Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman has had her say on a number of current examples of poor-quality taking part in surfaces forward of England’s double-header in opposition to Belgium subsequent month, which has as soon as once more raised the problem of requirements within the ladies’s sport.
Arsenal’s 2-0 Champions League defeat at Actual Madrid final week came about on a rain-sodden floor which was labelled a “disgrace” by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright.
The sport was held on the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, the 6,000-seater house of Actual’s reserves, regardless of the Bernabeu being accessible throughout the males’s worldwide break.
It was additionally criticised by Gunners head coach Renee Slegers forward of the return leg on Wednesday. Referring to the distinction between Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and the Di Stefano, she stated: “Of course it’s going to be easier on a golf course than on rocks.
“However we now have to take care of any circumstance and if the competitors guidelines say that this pitch is evident to play, then we now have to play on it. We like good pitches, after all. I believe any group does.”
There was additionally criticism of the taking part in floor at Derby’s Pleasure Park, the venue of final week’s Ladies’s League Cup showpiece between Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis, which Blues midfielder Erin Cuthbert referred to as “unfit for a final”.
Talking concerning the subject Wiegman stated: “It is actually disappointing. You’d hope they might be taking part in [Champions League matches] within the Bernabeu.
“You want better pitches. It’s a little bit dangerous, too. We have to keep working on these things, players deserve to show their performances at the highest level and take away the risks of injury.”
Actual Madrid’s poor pitch situation has are available for heavy criticism
England started their Group A3 fixtures in February with a 1-1 attract Portugal earlier than beating Spain 1-0 at Wembley.
The Lionesses tackle Belgium at Ashton Gate on April 4, then once more in Leuven 4 days later.
Wiegman says the consequence over world champions Spain will deliver extra confidence into the group earlier than the video games in opposition to Belgium.
She added: “I think a lot of confidence, we showed we are still a top team. We had a bit of disappointment against Portugal but I think tactically they did a couple of things really well and we had to adapt to that.
“That was a special sport. In between these video games we had some group conferences and conversations and you would see and really feel on the pitch we fought for this win [against Spain].
“We knew it was a very competitive game because Spain are the world champions so that brings confidence to the team.
“Belgium will give us totally different challenges and we now have to adapt once more. It may be two robust video games however we’re wanting ahead to assembly up with the group once more.”
April’s camp is the penultimate probability for Wiegman to evaluate her gamers earlier than selecting her squad for this summer season’s Euros in Switzerland, the place England will look to defend their title.
