‘Many countries are favourites’ – Sarina Wiegman believes Euro 2022 is wide open

England head coach Sarina Wiegman insists next month’s Euro 2022 is wide open with no clear tournament favourites.

The Lionesses take on Wiegman’s home nation the Netherlands in the second of three warm-up matches at Elland Road on Friday night.

Wiegman led the Dutch to Euro glory on home soil in 2017 and also to the  runners-up spot at the 2019 World Cup.

The former Netherlands midfielder, unbeaten in 12 matches in charge of the Lionesses, said: “I consider them (England and the Netherlands) as two very good teams and of course we play a home tournament and the Netherlands have the trophy right now.

“But I think the game has developed so much that many countries are favourites, I think it’s going to be a very strong Euros.

“We have Spain, we have France, we have Germany, Sweden are always up there, Norway have always been strong.

“It’s really exciting to see what’s going to happen. It’s not easy to say who’s going to come through because it’s very equal I think.”

Wiegman succeeded Phil Neville as Lionesses head coach in September last year after Norwegian Hege Riise had taken on the role on an interim basis the previous January.

It will be the first time Wiegman will face her own country as England boss.

The 52-year-old said: “It’s a very special game, obviously because I’m from the Netherlands and I worked with that team for many years.

“Now I work for England, so it’s a very special game for me and it’s nice to see the (Netherlands) team again. At the end, it’s just a game, but a special game.”

It's a very special game, obviously because I'm from the Netherlands and I worked with that team for many years- England head coach Sarina Wiegman

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