{"id":297255,"date":"2023-12-06T00:24:05","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T00:24:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=297255"},"modified":"2023-12-06T00:24:05","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T00:24:05","slug":"sarina-wiegman-lost-for-words-as-lionesses-stunned-in-nations-league-finale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/sarina-wiegman-lost-for-words-as-lionesses-stunned-in-nations-league-finale\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarina Wiegman lost for words as Lionesses stunned in Nations League finale"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
Sarina Wiegman was left almost speechless with disappointment after England\u2019s 6-0 win over Scotland was still not enough to make the Nations League knockout stages as Team GB\u2019s hopes of reaching next summer\u2019s Olympic Games also ended.<\/p>\n
Pedro Martinez Losa\u2019s side, already relegated from League A1, were swept aside\u00a0at Hampden Park but the Netherlands\u2019 4-0 win over Belgium saw them top the group.<\/p>\n
Defender Alex Greenwood headed the opener after 12 minutes and two goals in a minute by Lauren James and another by Beth Mead just before the break had the game over by half-time.<\/p>\n
Striker Fran Kirby added a fifth with Lucy Bronze heading in what looked a crucial final goal in the third minute of added time \u2013 but Damaris Egurrola\u2019s late brace for the Netherlands meant they pipped Wiegman\u2019s side on goal difference.<\/p>\n
Wiegman, whose side was the nominated nation on behalf of Team GB for Paris next year and needed to win the group, was on the Hampden pitch with her players after the game when the Dutch, whom they beat 3-2 on Friday, scored their crucial fourth.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cOf course I am very very disappointed. That\u2019s the biggest emotion I have now.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe delivered tonight and we delivered this December camp, the team showed lots of character, in this game too and we started the game really well, scored four goals in the first half.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Lucy scored I said to the players that we are going to get this.<\/p>\n
\u201cNetherlands scored in the late seconds and that\u2019s how close it was.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were waiting, long minutes but we really thought we got it and then we didn\u2019t make it I said I actually don\u2019t know what to say.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am really proud of the performance and what we did this whole week\u00a0but it was not enough and it is really disappointing and you don\u2019t really have to say anything more.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t get through in goal difference then it is just not enough, that\u2019s the facts. But that\u2019s football.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martinez Losa was similarly taken aback by what he had witnessed but for different reasons.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe have to apologise to the fans, this was not what they expected.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe lost concentration in the first half after we conceded the first goal, we were out of the game at half-time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will never be embarrassed about the team, about the players, but it was not the performance we were expecting for our fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cEngland were at a good level and took advantage of their good moments.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the consequences of the result is because we wanted to win the game. We pressed England high as well as they did. Some moments we were doing things well.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the four goals it was difficult for our players to come back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI considered [making first-half subs] but didn\u2019t do it because in the end, the responsibility of the team is with myself. I respect the team, I understand for the players that it is a big occasion and I wanted to wait until half-time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sign up to Miguel Delaney\u2019s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel\u2019s Delaney\u2019s free weekly newsletter Thanks […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":297254,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n