Building Lionesses 2.0 – Wiegman's new challenge awaits

England head coach Sarina Wiegman has changed women's football in the country, so what does she face after signing a contract extension? Sarina Wiegman has won the past three Women's European Championships – with the Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022 and 2025 When Sarina Wiegman took the reins as England manager in September 2021, she declared she had "come to bring the next level". Winner of the 2017 Women's Euros with her own Netherlands and runner-up at the subsequent World Cup in 2019, she certainly had the pedigree, but could she deliver on her promises? Five years on, Wiegman has pocketed two more European Championships and acquired another silver medal on the global stage.

Not only that, but the success of her Lionesses exploded the women's game in this country, taking it not just to a new level, but to previously unthinkable heights. And yet on the day Wiegman extends her deal until after the Euros in 2029, her newest challenge could be her hardest yet. Wiegman's successful England teams have been built on a core group of players from an outstanding generation – but a few cracks have appeared this year. Seven of the team that started against world champions Spain in June also played in the Euro 2022 final against Germany – and their 4-0 defeat