England's Women's team is gearing up for their Women's European Championship title defense in Switzerland, with manager Sarina Wiegman expressing confidence in her team's preparedness for the country's heatwave. Zurich has seen temperatures climb to 33 degrees Celsius. The Lionesses are set to face France in their opening match on Saturday in Zurich.
Wiegman highlighted the advantage of having experienced warm weather conditions during their training camp in England. This early acclimatization has allowed the team to implement heat protocols. These strategies include using ice vests and towels, taking ice baths, and consuming ice slushies to lower body temperatures. Cryotherapy, involving the use of extremely cold temperatures applied locally or in a cryotherapy chamber, is also part of their regimen.
Hydration and rest are also key components of England's approach to managing the heat. Wiegman emphasized the importance of staying hydrated and limiting unnecessary movement to aid recovery and maintain a lower body temperature.
UEFA is also taking the heat seriously, implementing measures to ensure the safety and comfort of both players and fans. Free sunscreen will be available around stadiums and fan zones. Restrictions on bringing water bottles into stadiums have been relaxed, allowing fans to bring in plastic or aluminum bottles of up to half a liter. However, glass bottles remain prohibited. If temperatures exceed 32 degrees Celsius during warm-ups, cooling breaks will be implemented during the game. These temperatures will be measured using a wet bulb globe thermometer, which accounts for humidity, wind speed, cloud cover and sun angle, in addition to temperature.
Wiegman mentioned that the team will consult with medical staff after Saturday's game to assess how the players coped with the conditions. She remains optimistic that the 9 p.m. local time kickoff will provide some relief from the day's peak temperatures. The temperature is expected to be around 25 degrees Celsius. She does not anticipate the need to make extra substitutions due to the heat.
