England Seeks Competitive Edge From Extra Rest Ahead Of Euro 2025 Final Against Spain

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England's manager, Sarina Wiegman, anticipates that the extra day of rest could be advantageous for her team as they prepare to face Spain in the Euro 2025 final on Sunday. England secured their spot in the final after a 2-1 victory over Italy, while Spain had to endure a lengthy match against Germany. The Lionesses also faced penalties against Sweden in the quarter-finals following challenging group matches.

Wiegman has an impressive track record, reaching five finals in five major tournaments as an international manager. She has won both Euros finals but lost World Cup finals with the Netherlands and England. She hopes the additional rest will benefit her team during the match at St. Jakob-Park in Basel. "We played the first semi-final. We enjoyed an extra day of rest after a very intense group stage, so we really used that extra day off, and hopefully that will help us," said Wiegman.

In their knockout matches, England showed resilience by scoring late goals. Against Sweden, they scored twice in the last 12 minutes to level the score before advancing on penalties. In the semi-final against Italy, Michelle Agyemang equalised in the 96th minute, and Chloe Kelly secured victory with a goal in the 119th minute.

This year's tournament saw England play two extra-time matches, a rare occurrence as no nation has played three extra-time games in a single tournament before. Only three finals have required extra time previously, including one instance in the last edition.

Wiegman emphasised her team's readiness for any situation during the final. "We want to be best prepared," she stated. "We try to prepare on what can happen in the game and what we need." She explained that they have discussed various scenarios and are ready to adapt as needed during the match.

The manager expressed hope for a quiet match for goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who is participating in her first major tournament as a starting goalkeeper. "I hope she [Hannah Hampton] will not be too busy tomorrow," Wiegman added. "This is her first major tournament where she is the starting goalkeeper, and she has done very well, I think."

As England prepares for this significant encounter with Spain, Wiegman's strategic planning and experience aim to guide her team towards success once again.