Sarina Wiegman insisted she feels safe to travel to Belgium for England’s Nations League fixture this month after two Swedish nationals were shot dead in a terrorist attack in Brussels on Monday.
The Lionesses face a double header with the Red Devils, with the second game taking place in the city of Leuven, 25 kilometers east of Brussels, on October 31.
Wiegman said she has been reassured by the conversations between the Football Association and the Belgian FA since the incident occurred.
‘Of course that’s an awful situation, two people killed, very, very horrible,’ Wiegman said.
‘Of course the FA has conversations with the Belgium FA. It’s all about safety. I feel safe enough to go there. I haven’t talked to the players at the moment because they’re at club but I do feel safe.
Sarina Wiegman says England Women’s safety has been assured ahead of their Belgium trip
Terrified Belgian and Swedish fans were locked inside the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Monday after two fans were shot dead. The Euro 2024 qualifier was abandoned at half-time
The shooting took place in Boulevard d’Ypres – approximately three miles from the stadium
Police arrived at the site of the shooting incident while the match was underway in Brussels
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‘There are conversations going on and they will do everything to make us safe.’
Wiegman announced a 25-player squad for the two fixtures, with Fran Kirby a notable inclusion after returning from injury.
The Chelsea forward, who has not played for England since October 2022, returned to fitness at the start of the Women’s Super League season after missing the World Cup through injury.
‘It’s very nice that she’s back on the pitch, and that she’s fit and healthy,’ Wiegman said.
‘She did well with Chelsea when she came on the pitch. I think she has been building up to those moments, also during the summer, and she’s shown enough quality in her performance that I think it’s good that she comes back in [to] the team. She’s ready to go.’
Wiegman also handed 19-year-old goalkeeper Khiara Keating and 20-year-old midfielder Grace Clinton their first senior call-ups after impressing for Manchester City and Tottenham. But there was no place in the squad for Beth Mead, who made her long-awaited return from injury in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.
‘To be honest, she was not close,’ Wiegman said of Mead.
‘She’s in a good place now. She’s been out for nine months. She had those first minutes, which was nice to see but first she has to build at club, show performances at club and get that consistency back.’
England’s first game against Belgium takes place at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on October 27 before the return match five days later.
Chelsea star Fran Kirby (left) will feature for Sarina Wiegman in the upcoming run of Nations League matches
Despite featuring for Arsenal after returning from injury Beth Mead’s wait for an England call-up must continue
Talented Man City goalkeeper Khiara Keating has received her first senior call-up at just 19
