Sarina Wiegman breaks silence on Millie Bright making herself unavailable for England’s Euros title defence

By SAM BROOKES

Sarina Wiegman has spoken for the first time since Millie Bright ruled herself out of contention for England’s Euros squad.

Bright confirmed she was making herself unavailable in an emotional statement on Wednesday due to not being able to give 100 per cent ‘mentally or physically’.

The 31-year-old, who played in every game of England’s Euros triumph three years ago and captained the side to the World Cup final in 2023, became the third England player to drop out in eight days following the international retirements of Mary Earps and Fran Kirby. 

After naming her 23-player squad on Thursday, Wiegman was asked for her thoughts on Bright’s situation and whether any more could have been done to help her.

Wiegman responded: ‘It’s sad. It’s disappointing. It’s not nice…I just hope she feels well soon. 

‘We are in conversations, what we all tried to do is perform at the highest level, recover, and do that again. That’s what Chelsea is in, and the players want to be involved in. You try to manage minutes and that is what Sonia [Bompastor] and we have been doing too.

Millie Bright maker herself unavailable for this summer’s Euros on Wednesday

Bright captained Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses to the World Cup final two years ago

Wiegman has admitted she is ‘sad’ and ‘disappointed’ that Bright won’t play at the Euros

‘What we try to do also is give all the support off the pitch, and you hope that players stay in a good place, and unfortunately, that is not the case at the moment for Millie.’

Bright won a domestic Treble with Chelsea this season, but withdrew from England’s squad for their recent Nations League matches with Portugal and Spain.

Appearing on her podcast Daly Brightness with former England team-mate Rachel Daly last week, Bright revealed why she had chosen to step away from international duty for now. 

‘I think mentally and physically I’m at my limits, which is why I’m not at camp,’ Bright told the Aston Villa star.

‘That is a really hard decision but I think you know better than anyone as well – sometimes you just have to take that time for yourself.

‘You need to value yourself and your mental health and body, and just say that no, right now is not the time for you.’

Bright has won 88 caps for England since making her debut in 2016 and will leave a significant void at the heart of the defence this summer when the Lionesses head to Switzerland.

England have been handed a tough group which will see them face France, the Netherlands and Wales.

With Bright not in the picture, Wiegman opted to name five centre back options in her Euros squad – captain Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Maya Le Tissier – while Jess Carter can also play centrally or at full back.

 

:
Sarina Wiegman breaks silence on Millie Bright making herself unavailable for England’s Euros title defence

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk