Sarina Wiegman offers verdict on England's Women's World Cup preparation plans

Sarina Wiegman, the mastermind behind England's Euro victory, is staying calm despite a lack of warm-up games ahead of the Women's World Cup. The Lionesses kick off their preparations with a clash against Portugal in Milton Keynes this Saturday, before embarking on their journey to Australia and New Zealand just four days later.

Their only other warm-up encounter is a behind-closed-doors match against Canada on July 14, before they take on Haiti in their Group D opener in Brisbane on July 22.

Wiegman was questioned about her concerns regarding the limited match practice, to which she confidently responded, "No, we were well aware of the situation before our preparation began. We had a plan in place, and this is the best possible preparation considering the experience, knowledge, and feedback from the players. Naturally, we would have liked more games, but we also need to ensure our schedule is right. This is the optimal schedule, considering the long journey to the other side of the world, which takes time and requires adjustment to overcome jetlag."

Wiegman added, "We would have preferred additional matches, but we have to work within the constraints of the schedule and consider physiological factors. We are content with this preparation, and our training sessions are helping us grow."

When asked about the starting line-up for the Haiti match, Wiegman revealed, "We're getting closer to finalizing the team. However, there are still some positions where competition is ongoing, and we need these two games to make the final decisions."

Millie Bright, who has taken over the captain's armband in the absence of Leah Williamson due to an ACL injury, will not be available for the Portugal game as she continues her recovery from