England have never lost back-to-back matches against the Oranje, yet their previous meeting had been a crushing 3-0 reverse in the Euro 2017 semi-finals.
Wiegman was in the Netherlands dugout on that occasion, guiding her country to a home tournament success.
That is now her aim with the Lionesses, and Friday's victory at Elland Road surely laid down a marker, with Beth Mead scoring twice – either side of goals from Ella Toone and Lauren Hemp – after Lucy Bronze had cancelled out Lieke Martens' opener.
England are yet to lose in their 13 games under Wiegman, scoring 80 times across those matches, but the manager still saw room for improvement.
"Maybe," Wiegman told ITV Sport when asked if she had to temper expectations. "For us, it's just that when we lose, we go with our plan; when we win, we go with our plan.
"We had a good win, but we cannot think we are there. Today showed that we have still lots of things to do.
"Things went really well, but lots of things didn't go well, and we really have to improve that, too. We'll start working on that again on Monday."
That is not to say Wiegman was unhappy with what she saw, adding: "I'm absolutely happy. It was such a high-level game.
"Of course the score says a lot: 5-1. That's really good, the game in the second half was really good, so there are very exciting things to see.
"Yes, we're in a good place, but still we have some things to improve."
The slow start was undoubtedly one area that could have concerned Wiegman, although she was enthused by England's response to only the third goal they have conceded in her tenure – this the first time they have trailed.
"It's very nice to score five goals, but for us it actually was good that we got behind for the first time and how we reacted to that," she said.
"We needed to come back from not playing well, conceding a goal, and get the game to a higher standard. That was good."
The tournament gets under way when England tackle Austria at Old Trafford in Group A on Wednesday, before they face further tests against Norway in Brighton and Northern Ireland in Southampton.
England are on a remarkable run of form under former Netherlands boss Wiegman, and despite a host of formidable rivals lying in wait, look to be one of the sides to beat this time around.
Smith, a member of the Lionesses squad that finished as runners-up to Germany at Euro 2009, believes the current team have the chance to go the distance, particularly on home soil.
"[I've] got to go with England [as favourites]," the former winger told Stats Perform. "The strength and depth they have, the competition for places, the brilliant manager they've got that has the know-how to take them far.
"Yes, there's going to be pressure and expectation on them, [but] I think the nation's also going to give them that boost if they need."
Dutchwoman Wiegman, who began work as Phil Neville's permanent successor last year following Hege Riise's interim period, has gone undefeated in her first 14 games in charge, with 12 wins and two draws.
Wiegman, who is looking to make it successive European crowns after guiding her home country to success at Euro 2017, has a cut-throat edge that can aid the Lionesses, says Smith.
"I think that's that's probably what England need," she said. "They need somebody that's full of strong opinions.
"She's an absolute perfectionist. You see England winning eight [or] nine-nil, and she comes off and says she's not really happy. That's what you want as a player.
"You want to know, She's a former teacher and knows how to communicate with the players individually, collectively, as a team. We've seen tactically, she can change things, and she'll change things quickly.
"The fact that she's gone and won it at home with the Netherlands; if you're a player, and you've got a manager coming:in with that sort of experience, you'd just be like, 'Tell me what I need to do to go and win a tournament'.
"They're certainly buying into everything that she's she's putting out there."
Sue Smith is working with VoucherCodes.co.uk to launch its Women’s EURO 2022 Spending Report.
The Dutch boss has enjoyed great success since taking charge of the Lionesses in September 2021, leading them to Euro glory the following summer.
She also took England to last summer’s World Cup final, where the team lost 1-0 to Spain, and on Monday night won the 2023 FIFA award for the best women’s coach.
Wiegman said: “I am so happy to have the chance to lead England through to 2027 after an incredible two and a half years. Looking forward, we have unfinished business and I know we are capable of even more, although nothing will come easy.”
The Lionesses headed into the game on a 30-match unbeaten run, one that has seen them win Euro 2022 as well as the Finalissima against Brazil last week.
But a below-par display saw their streak ended at the Brentford Community Stadium, as an uncharacteristic mistake from captain Leah Williamson allowed Kerr to nip in and open the scoring by lifting the ball over Mary Earps and in.
