England manager, Sarina Wiegman believes that Michelle Agyemang “brings something different” to their UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 squad.
Agyemang received her first call-up in April after Alessia Russo withdrew due to injury ahead of their eventual 3-2 away loss to Belgium in the Nations League, in which the 19-year-old Agyemang on debut scored their second goal in Leuven.
Wiegman again called her up for the recent Nations League matches against Portugal and Spain which saw the Lionesses finish second in League A3, and was impressed enough to give her a first major tournament call-up.
“I think she brings something different and I hope she can show that in the summer,” explained Wiegman. “I think we’re really strong up front. Also, we have so many different qualities with the players we’ve picked.
“What she showed when necessary was so much physicality. I’ve seen it in training sessions and what she did in Belgium. Of course, we all still remember her first goal for us against Belgium. I think that’s good to have in the team. We’ll see what she can bring.”
Wiegman also faced scrutiny over her light midfield quintet of; Grace Clinton, Jess Park, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone and Keira Walsh, with press and fans alike left slightly worried about her selection decisions in that area.
The ex Netherlands boss however iterated that she has a flexible squad with Niamh Charles, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly and Leah Williamson having previously played in midfield roles, which underlines the versatility within the squad limit of 23 players.
“We have to announce it as our midfielders, strikers and defenders,” acknowledged Wiegman. “I think we can move around some players in different positions. On paper, it looks like we’re not so in depth but I think in the team, we are enough in depth in midfield.”
Wiegman though admitted that she would of liked to have had the same opportunity as their male counterparts did at UEFA Euro 2024, after the squad limit was expanded to 26 players for that tournament.
“It’s always difficult because you can pick 23 and you’d like to pick a little more because players have been in the environment and done well but at the end, you have to make those decisions which for 23 players is very good but for some players, disappointing,” commented Wiegman.
“We’ve had the whole process, we’ve seen the team a lot over the last week and the last months. That’s the main part of the job to make decisions – who to select, who to play and during games, who to sub and things like that.
“Those hard conversations are not nice because I know how hard players work to make the squad. At the same time, I also had very nice messages to give so that gives me some more energy too.”
Lauren James’ call-up after two months out with a hamstring injury proved divisive amongst fans but Wiegman doesn’t view her decision “as a risk,” instead explaining that the team and Chelsea are working to build up her fitness.
“We’re just building her. We have some time – we still have a month.
“She’s training really well at club. She’s at the point where we hoped she would be at this stage. She keeps progressing and hopefully when she comes into camp, she can go into training with us and keep progressing towards the first game on 5 July.”
This summer’s squad contains 13 players who were part of the title winning team whilst seven players are making their first major senior tournament debut, which Wiegman believes won’t be an issue as she pointed to big experience of major competitions at club level.
“There’s players who have played at a major tournament. Also, with playing at such a high level at club, you are experienced playing for big crowds so I don’t think that’s a problem.
“With the players that are coming in and playing at their first tournament, they’re so eager too. That balance and those dynamics are pretty good in our team.”
England kick off their title defence in Group D against France on 5 July (8pm BST), before facing Netherlands on 9 July (5pm BST), followed by a concluding group clash against Wales on 13 July (8pm BST).
