Wiegman key role in England’s Women Euro 2022 win

Lianne Sanderson

believes that

Sarina Wiegman

was the “missing puzzle piece”

needed to win a major tournament.

England Women grabbed their first major title at Wembley on Sunday after their 2-1 win over Germany in the final of the European Championship.

Wiegman is the first manager to have done that with two different teams, as the Netherlands also won in 2017.

She took the coaching role last September, and delivered 12 victories in 12 matches at Euro 2022.

Sanderson herself was close to winning the tournament in 2009, with England being defeated at the hands of Germany.

The former Chelsea player, who was capped 50 times, thinks Wiegman should get all the credit in her side wining a major silverware.

"I genuinely believe she's the missing puzzle piece,

" Sanderson said.

"She's done it in back-to-back tournaments, both times on home soil.

"You have to have the right players, but also the blend of a good manager, and I think she's shown that.

"A lot of the players said that she didn't really draw upon her experience with the Netherlands, that she wanted to leave it in the past. But the players have been fantastic."

Sanderson thinks that Wiegman’s decisions played key roles and was deserving of praise.

"Everybody knew their roles and responsibilities,"

Sanderson said.

"That was pretty evident. At times, I thought we should mix up the team, like against Northern Ireland.

"There were times where I thought she'd play Alex Greenwood instead of Rachel Daly [at left-back]. But she's the only manager that's kept the same side and that proved the correct call.

"Last year in the men's [Euro 2020], everybody tried to pick the team. I thought Jack Grealish should be playing, then he didn't play in the final.

"We always say we're all the England manager when it comes to tournaments. But ultimately, that's why they get paid the big money. That's why they're in the positions they're in.

"I genuinely wish she was there when I was there because I think she's been a major, major catalyst in this. And she's not even been there a year."

Many fans were present at the stadium and hailed this landmark moment.

"I've been so thrilled and blessed to be at all the games for England. I think that yesterday shows you where the women's game is at, where it's going to be,"

she said.

"It is massive for the women's game. But it's massive for football in this country. It's our first major trophy win [for the men or women] since 1966.

"A lot of people were sceptical. They've got nothing to say now because those people that have those dinosaur mentalities will get left behind, and I just think it's absolutely incredible."

Follow

for the