Grant then doubled her team's lead, arriving at the back post to meet Kerr's deep cross before her header towards goal was deflected by Williamson, completely wrong-footing Earps and sealing victory for Australia.
The upset defeat is not ideal preparation for England as they look ahead to the upcoming World Cup, hosted by the team they just lost to, which is now just 100 days away.
Having suffered her first defeat during her England tenure, Wiegman was at a loss to explain why her team played so poorly, telling ITV4: "I don't have the reason.
"We spoke at half-time that we need to be quicker, have energy, stretch them and run behind. At other times we lost the ball a little quickly. The reasons for that, I have to think about a little longer.
"This is the first time we've lost, but we always learn. We see things done well and things we have to do better. We have to improve to be at our best at the World Cup. Every game is for learning, and this is a big one."
Both games will take place at the Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Algeciras, with the Lionesses facing Austria on February 23 before taking on Italy four days later.
Sarina Wiegman’s side were last in action in December when they saw their bid to reach the Nations League semi-finals – and secure a Paris Olympics place for Great Britain – end despite winning 6-0 against Scotland at Hampden Park.
The February double-header of friendlies comes ahead of the Euro 2025 qualifying draw taking place on March 5, and that campaign getting under way in April.
Wiegman, who earlier this month signed a contract extension running to the 2027 World Cup, said in a statement from the FA: “This will be our kick-off to get ready for the Euro qualifying campaign beginning in April, so there’s no time to waste in February.
“Heading to Spain with hopefully warmer weather and great facilities will allow us to maximise every minute together. Playing two games against good opposition in Austria and Italy, should be excellent preparation for another big year ahead.
“They are two good and different opponents who will want to start the year strong too, so it will be important to come together again as a team and use these games to prepare for the qualification matches starting in April.”
Reigning European champions and World Cup runners-up England will be joined in Marbella by Emma Coates’ Under-23s, who are set to play matches against Spain and the Netherlands.
Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses ended 56 years of major tournament hurt for England with a 2-1 victory over Germany last month, with Chloe Kelly's close-range finish in extra time proving decisive in front of 87,192 people at Wembley Stadium, setting a new attendance record for any European Championship match (men or women).
England scored 22 goals throughout the tournament – also a record for a men's or women's European Championship – as they sparkled on home soil, while Wiegman became the first coach to lift the trophy with two different sides after triumphing with the Netherlands in 2017.
Speaking exclusively to Stats Perform ahead of Wednesday's Super Cup between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt in Helsinki, Kalmari lauded England's achievements.
"It was a very big tournament, and it has been amazing. England did very well, they had the crown. Very inspirational to the young boys and women," Kalmari said.
"England were very good, and you can see the results they have done in the country. Many club teams are working for the players and that is the result, that you become a top country."
UEFA revealed after the final that a total of 574,875 fans attended matches throughout the tournament, smashing the previous record of 240,055 set at the 2017 finals.
The tournament has been praised as a potential landmark moment for the women's game, an assessment with which Kalmari agrees.
"It was just an amazing tournament," she added. "The level of the games has developed very much. You see all the countries getting better all the time.
"We need to show it to more people and keep going with our hard work.
"Equal game means that everybody has the same opportunity, that we don't think it is a boys' or girls' game. Everyone has to have the same opportunity to be what they want to be."
Having made 130 appearances for Finland between 1996 and 2011, scoring 41 times, Kalmari is among the most decorated players in her country's history, but insists she is not envious of the those playing at a time of increased recognition for the women's game.
"[I'm] not jealous, I am so happy that it is going further. It takes time, but I know that it is very important to win a strong battle and now we are starting to see the results in so many countries," she added.
"So many countries are working so hard for women's football and so many clubs, and you can see the results are there."
The Lionesses lost 2-1 to the same opponents at St. James' Park on Friday, with the manager left rueing lapses in concentration over the set-pieces that led to France’s goals.
In the reverse fixture in Saint-Etienne, England dominated the first half, as goals from Georgia Stanway and Alessia Russo put them in control.
Leah Williamson conceded a penalty, which was coolly converted by Kadidiatou Diani in the second half, but England held on to see out a vital win and move just two points behind Les Bleues in Group A3.
Wiegman praised her side's response to Friday's defeat but remained coy about their chances ahead of their next qualifiers in July.
