Wiegman Anticipates Quality Boost From Kelly And Mead For England Squad Against Belgium

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Sarina Wiegman believes that Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead will enhance England's squad against Belgium in the Women's Nations League. Kelly, currently on loan at Arsenal from Manchester City, was initially left out of the Lionesses' February squad due to limited playtime. However, she was later included to replace Mead, who withdrew because of an injury.

England is set to face Belgium at Ashton Gate on April 4 for their first Group A3 match, with a return fixture in Leuven on April 8. The Lionesses are second in their group, trailing Portugal. They recently drew 1-1 with Portugal and secured a notable 1-0 victory over world champions Spain. Wiegman feels this win boosted the team's confidence after some challenging performances.

Wiegman sees the Arsenal connection between Kelly and Mead as beneficial for England's strategy against Belgium. "They bring quality," she noted, highlighting their different playing styles as an advantage. This diversity offers tactical options to challenge opponents effectively.

Kelly has gained more playtime since rejoining Arsenal, participating in five of their six matches across all competitions. Wiegman emphasises the importance of rhythm and expects Kelly to showcase her skills, which will benefit the team significantly.

The upcoming matches against Belgium pose new challenges for England. Wiegman acknowledges that adapting tactically will be crucial. She stated that while Portugal presented specific tactical hurdles, Spain's game was competitive due to their status as world champions.

Wiegman also addressed concerns about pitch quality in women's football. Criticism arose following poor conditions at Pride Park during the Women's League Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City. Erin Cuthbert deemed it unsuitable for a final.

Pitch Quality Concerns

The issue of substandard pitches was further highlighted during Arsenal's Champions League loss to Real Madrid. Ian Wright criticised the rain-soaked surface at Madrid's reserve stadium, calling it disgraceful despite the availability of Santiago Bernabeu.

"It's really disappointing," Wiegman commented on the situation, expressing hope for better venues like Bernabeu for such important matches. She stressed the need for improved pitches to ensure player safety and performance quality.

Wiegman remains optimistic about England's prospects despite these challenges. She believes that recent victories have reinforced their status as a top team and looks forward to meeting up with the squad again for these crucial games.