Covid-hit Wiegman hopes for reprieve
ENGLAND boss Sarina Wiegman has said she is “very hopeful” as she waits to see if she can attend today’s Euro 2022 quarter-final against Spain after testing positive for coronavirus last week.
The Dutchwoman, absent from Friday’s 5-0 group-stage victory over Northern Ireland at St Mary’s following the positive test, with assistant Arjan Veurink taking the lead from the dugout, has been watching training from a distance with a mask on.
And she told a press conference yesterday ahead of the last-eight match at the Amex Stadium: “I’m good,
I’m feeling well. I’m actually ready to go, but still have to wait.
“Of course I’m very hopeful but we’ll see what happens, and we do know if I can’t be there I’ll be around in another way.
“We had a line so I was in contact with the technical staff all the time during [Friday’s] game, watching
it of course from here [at the team’s south-west London base]. So we stayed connected all the time. If necessary, that is what we will do again.”
Wiegman said her symptoms had been “a little temperature and a little coughing, but not too bad” and added: “It’s not the worst nightmare, just a situation we have to deal with. I’m around and still doing my job. I’m just doing things virtually or
outside from a big distance with the mask.
“I’ve been involved in all of the training, I just make sure I don’t get close to people. But you can always observe real closely and sometimes give a message.”
The FA also announced goalkeeper Hannah Hampton had tested positive for the virus – the second player in the squad to do so during the campaign, after defender Lotte Wubben-Moy.
Wiegman – who confirmed every player aside from Hampton was available for today’s game, and has named the same starting line-up for each match so far – said: “We’re really aware and very careful. We’re trying to stay in our bubble and do the right things, and hopefully we keep everyone fit.
“We did some more strict measures, and everyone understands.”