"A team effort," Wiegman told ITV Sport. "You know the second half is going to be different, and they are going to push, but we worked so hard to stay together and keep the win.
"You know they are going to press. They were really chasing us. We have to make better decisions, be a bit calmer. We played into their hands a bit. We know when they win the ball there, they have players that are so quick. We want to take those moments out, of course.
"Of course [the win] gives a boost. We want to win, and we are in a better position now. The group is totally open. We said from the beginning this is a really tough group with top level teams. It helps when you win, but most of all, we did better than Friday."
Russo was one of the standout players for England during the victory, and she echoed Wiegman's sentiments.
"I think we got our standards back to where we wanted them," Russo said. "There are still parts we will work on for sure. We know the level is higher than ever and to even qualify for the Euros is going to be harder than ever.
"I just tried to do what I could. France are a top side with some of the best centre-backs in the world. It was nice to get on the scoresheet, but we created a lot of better chances tonight.
"We know our standards have to be higher. We probably let them slip a bit recently. We know the talent we have. We know the potential we have, and we saw a lot more flashes of it tonight."
News of the planned October 7 fixture arrived two days after England completed their European triumph in front of 87,192 spectators at the national stadium in London, beating Germany 2-1 in a final that went to extra time.
It was a record crowd for a European Championship game, men's or women's, and the feverish support for the women's in England looks set to guarantee another full house.
The US women's side beat England 2-1 in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals, and the two teams are expected to be among the trophy challengers at next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
England still have work to do to be absolutely sure of their place in that tournament, but a point away to Austria on September 3 or a home win over Luxembourg three days later would make sure. In the highly unlikely event that England miss out on an automatic place, the USA game would have to be cancelled or postponed.
England boss Wiegman said: "It would be the perfect game for our squad to meet another strong team after so many tough games in the Euros. It is good we enjoy the moment we are in after this wonderful summer, but we know we still have to work to do to take the next step forward."
USA head coach Vlatko Andonovski is relishing the trip, saying: "This is exactly the kind of match we need at exactly the right time in our World Cup preparations so we can test ourselves against a very talented England team.
"I saw England play live at the Euros, and I'm looking forward to an amazing atmosphere at Wembley and another big event for women's soccer on October 7."
Sarina Wiegman's side ended 56 years of major tournament hurt for England with a 2-1 extra-time victory over Germany in last month's Wembley final, going one better than the Three Lions did in their Euro 2020 penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy on the same ground.
The Lionesses sparkled throughout the tournament on home soil, scoring a remarkable 22 goals in six matches on their way to the title.
According to Manchester City boss Guardiola, their achievements should serve not only as an inspiration to women across the country, but also as a marker for their male counterparts.
"England have to be so proud, first of all, for these incredible women," he told BBC Sport.
"I had the feeling every season, women's football, the sport of women, is rising and getting better.
"It's so nice for our daughters and for the next generations, what they have done. And thanks to all of you, because you pay more attention to what they do, and that's why they get a final in their home country, at Wembley.
"[It was] a special moment, and I think it will put pressure on the men for the World Cup, and that is good, this is good."
Guardiola's praise comes in the same week as the retirements of two Lionesses legends, with the team's record goalscorer Ellen White and second-most-capped player Jill Scott both hanging up their boots as European champions.
Southgate's side will begin their World Cup campaign against Iran on November 21 before rounding off Group B by facing the United States and Wales.
The 26-year-old, who has won 46 caps and captained the Lionesses to Euro 2022 glory, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury last April and missed the World Cup, but returned to action with Arsenal recently and gets the call-up from Sarina Wiegman.
Millie Bright and Bethany England are out injured while there is no room for Nikita Parris despite a good run of form for Manchester United.
Earps left St. James' Park with crutches after sustaining an injury just eight minutes into Friday's 2-1 defeat against France.
That marred what should have been a memorable occasion for Manchester United goalkeeper Earps, who made her 50th appearance for the Lionesses.
England confirmed Earps will be unavailable for Tuesday's Euro 2025 qualifier away to France, with Birmingham City's Lucy Thomas joining Wiegman's 23-player squad for the trip to Saint-Etienne.
"Not the way the big 50 was meant to go, but grateful and hugely proud to have reached 50 caps for England," Earps posted to Instagram on Sunday.
"Thank you for your lovely messages, gutted that I've picked up a minor hip injury which will sideline me for a couple of weeks.
"Not something I'm used to but nothing a little bit of rest and relaxation won't fix – right behind the girls for Tuesday!"
England are third in Group A3 as Wiegman's side chase qualification for next year's European Championship in Switzerland.
The Lionesses have four points and are behind second-placed Sweden on goal difference, with France five clear at the top of the group after three games.
Wiegman's team then host Ireland on July 12 and play Sweden away four days later in their final group game.
The 21-year-old Manchester United defender was part of the Lionesses’ preparations for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, but not their subsequent run to the final, having been named as one of two standby players that flew home as the tournament began.
Two-cap Le Tissier, who says it was “devastating” to not make Sarina Wiegman’s World Cup 23, is now back as a member of the first squad selected since, for matches in the inaugural Women’s Nations League against Scotland on Friday and the Netherlands four days later.
She said of her summer: “It was bittersweet. I loved Australia, loved being with the girls. I really enjoyed my experience out there, it’s such a cool country.
“Just being a small part of the preparation going into the tournament has definitely made me more hungry to be selected for the next tournaments to come.
“Obviously it was devastating when I got the call that I wasn’t selected in the 23, but there was nothing else I could really do apart from be as good as I could for the team and try to put myself in the best place I could, helping them prepare for the World Cup.”
Asked how desperate she was to make the cut for Euro 2025 – England players also have the target of next summer’s Olympics with Great Britain, qualification for which can be secured via the Nations League – Le Tissier said: “(I’m) extremely desperate, but it’s in two years – there’s a lot that can happen in two years.
“I just need to focus on playing football and getting better. I’m still young so I’ve got a lot of things to learn and improve on, so if I can do that, that’ll put me in the best place to be selected.
“I’m just focusing on the present, doing well in these next two games with England and starting the Women’s Super League season (on October 1).
“(I need to) just keep playing well and doing well for United, doing well when I’m here, and hopefully be a big part of the team in years to come.
“I think I can look at the players and take a lot from them, and see how I can develop.
“They’re European champions and they just got to a World Cup final. I’m very inspired by the rest of the team and I just have to perform, day in, day out, as well as I can and consistently.
“I’ve still got a long way to go, so it’s exciting to see what happens in the future.”
England kick off their Nations League Group A1 fixtures by playing the Scots at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
Le Tissier said: “I think Scotland-England is a game everyone wants to be a part of.
“They want to beat us, we want to beat them, and it’s going to be an exciting game, especially up north. They’re massive football fans up there.
“I watched the men’s game the other day (a 3-1 win for England at Hampden Park) and it was a crazy atmosphere as well, so we’re really looking forward to the game.
“They’ve got some good players but we’ll be focusing on ourselves and seeing what we can do to beat them.”
After that contest, England then head to Utrecht for the Netherlands match.
The trio had been named on the initial shortlist of 22 players, which has now been whittled down to just three names ahead of next week's award ceremony in Istanbul.
Arsenal attacker Mead is rewarded for an impressive showing at the Women's Euros, where she was crowned Player of the Tournament after leading the scoring charts in England's triumph on home soil.
Oberdorf won the Young Player of the Tournament award after helping Germany to another final, having also played a crucial role in Wolfsburg winning the domestic double last season.
Spain star Putellas was absent from the tournament through injury, but the 2021 Ballon d'Or Feminin winner enjoyed the most prolific season of her club career thanks to 34 goals in Barcelona's clean sweep of Spanish trophies in 2021-22.
Wolfsburg and Germany striker Alex Popp narrowly missed out on the top three, while Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona and Spain finished fifth in the voting.
UEFA also announced the Women's Coach of the Year nominees on Wednesday, with England coach Sarina Wiegman joined by Sonia Bompastor and Martina Voss-Tecklenburg of Lyon and Germany respectively.
Four days on from the 7-2 defeat of Austria at the Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Algeciras, another thumping victory for the Lionesses at the same venue began with Lotte Wubben-Moy heading her first international goal in the opening minute.
Lauren Hemp extended the lead with a brace, the second via an excellent header, and after Michela Cambiaghi pulled a goal back for Italy in stoppage time at the end of the first half, substitutes Ella Toone and Rachel Daly completed the rout in the second half.
