England’s women’s national team will continue preparation throughout 2021 for a huge summer next year, when they host the 2022 UEFA Women’s European Championship.
It promises to be a big year for the team, who are under new leadership following the departure of Phil Neville in January. Former World Cup winner Hege Riise had taken interim charge of the team for the first half of the year, but now Sarina Wiegman takes over the role, following the Netherlands' participation at the Olympic Games.
With Wiegman having won the Euros with her home country in 2017, led them to a Women's World Cup final two years later and been within a penalty shootout of beating the U.S. women's national team at the Olympics, there is understandable excitement among England fans.
After having no fixtures for 11 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lionesses finally returned to action in February with a 6-0 win over Northern Ireland.
Games against Germany and Norway were due to take place in October and December respectively last year, but were both postponed. A positive Covid-19 test among England’s backroom staff caused the trip to Germany to be called off, while the Norwegian FA chose not to travel for the latter fixture.
