Sarina Wiegman intends to stay put as England boss amidst swirling rumours the serial winner could be tempted into the recently vacated United States manager’s chair. On Thursday, US Soccer announced Vlatko Andonovski would step down by mutual agreement following a disappointing World Cup campaign that saw the double-defending champions knocked out by Sweden for a worst-ever last 16 finish. Wiegman and Chelsea manager Emma Hayes were already among the names frequently tipped to fill the post, but the 53-year-old issued a reassuring update two nights before leading the Lionesses into their first-ever World Cup final. She said of the chatter: “I’m staying out of that. I’ve heard it. I’m with England, I’m really happy with England and I have a contract until 2025. “I’m really enjoying my job and I have the impression that people still like me doing that job. I have no plans to leave.” Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham has said that his organisation would refuse an American approach for Wiegman. The 53-year-old is the first manager in history to have steered two different nations to a women’s European championship title, having done so with her native Netherlands in 2017 and England last summer. Four years ago in France, Wiegman reached a World Cup final with the Oranje Leeuwinnen but fell to the US at the final hurdle, so both boss and squad will be determined to secure the trophy that has so far eluded them when they line up against Spain in front of more than 75,000 people in Sydney on Sunday. The Dutch manager has only been in her post since the summer of 2021, but arrived with a deep appreciation of what it feels like to be a long-suffering England fan. I’m really enjoying my job and I have the impression that people still like me doing that job. Sarina Wiegman Asked if she is aware of how much is invested in the Lionesses potentially ending 57 years of hurt since the men lifted the World Cup under Sir Alf Ramsey, Wiegman replied: “I don’t hear it that much because I get out of the noise. But I know it’s there. “When we started working, I felt that the country was so desperate to win a final in a tournament. Everyone was saying that and the players too. I thought: it’s very real. “I heard again: 1966. Everyone’s talking about 1966. So let’s be at our best on Sunday and try and be successful.” Wiegman’s life changed when, in the late 1980s, she met University of North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Anson Dorrance at a Women’s World Cup prototype tournament, an encounter that eventually led the then-midfielder to move to America. If the three-time FIFA Best winner’s connection to the US concerns fans unconvinced by Wiegman’s earlier assurances, perhaps the Hague-born boss’ sheer enthusiasm for the uniquely religious fervour with which the English consume football will assuage them. She said: “Football is so big in England, it’s so in the culture. That’s incredible to experience. It’s so big. It’s everywhere.” There has nevertheless been a bit of cultural adjustment for the straight-talking Dutchwoman, who alongside her players has – perhaps reluctantly – become a household name since England lifted the Euro 2022 trophy last summer. The England boss, who chalks up her side’s growth in part to their learning – at her encouragement – to embrace mistakes, is motivated by “working with very ambitious, talented people”. Earlier in the tournament, captain Millie Bright also linked Wiegman’s arrival with the establishment of an environment devoid of hierarchy, where players feel they can speak their mind, even when the conversations can be difficult. Perhaps that has something to do with the Dutch directness Wiegman admits, despite her affinity for England, she has probably imported into the Lionesses’ culture. She added: “English people are very polite and sometimes you go ‘OK, are you now being polite or are you really saying what you mean?’ “And that’s sometimes finding a balance, because you don’t have to be rude to be direct. So I ask the players and the staff ‘you can be honest, it doesn’t mean that you’re rude. Just be direct’. “Direct doesn’t mean rude. You can just say what you think and still be very respectful.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Sarina Wiegman v Jorge Vilda – a look at the World Cup final coaches Have Spain moved past player mutiny on their run to World Cup final? Owen Farrell absence dominates build-up – Ireland v England talking points

Everton manager Sean Dyche believes his side have got their “edge” back at just the right time. A surprise 5-1 win at Brighton on Monday has raised hopes of escaping relegation and he knows that ability to find something extra will be crucial as they host Premier League leaders and treble-chasers Manchester City. Dyche took over a side at the end of January that had lost eight of nine matches but after the initial bounce a new manager occasionally brings, beating Arsenal and Leeds in his first three games, results tailed off again. The team had registered just one win in 11 before victory over the Seagulls but Dyche thinks that result – after encouraging signs in their previous outing in a 2-2 draw at Leicester – shows that much sought-after X-factor is returning. “I looked at some of the performances, the body language, intent and meaning behind the performance and in some way, I thought some things were lacking,” he said. “We’ve adjusted that side of it, the purposefulness of the side, some of the quality moments, some of the defensive side but the actual feel of the performance and mentality of the performance has grown. “Watching the intent, body language and desire of a team, it’s hard to explain, but I know it when I see it, I’ve been in the game all my life. “You get stats – our team and their team – and it can look like there’s nothing in it, but there’s a big difference in body language intent and desire from those stats. “Compared to some of the performances since I got here, that kind of edge has improved.” Everton’s win over Brighton was a huge morale boost but facing City, even at Goodison Park, is a daunting task for a side who probably require at least one more win from their remaining three games to extend their top-flight status into a 70th successive season. And while time is running out to save themselves, as they did on the penultimate game of last season, Dyche is keen to change the view on the significance which has been placed on coming good when it is needed at the end of a campaign. “The thing I’m trying to get to here is that every single game should matter. Every single game should be the most important one. We are trying to build that momentum,” he added. “I’ve never believed in ‘the business end of the season’. The first game should be the business end of the season because that might be the one that wins you a title, gets you promoted or keeps you in a division. “If you take big games along the way then fantastic – it’s great for you, great for the team, great for the prowess of the club and the badge, great for everything. “But that should be the mentality on day one, not just because you’re playing Man City and it’s near the end of a season. “We are trying to adjust that, it is a longer-term thing, but that is my belief. Of course it is a fantastic occasion to take on one of the biggest teams in terms of winning trophies, but that doesn’t make it easier.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Anything can happen in football – Pep Guardiola wary of threat posed by Everton Moises Caicedo has no point to prove against admirers Arsenal – Roberto De Zerbi Jurgen Klopp happy Liverpool ‘could show up a little bit’ before end of season