Boss Wiegman told ITV: “I think the whole camp, a lot of things pleased me.
“I think we had the opportunity to play many players…see what the level was, that was exactly what we wanted, see players in some positions and the connections between players, and then the competition.
“And when you have then such good wins as we had tonight and last Friday, that’s really nice too of course.”
Next up for England are the opening Euro 2025 qualifiers in April as Wiegman’s side begin the journey of defending the title they won on home soil in 2022.
When asked if the camp had given her the answers she needed ahead of the matches in April, Wiegman said: “You never know, because things in football can change so quickly, but it gave us many answers on questions we had at this moment.
“We could take this opportunity to see so many players and play two very good games, train also, see the under-23s (who joined the senior team on the trip). So just very many positives about this week.”
Those positives for Wiegman – who saw Leah Williamson withdraw from her original squad due to injury and Fran Kirby do so between the two matches – included debuts being made by 20-year-old Grace Clinton, a goalscorer in the Austria match, and Millie Turner introduced as a substitute against Italy.
On Arsenal defender Wubben-Moy, after her 12th senior appearance for the team, Wiegman said: “I think she’s definitely taken a step forward because she’s developing a lot and very good.
“That’s what we see weekly at Arsenal and that’s what she shows here too. What you can (also) see is the competition in the position is just really high.”
Wubben-Moy heading in from an Alex Greenwood delivery was an early example as England – on a night that saw them also make some notable errors at the back – demonstrated the problems they can cause from corners.
Wiegman added: “We are always working on it. We had a little more emphasis on it, we had a little more time this week.
“So it’s really good to see that it had so much effect and hopefully we can do that again in the following games.”
Williamson has been named in a 23-player group for friendlies against Austria and Italy in Spain later this month.
It marks a first return to the Lionnesses’ camp for the 26-year-old since she suffered an ACL injury last April, which ruled her out of last summer’s World Cup.
Wiegman said: “It is really nice, especially for her, she is back, she is gaining minutes at Arsenal, doing well, she is happy at Arsenal and they are of course happy too.
“It is really nice to have her back because she is a very good player, even though she has been out for months, now she has come back her decision-making is still really good.
“She is still building. The team picked up very well, players stepped up but it is still really nice to have her back.”
Williamson captained her country to Euro 2022 success, but Wiegman did not say whether she will still have the armband.
“I have to talk to the players first about that,” she said.
“We come in and we have to start again, we will revisit that and have a conversation with the players first.”
There was no room in the squad for in-form Manchester United forward Nikita Parris, who has been overlooked despite scoring 15 goals in the last 16 matches for her club.
Wiegman spoke to the 29-year-old to explain her decision but says she has tough choices to make.
“The competition up front is really high, in the autumn she didn’t play much,” Wiegman said. “Since the new year she has played in the nine position and has done really well, of course we have noticed that too.
“We have had a little chat and I hope she shows consistency because we are talking about her again but I made some other choices now for this camp.
“With the players we have, they have done well so it was a hard decision.
“I had conversations with her in the autumn, that was a different situation. I had a short conversation with her yesterday and I explained a little bit and that is now just the way it is.
“We have many players up front, it is so competitive that I have to make choices and some players who are doing really well will be kept out. She is available and she knows we are watching her closely.”
The Lionesses take on Austria on February 23 and Italy four days later.
The Lionesses face Austria on Friday and Italy next Tuesday in a pair of friendlies which have replaced what they hoped would be Nations League semi-finals.
A 6-0 thrashing of Scotland looked to have secured top spot in Group A1 in December, only for the Netherlands to score twice in added time against Belgium to pip England on goal difference and end Team GB’s hopes of qualifying for Paris 2024.
“This is really the start of our Euros campaign and after the very disappointing result of not qualifying for the play-offs to qualify for the Olympics we moved on,” said Wiegman, whose side will bid to defend their European title in Switzerland next year.
“This is the start, with two friendlies which is really good for us because we can try out some things.
“We are also very close to the Under-23s [also training in Spain] so we can see them, we can connect with them and we get a lot of players that we can see where they are at this moment.
“This is a great start because in April the Nations League starts which are the qualifiers for the Euros.”
