Sarina Wiegman insists she has no plans to walk away from the Lionesses, even if she guides England to World Cup glory here in Sydney on Sunday.
Wiegman stands on the brink of history after leading England to the final against Spain. Having also led the Lionesses to Euros success last summer, her stock has never been higher and she is likely to be in the mix for the USA job after their coach, Vlatko Andonovski, resigned this week.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham has admitted Wiegman can do “anything she wants in football” if she decided to move into the men’s game.
But the 53-year-old Dutch coach, who is contracted until the end of the Euros in 2025, said: “I have no plans to leave.
“I have a contract until 2025. I’m really enjoying my job and I have the impression that people still like me doing that job.”
The FA have vowed to turn down any approach for Wiegman from the USA and are keen to tie her down to a new long-term deal after holding talks with her last year.
Wiegman said: “I’m staying out of that [talk about interest from the USA]. I’ve heard it. I’m with England, I’m really happy with England and I have a contract until 2025.”
The Lionesses are bidding to become the first senior England team to win a World Cup since Bobby Moore’s team beat West Germany in 1966.
But Wiegman insisted that she does not feel under pressure to end the country’s 57-year wait.
“I don’t hear it that much because I cut out of the noise,” she said. “But I know it’s there.
“When we started working, in September 2021, I felt that the country was so desperate to win a final in a tournament. Everyone was saying that and the players too. I thought: ‘It’s very real’.
“What do we have to do to win and how can we win? To get the results, stop talking about the result because we know what we want. I heard again: 1966. Everyone’s talking about 1966… so let’s be at our best on Sunday and try and be successful.”
It has been suggested that Wiegman might feel she has achieved all she can with the Lionesses after the World Cup. But she insists she is not simply motivated by hunger for success.
“What I really love is to work with people and work with very ambitious, talented people,” said Wiegman. “That gives me energy.
“When I see now, what’s really nice, for example is Katie Zelem. In April, I wanted to try out other things and I’d seen that and then she came back into the squad, she makes the World Cup squad. She played a very good game against China. That gives me energy.”
The Lionesses have had to come through adversity to reach the final. England lost captain Leah Williamson, Euro 2022 top scorer Beth Mead and playmaker Fran Kirby to injury before the tournament, and have had to come through a red card for Lauren James, an injury to Keira Walsh in the group stage and a penalty shootout against Nigeria in the last 16.
Wiegman has praised the mentality of the squad ahead of their showdown with Spain. She said: “I’m so proud of the team — it has been really impressive how the team has responded to every challenge we’ve had.
“It shows so much resilience but also eagerness and conviction that we want to do well. On Sunday we will face challenges again but we know how we want to play, we know the strengths but also the weaknesses of Spain, and it’s just trying to exploit the weaknesses and take out the strengths.”
England have a fully-fit squad for Sunday and the only decision for Wiegman is whether she recalls James for Ella Toone after the Chelsea forward served her two-game ban.
Lionesses striker Alessia Russo said on Friday: “I think everyone in this room knows how impressive she (James) has been in this tournament. To have her back in is great, but Tooney has stepped up as well.”
“We have got so many players across this group that can come in and do a job. To have someone like LJ back in the squad is a dream as she’s a special player. It is amazing, we want every single player fit and available for every game. We started this tournament wanting to win seven games — and that’s still the message.”