Ange Postecoglou does not currently feel worthy of the Tottenham fans’ support but has promised to try bring them joy after being inspired by Australian singer Nick Cave. It has been a difficult 2023 for Spurs after the club’s trophy drought extended and record goalscorer Harry Kane departed on the eve of the new Premier League season, but there is overwhelming support for Postecoglou. The new man in the Tottenham hotseat was this week reminded of football’s significance to supporters when he listened to a podcast between Louis Theroux and his compatriot Cave. “It is not about making the fans happy, it is about giving them joy and joy comes from suffering,” Postecoglou said ahead of Manchester United’s visit on Saturday. “I am saying that because I listened to a podcast during the week and I thought it was a great description of what football is about. “I am at that funny stage where supporters have been very, very supportive but I don’t expect that nor do I feel worthy of it. “I still need to prove myself to our fans and the people at the club by our deeds rather than our words. I haven’t yet delivered anything. Hopefully when the day comes that we deliver as a team it will mean something different then Ange Postecoglou “Hopefully at the moment we are giving them sort of belief in what we’re trying to create but we need to back it up on a weekly basis. “We need our supporters behind us. We want the Tottenham ground to be a place where the energy is all on our side, so hopefully that happens tomorrow.” Postecoglou was serenaded for a number of minutes by the away fans at Brentford last weekend and a tifo display is planned for his first competitive home match in charge. But he admitted: “It means a lot but I’m not comfortable with it. You love what it means because for the most part it’s blind faith. “I haven’t yet delivered anything. Hopefully when the day comes that we deliver as a team it will mean something different then. “I don’t dismiss it either, that’s people taking a huge leap of faith on me as an individual and I appreciate that. It’s a really good reminder of the responsibility that I have.” While fans will get behind the team for the 5.30pm kick-off with Erik Ten Hag’s United, a protest will take place hours before arranged by Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust over the club’s decision to increase matchday ticket prices. The ‘Call to Action’ from THST will ask for the club to reverse the increase – which they insist will price out loyal fans – and Postecoglou backed their right to “express their emotions” during Friday’s press conference. He is also acutely aware of how important home form can be, adding: “It’s a beautiful stadium, absolutely, but as much as opposition teams enjoy playing in the venue, what we have got to make sure is they don’t enjoy the experience. “What makes grounds difficult to play on is the experience you give teams, whether that’s the environment the fans create or the football you play against them. “If you want to make it a place where we see it as an advantage, you have got to make sure the experience for opposition clubs is not a pleasant one.” Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson made sure teams did not enjoy travelling to Old Trafford and Postecoglou reminisced about his meeting with the managerial great this week. Postecoglou was in charge of South Melbourne when they lost 2-0 to United in the Club World Championship in 2000. And more than two decades later he will try to secure his first Premier League win against Ferguson’s old club. “I don’t think I take elements in my own game but people like Sir Alex, whether it’s consciously or unconsciously, they have an effect on you,” Postecoglou acknowledged. “It’s not just football managers. I’m a pretty curious kind of guy and you learn things from all sorts of people and events. “I’ve always tried to constantly nourish that part of my brain that is constantly curious about things. “It was significant for me because we were coming from nowhere playing at one of the world’s most iconic stadiums, the Maracana, against one of the greatest teams at that time that football had seen, against one of the greatest managers. “I had five or six minutes with him and apart from saying hello, I just listened. That’s the best way to have interaction with people like that. There’s no point me talking for five minutes, he’s not going to learn anything off me.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Manchester United’s new-look midfield must click quickly – Erik ten Hag Big transfer fees no guarantee for Chelsea starting spot – Mauricio Pochettino Top seed Iga Swiatek fights back to reach Western and Southern Open semi-finals

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