Euro 2022-winning captain Leah Williamson had been named in Wiegman’s squad for the first time since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament rupture, but the Arsenal defender withdrew with a hamstring injury on Sunday.
Asked if club coaches had requested a limit on player minutes amid a three-way Women’s Super League title race and a spate of high-profile injuries, Wiegman said: “Not this time.
“We are in contact with each other all the time, we update each other and of course we know how important the Women’s Super League is too but also the German League for Georgia [Stanway] and the Spanish league for the players who play in Spain at the moment.
“Of course, we want to take care of the players but we want to do lots of things. We play to win but we also have the opportunity now to try out things and also manage minutes. With a busy calendar I think that’s something to be aware of.
“The issue of injuries is a bigger picture and it’s about the load on the players. The calendar we talk about a lot, that we really have to address the calendar. I spoke up about that last week – we really ask FIFA and UEFA to change things.
“But we are doing a job as good as possible with all the expertise we have in our team and staff. We have a programme and we monitor the players really well.
“You’re in an environment where an injury can happen because it’s a physical sport, but if you can diminish the risk of injuries as much as possible, that’s also what we try to do.”
James, the sister of Chelsea and England men's right-back Reece, scored the final goal in a 4-0 win against South Korea in the Arnold Clark Cup.
The 21-year-old, earning her sixth senior cap, had won the penalty Georgia Stanway netted for the opener.
James has had to bide her time for opportunities at both club and international level, having dealt with injury issues both before and after her move from Manchester United.
But she has shown this season why she is considered perhaps the most talented England player of her generation.
James has scored four goals and provided one assist in 10 Women's Super League matches. She has thrilled fans with her exciting playing style, completing more dribbles (21) than any other player in the division.
Now, after making an impact for England, Bronze – previously The Best FIFA Women's Player – is looking forward to seeing what more there is to come from James.
"Everyone knows the quality that LJ's got," the right-back said. "Technically, on the ball, she's probably one of the best there is.
"It's fun for me to play with her, because I know she's always going to get the ball in the right place.
"It's crazy that she's so young, because this is the player that everyone has been talking about for five years now.
"Everyone has been waiting for this superstar, and it's exciting to be here now at the start of her England career."
James added: "I'm lost for words really. I just like to stay humble, continue giving to the team and continue improving."
England manager Sarina Wiegman said: "She has been a talent for a long time. She just needed to be available and needed some time at Chelsea.
"She worked really hard at Chelsea. That's what you have seen this season, then she can take the next step to the national team.
"Now, when she starts playing at this level with Chelsea and in the Champions League and on this international level and gets those minutes, she can improve.
"I hope now she gets consistency, she stays fit and keeps enjoying herself."
Britain's Monarch passed away on Thursday after a reign of over 70 years, leading to the cancellation of all football fixtures across the United Kingdom this weekend.
The Football Association has also confirmed that tributes will be paid at the UEFA Nations League fixture against Germany at Wembley Stadium on September 26, with a period of silence and the wearing of black armbands.
Southgate, who was awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year Honours, said in his message that the Queen "showed the world what it is to be British".
"My thoughts today are with His Majesty King Charles III, the FA President HRH The Duke of Cambridge and the Royal Family," he said.
"In remembering and celebrating the life of Her Majesty The Queen, we are also acknowledging her remarkable leadership and lifetime of dignified service.
"She showed the world what it is to be British. Her values, her dignity, her resilience were an exemplar to us all and she has provided us with stability and reassurance in the best and also most difficult of times.
"I was proud to have her as our patron and to sing God Save The Queen before every match.
"The team will have the chance to pay our respects at our fixture with Germany later this month. An occasion that will, of course, bring to mind the World Cup final in 1966 and the moment when Her Majesty handed the Jules Rimet trophy to Bobby Moore.
"As Wembley and the country falls silent, I will think of that and her 70 years of impeccable duty."
Wiegman, who led England's women to European Championship glory earlier this year, spoke of the connection between the UK and her native Netherlands, which she says "always had a great deal of respect" for her.
"It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II," she said.
"I just wanted to join the many millions of people across the world to celebrate her life and mourn her passing. My homeland has always had a great deal of respect, admiration and love for her and I know that is a feeling not unique to the Netherlands but across the entire world.
