Alessia Russo explains what sets Sarina Wiegman apart

It is hard to overstate just how good Sarina Wiegman’s record as an international head coach is.

In four major tournaments with two different countries to date, she has reached four finals. Two of those, European Championships with Netherlands and England, she has won. The 53-year-old is also the first person to lead two different countries to a World Cup final.

Wiegman's Dutch team were beaten in the 2019 World Cup final by the United States and this Sunday’s final for England against Spain is a chance at redemption on the global stage.

She is already a record three-time winner of Best FIFA Women’s Coach – 2017, 2020, 2022 – and hasn't finished outside the top three since the inaugural award in 2016. Should England beat Spain, a fourth surely beckons, as does immortality.

The Lionesses reached successive major tournament semi-finals under former coaches Mark Sampson and Phil Neville in 2015, 2017 and 2019. It was an important stage in England's development on the international stage, but they fell short each time and struggled to kick on.

In the closing months of Neville's reign and during Hege Riise’s interim spell in charge, England were at risk of losing their newly claimed place in the top bracket of national teams. From Neville's team getting beaten in the 2019 World Cup semi-final to Riise's last game in April 2021, the Lionesses played 14 times, won just four of them and lost as many as nine.

Of Wiegman's 38 games since taking up her position in September 2021, England have lost only once. There have been seven draws – including games won on penalties – and 30 wins.

READ THE LATEST LIONESSES WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023 NEWS HERE

Now, the Lionesses have the chance to join the elite club of countries to have simultaneously held both the World Cup and European Championship trophies, of which only Germany and Norway are members.

"The first thing that comes to my mind is that she's a winner," star striker Alessia Russo explained.

"She sets the standards so high in training and she leads with real class. It's great for us because it's so competitive and everyone is so focused on one goal, but away from the pitch she lets us enjoy our time and relax and switch off which is so important.

"She's honest and up front and as a player I respect that. It's nice to have an and honest conversations with the leader of your team. She makes camp a really fun place to be."

Prior to the World Cup, former Lioness turned BBC pundit Ellen White praised Wiegman’s management and communication skills in an interview with 90min.

"She's very good at communication and would take individuals to the side to speak about different responsibilities as well, so everyone is well aware of what their role is," White said.

Wiegman's skills have been tested more than ever this summer, coming into the World Cup without three of her most influential players missing through injury, White and Jill Scott having retired, Keira Walsh getting stretchered off against Denmark and Lauren James picking up a two-game ban.

But with the Lionesses on the cusp of becoming the first senior England team to win a World Cup since Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet at Wembley – and therefore the first ever on foreign soil – Wiegman is proving beyond doubt that she is one of the greatest international managers of all time.

WATCH THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP FINAL PREVIEW EDITION OF 90MIN TALKS

Rachel & Sophie from Girls On The Ball chat with Alex Ibaceta for this extra special episode of 90min Talks, discussing the semi-finals which saw The Lionesses beat hosts Australia and look ahead at the historic World Cup final.

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