Wiegman ‘surprised’ by Oz trip for McCabe’s Arsenal
ENGLAND manager Sarina Wiegman has expressed her surprise at Arsenal’s plan to play an exhibition match in Melbourne on May 24 — a week before her side play France in a Euro 2025 qualifier double-header.
Eileen Gleeson is also likely to be asked about the Gunners’ end-of-season trip to Australia when she announces her squad for the opening round of Euro qualifiers in Dublin tomorrow, as it may mean Ireland captain Katie McCabe having to fly across the world as Arsenal take on the A-League All-Stars.
Gleeson’s side are bidding to qualify for a second major championship and take on England in an eagerly awaited clash at Avia Stadium on April 9.
Ireland will then host Sweden at the Aviva on May 31 before the return match in Gothenburg on June 4 and in the same window, England will meet France twice.
‘I was surprised about that trip. I think for all the players, with an already complicated calendar, it’s not good for them to go to the other side of the world,’ Wiegman said yesterday as she announced the England squad for their Euro 2025 qualifiers against Sweden and their visit to Dublin.
‘It’s very short term, not having the time to adapt and play a game and come back and go for us. I would say for every European player that goes into the qualifiers, that’s a thing that will be hard for them to take, and to perform at the highest level.’
Arsenal’s Leah Williamson was named among the 23 players yesterday. The defender, who captained England to Euro 2021 glory, recently returned from an ACL injury, but had to withdraw from England’s last squad because of a hamstring strain. Williamson, like McCabe (right), will be affected by the Gunners’ trip to Australia.
‘I’m in contact with Jonas (Eidevall, the Arsenal manager) all the time. They haven’t announced yet who is going and who is not,’ Wiegman said. ‘I think this is a matter for Arsenal and the last thing I would do is dictate to a club or a coach, that’s not my job or what I want to do.’
Eidevall said of the trip: ‘It is now about making the most out of that opportunity. That means that for some players it will be the right thing to go, and for others it will not be the right thing if we talk about it from a loading and welfare perspective. We need to make good and deliberate decisions on that.’
Apart from Williamson’s return, Chelsea’s Fran Kirby is also back after missing the February window with a knee problem while club mate Millie Bright remains out injured. Maya Le Tissier misses out, with fellow Manchester United defender Millie Turner retaining her spot after being a late call-up in February.