Euro 2025 hosts at Bramall Lane - follow live

Wiegman responds to backlash over choosing to accept a scoreless draw.

The Lionesses are set to take the field tonight for an international friendly match against Switzerland at Bramall Lane in Sheffield. Sarina Wiegman is looking to steer her team back to victory after their previous match ended in a scoreless tie against the United States.

In that game, Mary Earps delivered an impressive performance as she was brought back into the starting lineup for a more defensive strategy. This match served as a valuable test for Wiegman's European champions as they prepare to defend their title next summer.

Euro 2025 is set to take place in Switzerland, and tonight England will face off against the tournament hosts, providing a glimpse of what to expect. The Swiss team is coming off a tough 6-0 loss to Germany, during which they struggled to even get a shot on goal. They’ll be looking to bounce back with a better showing in London.

Earps mentioned that it's been a challenging year for the Lionesses. However, finishing the evening with a victory will help them gain some positive energy as they move into the new year.

Stay updated with all the happenings at Wembley by checking out our live blog below as England goes up against Switzerland.

England has not lost in their last 11 encounters with Switzerland, securing 10 victories and one draw. The Lionesses have faced Finland (13 matches: 9 wins, 4 draws) and Northern Ireland (12 matches: 12 wins) more frequently without suffering a defeat throughout their history.

Mike Jones on December 3, 2024, at 6:25 PM.

Wiegman Discusses USA Draw

Sarina Wiegman dismissed claims from certain commentators that her team was satisfied with just drawing against the United States last weekend.

She mentioned, "I believe our team was solid on defense. We gained some momentum in the second half and improved our play. Naturally, both sides were striving for victory."

There were plenty of events in this match, especially around the goal area, so I wouldn't call it boring at all.

"We aimed for victory, but the game was incredibly intense. We were up against a strong opponent, so it's not as simple as saying, 'Now we're going to score.' You have to navigate the challenges they present."

"We definitely made an effort, but we didn't hold back to maintain a scoreless tie. That’s just how the match unfolded."

Mike Jones, December 3, 2024, at 6:20 PM.

Emma Hayes Uncertain About Anthem After England Match

Emma Hayes, the head coach of the United States women's team, acknowledged that she struggled at first with how to respond when 'God Save The King' played before her team's scoreless match against England at Wembley.

The clash between London-born ex-Chelsea manager Hayes and England’s Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman—widely viewed as two of the finest managers in women's football—created more excitement in the lead-up than the actual players on the field. This was surprising given that it was an unusual face-off between the two top-ranked teams globally.

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"Switzerland Will Be Changed"

"We gained valuable insights from our match on Saturday against the USA, but I believe tomorrow will present a new set of challenges and a distinct experience."

Sarina Wiegman shared those thoughts during the pre-match press conference yesterday, just before the team's game against the hosts of Euro 2025 later tonight.

The Lionesses' coach mentioned, "I anticipate that Switzerland will adopt a different formation. From what we've observed, they tend to fall back into a deeper defensive line more quickly, so I believe we will have greater possession of the ball."

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Wiegman Seeks 'Clarity' Ahead Of Euro 2025

Sarina Wiegman discussed how England is getting ready to defend their European title next summer. She expressed her desire for clear guidelines and understanding as the tournament approaches.

"Before the tournament begins, it's essential to have a clear understanding," she shared. "At this stage, you're experimenting with different strategies and aiming for everyone to perform at their best—not only against their opponents but also amongst themselves."

"That's essential for improvement. While we may not always succeed, every experience teaches us something valuable."

Mike Jones on December 3, 2024, at 6:05 PM

Wiegman Discusses Squad Experimentation

In the latter part of the year, Sarina Wiegman has definitely been more actively testing and making changes to her England teams.

During Euro 2022, the success of the team was largely due to a steady lineup of players who executed their roles flawlessly. England had grown dependent on this familiar group of athletes.

Wiegman is working to address this by introducing a fresh group of enthusiastic young players, aiming to keep the Lionesses' style of play vibrant and innovative. It’s still a developing process.

The England coach stated, "This match provides us with a chance to experiment and give a variety of players some playing time. It's essential for us to use this game to explore these options."

"We have seven months left until Euro 2025, but we aim to gather as much information as we can. Our focus is on refining our playing style and gaining experience in our current situation."

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Tactical Stalemate: Insights For England’s Future

It was another night of insights for England and Sarina Wiegman, though the only real excitement came from the pre-match light display at Wembley with the arrival of Emma Hayes and the United States team. This clash between the reigning European champions and the Olympic champions fell flat; both sides were missing crucial attacking players and were using this friendly match in November to try out new tactics. With just seven months until the Euros, Mary Earps acknowledged that England is still in the process of determining their playing style.

Following their previous match at Wembley, where they allowed four goals, Wiegman made adjustments to prevent a repeat performance. The changes showcased a more sensible and “mature” England, but some felt that Wiegman may have played it too safe, resulting in only one shot on target for the Lionesses. “I can’t recall any opportunities,” Hayes remarked. Earps noted that it had been a “challenging year” for England, and the Lionesses played as if they were determined to avoid another loss. There was a sense of caution that effectively contained the USA. “After the result against Germany, we anticipated a response,” Hayes added.

Mike Jones wrote on December 3, 2024, at 5:55 PM.

Forecasting England’s Starting XI

Here's our prediction for how England will line up against Switzerland tonight:

England Starting Lineup: Hampton; Le Tissier, Bright, Morgan, Greenwood; Walsh, Clinton, Park; Mead, Russo, Beever-Jones.

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Latest England Team Updates And News

The Lionesses are facing more injury troubles before their match against Switzerland, as Chloe Kelly and Fran Kirby have had to withdraw from the team. This adds to the list of players missing, which already includes Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, and Ella Toone.

Sarina Wiegman indicated that she plans to make several changes in the lineup for the match against Switzerland. This could mean that players like Hannah Hampton, Grace Clinton, Aggie Beever-Jones, and Esme Morgan might get some playing time. Additionally, Maya Le Tissier may be back in action after recovering from a concussion.

Laura Blindkilde-Brown and Ruby Mace have yet to earn their first caps, but they might get a chance to play by coming off the bench.

Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of the blog section: Mike Jones December 3, 2024, at 5:45 PM

Ways To Watch The Game Live

You can catch the live broadcast of England versus Switzerland on ITV 4 and ITV X, starting at 7 PM. Laura Woods will host the show, while Ian Wright and Karen Carney will offer their insights and analysis from the studio.

Mike Jones, December 3, 2024, at 5:40 PM.