England Women’s Manager Sarina Wiegman has admitted that she did want defender Millie Bright to continue playing for the Lionesses, but Bright instead chose to retire from international football. This comes ahead of England’s homecoming friendlies against Brazil and Australia following their triumph at the European Championships in the summer.
00:00England women's return to international football following their triumph at the European Championships in Switzerland in the summer
00:06sees the Lionesses take on Brazil and then Australia in two friendly matches on home soil.
00:13This comes amidst the news that Millie Bright will be retiring from international football.
00:19Serena Wiegmann spoke on this topic ahead of the first friendly match against Brazil.
00:24Let's start with one that isn't and that is Millie Bright, obviously announcing her retirement.
00:29I'm just wondering if you can talk us through how it all came about.
00:33Yeah, so at the back of the Euros we had a conversation and of course competition has started already
00:39and Millie told me that she was going to retire from international football which is also now spread in the world.
00:47So yeah, I thought we had a very good conversation.
00:49Of course, she has been huge for us, for me, for the team on and off the pitch.
00:57Also, even before I came in, she has been a great personality and a leader on and off the pitch.
01:03And yeah, I'm just really grateful that I've been just a little bit part of her journey.
01:10And yeah, grateful that she's been part of my team because she has had a massive influence on and off the pitch, what I just said.
01:18So yeah, that's basically how it went.
01:21You admitted before the Euros when Millie Bright pulled out that you respect her decision but you'd have liked her to have been available for the summer.
01:29Did you want her to be available for the build-up to the World Cup in two years' time?
01:33Yes, of course, I wanted that.
01:36As the same, like before the Euros, what I said, yeah, she wasn't ready and she needed to get things sorted.
01:42And yeah, like she's still a very good player.
01:46So I want her in the squad.
01:47But I totally respect, understand the decision she makes for life.
01:52Now, I don't think that that's how it works that way.
01:55I think she had been thinking about it very thoroughly, what she wanted.
01:59And I think when the player makes a decision like this, when you had such an incredible career internationally, because her career is still ongoing, of course,
02:07then it's not appropriate to have that conversation, I think.
02:13I just totally respect it.
02:15And it must have been really hard to make this decision.
02:21Katie Reid called up for the first time.
02:23How excited are you to have her in the squad and what have you made about her start to the season?
02:28Yeah, it's exciting for her in the first place.
02:32She started playing for Arsenal very quickly this season.
02:37Already, of course, a couple of moments last season.
02:39She has done good in the pathway too.
02:41And I just see some very good things on the pitch with her.
02:45And I hope she can show that in our environment too.
02:47I'm excited to see her in our environment and how she relates to the other players in the squad.
02:51Taylor Hines is also in the squad.
02:55Can you talk us through that selection?
02:56Because obviously she's not starting too much for Arsenal.
02:58And also, she hasn't long made her debut for Jamaica after, you know, previously representing England at youth.
03:03So that doesn't sound like an easy thing to get done either.
03:06No, we have been following Taylor for a long time.
03:09Of course, she has gone through the pathway.
03:10She has a dual heritage.
03:13So she's eligible for us.
03:16And we started having conversations.
03:19Yes, she hasn't played that much.
03:20But also, we are in a new situation.
03:23We're going into a new era.
03:27We're going into a new cycle.
03:29Going to qualify for the World Cup, hopefully.
03:32And then going to the World Cup.
03:33So I want to see talented players in some positions.
03:38And she's a left footer.
03:40Yes, she didn't play that much.
03:42But we've seen a lot of her.
03:43And she did play the other day against Lyon.
03:46So, yes, I had the conversation with her.
03:50And she wanted to come in.
03:52And, like, she feels really close to England, which she had also with Jamaica.
03:57You know, she had pledged allegiance to another country.
03:59And that was a difficult decision, I'm sure, at the time for her to represent Jamaica.
04:02Yeah, of course, it's difficult.
04:05It was difficult.
04:06At the same time, she's really excited to come in our environment, too.
04:09And she feels connection with England.
04:11And she feels connection with Jamaica, which, of course, is totally understandable.
04:17And, yes, she wants to see what her chances are, too.
04:19And for us, and for me, it's really good to see her in our environment, too,
04:22to also, again, see how she relates to the other players on our position.
04:26Finally, you've called up Lucy Bromans.
04:28And you've called up Grace Clinton, who have both missed time with injury.
04:32How are they?
04:33Are they going to be able to play two games in a few days?
04:36No, they will not be able to play two games, two full games, in a couple of days.
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