Sarina Wiegman ready to take on the world

She has achieved the unprecedented feat of back-to-back continental titles with different countries and nobody does that purely by playing bad cop

LEADER: England manager Sarina Wiegman lifts the Euro 2022 trophy at Trafalgar Square in London at the team’s celebrations. Pic: Leon Neal/Getty Images

"English people can drink!” exclaimed Sarina Wiegman the morning after the night before. “A little bit too much alcohol, I think. But that’s OK, we enjoyed it. When you have these accomplishments it’s really good to have a party.” 

It was a passage that summed up England’s manager rather well. Wiegman may come across as an austere, stern figure on the touchline and her businesslike manner has quickly imprinted itself on the new European champions since her arrival last September. But there is a much lighter side, too, and it has been evident in the way her team play: industry setting the path for invention and the kinds of flourish that sent England off into an evening that was worth the sunglasses and sore heads.