Sarina Wiegman, England manager and prophet in her home country, the Netherlands

"(Facing the Netherlands is) very special. They are a very good team. Of course, I know them very well, they are tactically good, have good individualities, and they always try to be a little bit daring," Sarina Wiegman, 55, said in an interview with UEFA ahead of the competition.

The reunion is all the more special as England find themselves in a delicate position in Pool D and must not lose to keep their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals alive. But one thing is certain: when she talks about her homeland, she seems to radiate nothing but respect. The respect of a Dutchwoman who has carried, built, and then transformed this team to the point of becoming a national figure.

Before taking over as Lionesses coach, leading them to their first Euro 2022 title and the 2023 World Cup final, Wiegman had experienced it all with the Oranje. A midfielder with a rigorous style and captain over an impressive career (104 caps), she was the first Dutch woman to reach 100 caps.

Then a pioneer on the bench. Trained in the amateur clubs of her region, she won a league and cup double with the Ter Leede club in 2007, before laying the foundations of the new women's Eredivisie at ADO Den Haag, with whom she triumphed in 2012. Already, she left her mark: demanding, structured, and intelligent on the game. A performance that opened even greater doors for her.

"I'm only focusing on England."

Her career really took off in 2017, when she took over the national team. Less than six months later, the Netherlands won the Euro on home soil . It was the consecration and eternal recognition of an entire country. Two years later, she led her team to the World Cup final. Wiegman thus definitively became the showcase of a burgeoning women's game and a source of national pride.

On the personal side, the accolades are also piling up: "FIFA Women's Coach of the Year" four times, the "UEFA Coach of the Year" award twice, and also the "Sports Personality of the Year" award received by the BBC.

On June 1, 2021, a statue of her was erected on the KNVB campus in Zeist (located 10 km from Utrecht), alongside other Dutch legends such as Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff. "(...) It's much more than just an image of me," she said on the day the statue was unveiled.

In 2023, after the World Cup final lost with England against Spain (1-0) , she nevertheless broke a historic record by becoming the only coach - men and women combined - to play in four major international finals. A record that places her a little further in the annals of the round ball.

While she remains, in the eyes of the Dutch, the woman who changed their history, Wiegman has her mind firmly on the English selection, in the run-up to the very important match this Wednesday (6 p.m.). "I am only focusing on England," she replied at a press conference on Tuesday, while obviously mentioning that it will always be a "special" meeting.