Sarina Wiegman explains the bizarre reason why Lionesses were stopped from bringing on Lucy Bronze in a win over Switzerland

Sarina Wiegman has revealed why England were prevented from bringing on Lucy Bronze in their friendly win over Switzerland on Tuesday. 

The Lionesses treated fans to a 1-0 victory courtesy of an early Grace Clinton goal at Wembley to follow up their 0-0 draw with the USA. 

Bronze is one of England’s most distinguished internationals with 127 caps – more than any current Lioness – but officials would not let her add another feather to her cap. 

Wiegman wanted to bring on the defender in the 83rd minute but the 33-year-old was sent back to the bench with a bemused expression. 

‘That was the moment where she was not on the list (the official team sheet). There had been a mistake, unfortunately, a human mistake,’ Wiegman explained.

‘We found out there and we still wanted to bring her on the pitch but unfortunately she couldn’t go so that was really frustrating, of course the most for herself but yeah, we couldn’t change it anymore.’

Sarina Wiegman explained that she had not been officially registered for the team sheet 

There had been calls for Wiegman to rotate her side and she made 10 changes from the one that was locked in a stalemate with the US, managed by Emma Hayes.

Clinton repaid her faith with her third international goal in five appearances – only one short of what she notched in the WSL last season.

The Manchester United star had England in front within 10 minutes, firing home from close range after a well-worked set-piece rebounded off the post.

‘I’m happy with the win,’ said Wiegman England’s last match of 2024. ‘In the first half we played really well, we challenged them all the time. We played mainly on their half of the pitch and created chances, and scored one goal.

‘I was really happy with that because what we wanted to do with a very young team, some debuts and some starters for the first time in [a while] who hadn’t played for us.

‘So we made many changes but I felt that was a very good first half. I think in the second half our level dropped. We were more sloppy. We didn’t find the pockets well enough. So that was a little bit harder.’

The Lionesses’ first assignment of 2025 will come at Portugal in the UEFA Nations League.