England’s Beth Mead acknowledges the pressure on the reigning European champions as they seek to get their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign back on track.
The Lionesses, aiming to defend their title in Switzerland next year, have had an inconsistent start, currently sitting third in their group behind France and Sweden.
“We know we’re a target now after winning the Euros,” admitted Mead, an Arsenal forward. “But we have the talent to compete with anyone. It’s a tough group, but the best teams overcome challenges.”
Mead scored England’s opening goal in their recent 2-1 defeat to France at St James’ Park. However, two poorly defended set-pieces saw the Lionesses fall short.
Despite the setback, Mead remains confident about England’s chances in the return match against France on Tuesday.
“It’s about small details,” she said. “We conceded from set-pieces, which is frustrating as it’s an area we focus on. But if we play our game, we can beat this French team.”
England need a top-two finish in their group for automatic qualification. Otherwise, they face a play-off gauntlet later this year.
While victory is crucial, manager Sarina Wiegman avoids calling it a must-win situation.
“We always want to win,” she stated. “A win would put us in a stronger position, but qualification is still achievable even if we lose. We’ll fight for the group win, which means needing a win tomorrow.”
Wiegman faced criticism after the first France match for her team selection and lack of rotation. However, she believes in learning from mistakes without drastic changes.
“We want to be unpredictable for opponents,” she explained. “But we also have an established identity. We’ll build on what we have, make some adjustments, and improve our game in all aspects.”
