[Sport] Ready to perform and compete’: Wiegman praises Carter before Italy semi-final

[ThunderStorm.]

 

Sarina Wiegman has said Jess Carter is “ready to perform and compete” in England’s semi-final against Italy on Tuesday night, praising the defender’s strength of character in the face of racist abuse received during Euro 2025.

Wiegman is expected to keep faith with Carter after a below-par performance against Sweden in the previous round – one of many in the team that night – but the head coach said they had discussed the possibility of her not playing.

“Of course we had conversations,” Wiegman said. “Although it is a hard situation, Jess is a very strong person and she wants to move on, too. She also felt – as we did – that we had to address this. You can’t just let it go, so we did not.

“Then we know that there’s a match going on: we want to perform, we’re ready to perform, she’s ready to perform and compete, and that says a lot about her and the team.” The midfielder Georgia Stanway echoed Wiegman’s sentiments and took aim at those who sent the racist messages on social media.

“The people that are saying these things and doing things like this are not fans,” Stanway said.

“When we pull on that shirt we are doing it for the people we stand next to, for our families and the actual people who are there watching the games and enjoying the games. I say it with power because I really believe in that, we believe in that: the people who are like that don’t deserve to be called fans.”

England will not be taking the knee in protest at racist abuse and discrimination because it is not “doing what we want it to do” any more, Stanway said. She hopes standing will “bring up more conversation and more change”.

Italy’s head coach, Andrea Soncin, expressed his team’s support for Carter before the fixture in Geneva. “There is the greatest of solidarity with her and towards anyone suffering violence and abuse,” he said. “It should not be tolerated.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jul/21/england-euro-2025-semi-final-litaly-leah-williamson-trains