England midfielder Georgia Stanway emphasizes the significance of upcoming friendlies as they gear up to defend their European title. Ahead of the friendly match against Germany at Wembley, a repeat of the Euro 2022 final, Stanway shared her thoughts on the team’s preparation. The 25-year-old Bayern Munich player underscored the importance of these four friendlies as a way to “hit the ground running” before the finals tournament in Switzerland next summer, having already secured qualification in July.
When asked if England’s performance had stagnated since reaching the World Cup final in 2023—especially after recent losses to Belgium and France and narrowly missing out on Olympic qualification—Stanway responded with confidence. “No, I think it’s natural to experience a bit of a comedown after such high achievements. We won the Euros and made it to the World Cup final, which was an incredible accomplishment. It’s expected that there would be a plateau at some point,” she explained.
She acknowledged the struggles in the Nations League but highlighted the positives from their performances against top-ranked teams like France and Sweden. “From those matches, you can see how we want to play as we prepare for the Euros. It’s constructive that we have areas to improve on; this is our chance to address them,” she added.
Stanway sees this period as an exciting starting point for their Euro campaign. “These friendlies are crucial for us to refine our style and begin anew. We want to build on our past successes.”
On a related note, Stanway also addressed the recent news about over 100 professional women’s players signing a letter urging FIFA to end its sponsorship deal with the Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco, citing serious human rights violations. Although she hadn’t read the news at the time of her interview, Stanway expressed solidarity with her fellow players. “We need to stand for what we believe in,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of advocating for women’s rights in sports. “The unity in women’s football allows us to challenge issues together. We know our value and the legacy we want to leave for future generations.”
Regarding the recent appointment of former Bayern Munich men’s head coach Thomas Tuchel as the new England men’s manager, Stanway expressed her support for the decision. “I think it’s fantastic. I’ve worked under a Norwegian manager at Bayern, and it really comes down to finding the right person for the job,” she remarked, recalling her positive experiences with Tuchel. “He was genuinely invested in women’s football and always took the time to engage with us.”
Heading into the match against Germany, Stanway is aware of the challenge that awaits, especially with her clubmates on the opposing side. “You always know what to expect from the Germans—they’re fierce, technically proficient, and relentless. Players like Giulia Gwinn and Klara Bühl pose significant threats,” she concluded, reflecting on the competitive nature of the upcoming game.
About the author