Wiegman’s body language said so much after England’s crisis week ...Middle East

England Women 6-0 Portugal (Beever-Jones 3’, 26’, 33’ , Bronze 5’, Mead 29’, Kelly 62’)

WEMBLEY – When a player of Mary Earps’ calibre retires, there are usually platitudes about them becoming England’s biggest fan from the sidelines. Yet if the Lionesses were not careful, the goalkeeper’s shock announcement earlier this week might have overshadowed an emphatic victory over Portugal.

Instead, it was curious to watch Sarina Wiegman’s body language as England ran up the score. After Aggie Beever-Jones’ scrappy opener, the England boss called over captain Leah Williamson for an impromptu chat. When Lucy Bronze’s header put the hosts 2-0 up inside five minutes, Wiegman sat back down and started scribbling – Euro 2025 plans could begin in earnest.

It was not until Beever-Jones own header after some impressive work from Bronze and Grace Clinton down the right that the famously reserved Dutch head coach allowed herself a proper fist pump.

Anybody can look at the Nations League table and surmise that England needed a victory to keep pace with Spain, Tuesday’s opponents, in the race for top spot and semi-final qualification. For Wiegman this was never just about that – as ever, she looked totally composed but she has endured a week of chaos.

Aggie Beever-Jones has an England goal on her Wembley debut @ChelseaFCW | @Lionesses pic.twitter.com/vB6IDisn6O

Earps’ news was compounded by Millie Bright withdrawing through burnout, Ella Morris suffering another ACL rupture, and both Alessia Russo and Ella Toone being ruled out of the Portugal game.

As far as Euros preparations go, that is about as suboptimal as it gets. Nor is it the first time Wiegman has had to contend with suggestions that England’s bubble is at least suffering a few pinpricks, if not quite bursting.

She needed to demonstrate that her squad has the depth to withstand those setbacks. It certainly helps that both Lauren Hemp and Williamson are back to their best, the latter still glowing from Arsenal’s Champions League win.

Beth Mead, meanwhile, was on the scoresheet for a second England game running, helped by Jess Park’s sumptuous through ball. And in Russo’s absence, Beever-Jones registered her first international hat-trick – just the second Englishwoman to do that at Wembley after Mead – thanks to a pass all the way from Williamson.

Mead’s strike earned another fist pump from the boss, while Beever-Jones’ third after some bright movement had Wiegman chuckling away. Chloe Kelly’s headed sixth got some more polite applause.

England have fielded weaker teams, but it is significant that they were without Lauren James, Russo, Toone and Bright. The biggest area of concern this summer will naturally be Hannah Hampton’s back-up in goal; Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse have zero caps between them and Ellie Roebuck has been used sparingly by Barcelona following her health problems.

It was always going to be a transitional period – since the 2023 World Cup Rachel Daly has also bowed out. These are not just senior players lost but mentors too and Earps is facing furious accusations of leaving England in the lurch so close to a major tournament.

Walking into Wembley hers is still one of the first faces you see on the walls. A legend, undoubtedly, but behind the scenes Wiegman is said to be furious.

However, she will not entertain any talk of a crisis and even against weak opposition, this was a statement win that will help steer the conversation back towards who is in the team – rather than who isn’t.

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