The coming days will be even more difficult, although the lack of team rotation, with the same XI players starting all three group matches, may well be beneficial.
England know how they want to play, the players are all on the same wavelength. They are good enough to maintain this impressive shape anyway.
The Lionesses flog Northern Ireland as was expected of them, but the focus is already on bigger, more difficult challenges ahead.
At best, the next few days will be described as less than ideal. At worst, it will ruin their chances of being crowned European champions as Wiegman’s absence is acutely felt and/or key players also have a Covid infection.
You can prepare for anything as much as you want, but it never completely forces you into an uncomfortable reality.
The timing could theoretically be worse. It could have come in the run-up to the semi-finals and finals, but the news that Wiegman has Covid is a huge blow.
There is now no room for missteps at the European Championship, no safety net from this point on and the players must try to progress without the manager who has transformed them into Europe’s most feared and in form side.
The evidence is clear. England had fallen into a tailspin after losing to the US in the World Cup semi-final three years ago under former manager Phil Neville. Team GB flopped at the Olympics last summer.
The arrival of Wiegman in September last year has not only set them on an upward trajectory. It made them the team to beat in this tournament. England are unbeaten in the 16 matches they have played in the dugout, with 14 wins. They won one without her against a poor side.
“Obviously it’s hell. It feels like you’re all running and at some point it’s going to get one of you… You know what it’s been like for the past two years,” Captain Leah Williamson told Sky when he got to her. asked. current situation of the manager.
“We are tired of it, but at the same time we followed everything [protocols] and it’s just too bad that Sarina happened. It’s not ideal, but we’re a very professional team and we have processes, so not too much has changed.
“Of course it’s not ideal, the fact that we don’t know if she’s coming back [for the quarter-final] or how it will go, but one of our biggest strengths is that we’re a very self-sufficient team, but she’s the leader, isn’t she, so we want her to be back. Hopefully she is, but if not, we’re ready.”
Wiegman is the point of difference, which is why the FA made her the highest paid manager in women’s football in Europe to strip her from the Netherlands. With her guidance, game management and leadership it was hard not to see England reach the final at Wembley at the end of this month. Now we don’t know. As she has not only tested positive but is also feeling unwell and has flu-like symptoms, the 52-year-old is almost certain she will not be taking an active part in the preparations for the quarter-finals.
Since she will have to test negative to return to work and the game is Wednesday, there is a good chance she will be in the stadium, let alone in the Brighton dugout.
All we can do is wait and see if Covid has spread within the camp. That’s the world we’ve been living in for over two years now. We know what can happen next – a massive breakout and a heavily changed party airing in the quarters.
That, of course, is the fear. The next 48 hours, which appears to be the incubation period of the latter species, will be crucial. What looks like a disaster now could look like a minor breakout if multiple players test positive between now and Wednesday.