Sarina Wiegman Expresses Satisfaction with England's 2-0 Victory Over Iceland
England manager Sarina Wiegman has stated she is satisfied with her team's performance in a 2-0 win against Iceland, which secured back-to-back victories to start their Women's World Cup qualification campaign. Despite admitting the Lionesses wanted to score more goals, Wiegman emphasised the importance of the three points and a clean sheet at the City Ground.
Lucy Bronze Marks Milestone with Opening Goal
Defender Lucy Bronze celebrated moving into third place on the all-time Lionesses appearance list by scoring the opening goal with a header in the first half. This was her 145th cap for England, surpassing Karen Carney, with only Jill Scott and Fara Williams now above her in the rankings. The hosts dominated the opening period, creating numerous chances but finding Iceland's disciplined defence difficult to break down.
Key Moments and Wiegman's Assessment
Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made a crucial save to deny Sandra Jessen from equalising with Iceland's only shot of the game on the hour mark. Midfielder Georgia Stanway then volleyed in the second goal twelve minutes from time to secure the victory. Wiegman praised the overall camp, highlighting the six points from two games as a positive start.
"I'm totally not frustrated at the moment, happy with the performance and camp," Wiegman said. "Two games, six points. I think Iceland is a very disciplined team, lots of power, compact, and very hard to break down. We created lots of big chances with very good football. We could've scored more, we obviously want that too but the most important thing is we win the game."
She added that Hampton's save was pivotal and expressed hope that the team entertained the fans, contributing to a great afternoon of football.
Praise for Key Players
Wiegman reserved special praise for Lucy Bronze, describing her as an "incredible human being" with outstanding football intelligence and a positive influence on and off the pitch. "She plays a big role in the team. She wants to make the World Cup and as you can see she's still building minutes. She's so important because her connection with players and staff is just so good," Wiegman noted.
Forward Lauren James also impressed, proving a constant threat down the left flank and providing an assist in the first half. Wiegman expressed pleasure at James's performance, stating, "It looks like she's enjoying herself and brings us joy too. For club and country I hope she can keep doing that and get some consistency because that gives us a lot more joy."
Looking Ahead in Qualification
With this victory following a 6-0 win against Ukraine in their opening qualifier, England now have maximum points from their first two matches. Wiegman emphasised the team's hard work and improvement, both collectively and individually, as key factors in their early success. The focus remains on building momentum as they aim to secure a spot in the Women's World Cup, with Bronze and other experienced players playing crucial roles in the squad's development and performance.
