Faye White believes the ‘stars are aligning’ for England to win their first European Championship after a tactical ‘masterclass’ from coach Sarina Wiegman saw them sink Spain.
The Lionesses will face either Belgium or Sweden in the semi-finals after Georgia Stanway’s extra time stunner saw them pass their biggest test yet in the tournament on a nail-biting night in Brighton.
Wiegman took a huge gamble by bringing on Alessia Russo, Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly for Ellen White, Fran Kirby and Beth Mead shortly after Spain took the lead early in the second-half.
Georgia Stanway scored a stunning winner in extra time to send England into the last four
Sarina Wiegman celebrates after England beat Spain to reach the Euro 2022 semi-finals
Former England captain Faye White believes the ‘stars are aligning’ for them to win the Euros
But this reshuffle in attack paid off when Toone equalised late on before Stanway smashed home a winning goal that is destined to be replayed for decades to come.
Former England captain White says the fighting spirit shown in the comeback will raise belief they can now go all the way.
‘It’s always the knockout games that really show a team. We needed that test and the team will get a huge amount of confidence from coming back,’ White told Sportsmail.
‘It’s very hard to get the ball off Spain and England weren’t making use of it in the first-half.
‘But in the second-half, when Sarina made that change of putting three at the back, which we’ve seen before in the Arnold Clark Cup against Germany, and that added an extra dimension of chaos in the Spain back line.
‘You could see the handbrake come off and the foot went flat to the floor. They had the signal to go for it but you need a bit of fortune sometimes and players to be in the right place at the right time.
‘You have to get through situations like that if you are going to win tournaments.’
Wiegman greets Fran Kirby after she took her off early in the second-half against Spain
Kirby’s replacement, Ella Toone, scored the crucial late equaliser to take it to extra time
Dutch coach Wiegman, who guided her home country to glory in the last European Championship in 2017, proved once again with her tactical tweaks that she has the courage of her convictions even if they could easily backfire.
‘It was a good thing she made the subs early in the second-half and that gives confidence for the players coming on,’ said White, who played in five major tournaments for her country.
‘Some managers would hold it off so it was a bold move and it shows the confidence Sarina has in the depth of the squad.
‘To make those changes and to have such faith in the players who came on, it was just the perfect masterclass.
‘She has really impressed me. I have met her a few times and seen her journey through the Dutch team.
‘She was very quiet, she didn’t really impose herself initially but you can see she lives and breathes it, she meticulously plans and has a great knowledge of the game as a former player with nearly 100 caps.’
Former Arsenal defender White wasn’t at all surprised by Stanway’s winning goal, having watched the forward play for Manchester City in the Women’s Super League.
‘I loved her comments afterwards about how she might normally have passed it and been safe but then thought, “what’s the worst that can happen?”‘ White said.
Wiegman won the last European Championship with Netherlands in 2017 and wants a repeat
‘She is that type of player who grabs a game and takes that kind of responsibility on her shoulders and she does that quite often.
‘She is 23 and feels like she has been around for years.’
England are now just two games from glory in their home Euros. They will play either Belgium or Sweden in the semi-finals at Bramall Lane in Sheffield on Tuesday, hoping to make the Wembley final on Sunday week.
So is football finally coming home? ‘I have got to say yes, I’m going all guns,’ said White.
Stanway fires home a stunning goal that is destined to be replayed on TV for years to come
‘They have bounced back from a tough game, they have got that in their locker now, their armoury.
‘There is a long way to go, a lot of hurdles to jump over but we have the balance and home advantage. All the stars are aligning.’
With a sensational sporting line-up this summer, Sky Mobile is working with football legend, Faye White, to encourage Brits to cheer on the home nations.
To find out how you can you stay connected and catch all the unmissable sporting action, visit www.sky.com/shop/mobile
White said: ‘Sky Mobile were encouraging people to get behind the home nations at the start of the tournament.
’36 per cent were excited to watch the Euros ahead of Adam Peaty and the netball team who should get gold at the Commonwealth Games.
‘To me, that just sings because that is what we have been working towards that kind of level of recognition. Four out of 10 are willing them on and think they will go all the way.‘
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