"Developing my connection with England strengthened my bond to Her Majesty. I could feel the love the public felt for her, a mother figure for people to seek stability and peace from in uncertain times.
"The national anthem sung with such respect by my players and staff, served as a reminder of what she meant to the country. The words 'send her victorious' a line written on our shirts but was also in our hearts.
"This summer she took the time to write to me and my players congratulating us for our success. In that letter she called us an 'inspiration for girls and women'. It is you, your Majesty, who was the inspiration with your unrelenting work ethic, leadership, dignity and kindness.
"My thoughts are with the Royal Family and the whole of the United Kingdom as they come to terms with this tragic news."
European champions England were playing at the scene of their momentous Euro 2022 triumph on July 31 for the first time, with the USA – the most successful team in women's football – visiting Wembley.
Although only a friendly, pre-game interest around the match was significant with it said to have been the fastest-selling England fixture – men or women – at the new Wembley.
The crowd was treated to an entertaining contest, with Lauren Hemp giving England an early lead as she pounced on a failed interception in the penalty area.
Sophia Smith levelled in the 28th minute after England lost possession just outside their own box, but Georgia Stanway quickly restored the advantage from the spot after Lucy Bronze was caught by a high boot.
A marginal offside call a few moments later denied USA a well-worked equaliser and England ultimately held firm in the second half, with a VAR review overturning a late penalty award for the visitors and leaving Wiegman happy but philosophical.
"That was really intense, just what we wanted," she told ITV Sport. "USA played as we expected, they gave us hard times sometimes, which is normal as they are really good.
"I thought we played well in moments, actually in the first half a little better than the second. In the second we had some problems to get out of the press, but it's 2-1 and I think it was a great game."
Asked if this victory will put a target on their back as the team to beat at next year's World Cup, she added: "The target is there all the time!
"We said before this game, yes we want to play the game, win the game, but whatever happens this is just the starting point for getting prepared for the World Cup.
"But of course it's really nice when you win the game and show shows you are at a very high level."
The Lionesses appeared to ride their luck on occasion, particularly with regard to the tight offside call in their favour to deny the USA an equaliser.
USA had luck in behind more than once, but Wiegman felt that although England were not perfect, their high press and aggressive nature off the ball was what she wanted to see.
"I understand [the defensive concerns], sometimes we were very open, played with a lot of space in the back and we know the USA are very quick, a very athletic team," he said.
"We didn't choose to just drop back to get the space behind the defence very small, we just wanted to play a game with the high press.
"In those moments, we knew that, but it's something we will review and see if we can do better, but this is how we want to play."
The Lionesses went into the friendly on a 30-match unbeaten run, but lost 2-0 at the Brentford Community Stadium on Tuesday thanks to goals from Sam Kerr and Charlotte Grant.
It came just days after the European champions won the first ever women's Finalissima against Brazil on penalties, but Wiegman is not concerned as England prepare for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which gets underway in July.
"I'm not worried. I don't worry very quickly," she said after the game. "We know we have to be at our top level and that's when we go into the World Cup too.
"Every game we get some warnings – against Brazil we got some warnings in the Finalissima. We know where we want to go to and what we have to do.
"I don't think we're losing momentum, I think it's building. There's 100 days to go and everyone's really excited to go to Australia and this is just a very big learning moment for us that we need to get to a higher level to win these games."
On losing the undefeated streak, Wiegman added: "I haven't been focused on that ever. We just want to win every game and you remind us all of the time [about the unbeaten run] but we don't talk about that in our camp.
"We talk about the next game and we want to improve every game and try to adapt to the opponent.
"I would've loved to have had a 31st win but sometimes you win and sometimes you lose."
Captain Leah Williamson saw a mistake punished by Kerr to open the scoring, and she told ITV: "Yeah. That first goal probably made it worse for me than everybody else but the whole team feels really, really rubbish about losing. It hurts."
She added: "[It's] absolutely not a setback [before the World Cup]. Sometimes you have to take blessings in disguise and I think maybe that's not the worst thing that could've happened to us.
"We wanted to learn this whole time, we wanted to be pushed to our limits and we need to take it up a new level.
"In the past, we won those games, we turned them around but actually tonight to lose it gives you a bit of fire."
