TV Guide: Sarina Wiegman’s amazing run hits another peak

Germany, European champions for 22 years, had finally lost in the quarter-finals to lowly Denmark, who then crept past Austria on penalties after a goalless draw. Only the Netherlands, ranked 12th, stood between England and the final. The Lionesses trounced the Dutch that evening in terms of shots and corners but on the metric that matters – balls in the net – they lost 3-0. A late own goal by Millie Bright rubbed it in.

Lucy Bronze, who was already closing in on 50 caps in 2017, is the sole survivor from that beaten side and today will win her 140th cap. Wiegman’s side lifted the trophy, then reached the final of the World Cup before she crossed the North Sea. The Dutch coach’s first qualifying tournament with England, for the 2023 World Cup, could not have been more emphatic: 10 wins, 80 goals scored, none conceded. They also scored 14 goals without reply to start Euro 2022.

While the knockout stage was harder, Wiegman gave the Lionesses the belief: after extra-time wins over Spain and Germany, football was indeed coming home. Spain got revenge on them in the World Cup final and now here the sides are again for Wiegman’s fifth straight international final (Today, BBC1 and ITV1, 5pm).

In the men’s game, the Football League resumes on Friday with Luton Town hosting AFC Wimbledon in League One (Sky Sports Main Event, 8pm), having entered the division from different directions.

Liverpool, Newcastle, Wolverhampton and Bournemouth begin the road to Wembley on Saturday in the extra preliminary qualifying round of the FA Cup.

That’s AFC Liverpool, of course, a not-for-profit supporters’ side, the initials standing for Affordable Football Club; Newcastle Town, who are Under-Lyme not Upon-Tyne; Wolverhampton City, who have just changed their name from Old Wulfrunians; and Bournemouth FC, who are 24 years older than AFC Bournemouth. The Poppies from the Wessex League are away to Bradford Town, not City, from Wiltshire not West Yorkshire.

With the Premier League still almost three weeks away, let the namesakes have their brief turn in the limelight. They join 442 other clubs from the eighth and ninth tiers in the draw, sides with romantic names like West Allotment Celtic, Roman Glass St George and Shepshed Dynamo. The winners will earn £1,125, or what Kylian Mbappé earns in 13 minutes at the Bernabéu.

At last weekend’s Diamond League event in London there were golds for Georgia Hunter Bell in the 800m, Charlie Dobson in the 400m and Morgan Lake in the high jump. All will be hoping for a good show at the UK Championships next weekend in Birmingham (BBC Red Button from 11.20am).

Photograph by Maja Hitij/Getty Images