England boss Sarina Wiegman says team well prepared for sweltering Swiss heat
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England manager Sarina Wiegman (centre) was thankful for the recent warm weather that allowed them to get in some early heat acclimatisation.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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ZURICH – England manager Sarina Wiegman is confident that her players will be well prepared for the Switzerland heatwave when they begin the defence of their Women’s European Championship title against France in Zurich on July 5.
She was thankful for the recent warm weather in England, which allowed the squad to begin early heat acclimatisation.
“Of course, we have protocols in place, strategies, which players who have been around longer are familiar with... because they played in circumstances like this,” the Dutchwoman said from the team’s base camp on July 2.
“I think we could already practise (in the heat) the first week of our training camp, because in England it was really hot too.”
England’s heat protocols include wearing ice vests and towels, sitting in ice baths and drinking ice slushies.
They also use cryotherapy, which involves applying extremely cold temperatures either locally with ice packs or cooling sprays, or in a cryotherapy chamber.
“(We also) make sure we are hydrated. Of course, taking enough rest,” Wiegman added.
“Don’t go in and out all the time. That’s for your recovery. And do those things to keep your body temperature low.”
The temperature climbed to 33 deg C in Zurich on July 2, but conditions are expected to cool slightly before the weekend.
Kick-off for the England match is at 9pm local time, and the temperature at night will likely be lower as well.
European football governing body Uefa is taking the warm weather seriously, with free sunscreen available around stadiums and fan zones and a relaxation of the rules about taking water bottles into the stadiums.
The normally strict security rules were relaxed to allow fans attending matches on the first two days to bring a half-litre plastic or aluminium water bottle into the stadium, though no glass bottles will be allowed.
Wiegman said that after the opening game, the team would meet England’s medical staff to gauge how the players managed the conditions.
“And then we move forward on to the next game,” she said.
England, who edged out Germany 2-1 at Wembley Stadium in London to win Euro 2022, are in a tough group alongside France, the Netherlands and Wales in Switzerland. REUTERS
