The announcement of England’s final 23-player squad for Euro 2022 has been delayed with Sarina Wiegman not currently with the team at St George’s Park due to a close family bereavement.
The Lionesses named a provisional 28-player squad at the end of May for the upcoming major tournament on home soil, and this was poised to be cut to 23 this week. However, the announcement has since been postponed until Wiegman’s return next week.
“On behalf of Sarina and her family, we ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult time,” a statement from the FA reads. “Our thoughts are with them all.”
Wiegman has put a full plan in place for the coming days of training at St George’s Park, and she is expected to return from Monday 13 June.
The England boss will stay connected with the squad on a daily basis, and training and tournament preparations will be led by her assistant Arjan Veurink and the rest of her senior support team during her absence.
England kick off their Euro 2022 campaign against Austria at Old Trafford on 6 July, and the Lionesses have a trio of friendlies scheduled in the build up to their opening game.
They take on Belgium at Molineux on 16 June in their first pre-tournament friendly, followed by a clash with reigning European champions and Wiegman’s former team the Netherlands at Elland Road on 24 June. England’s final friendly sees them travel to Zurich to face Switzerland on 30 June.
