Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman was “surprised” by Arsenal’s decision to arrange a post-season friendly in Australia just a week before England host France in a Euro 2025 qualifier.
The Gunners are facing an A League All Stars team on May 24 in Melbourne, just six days after the final game of the Women’s Super League season.
The match could be prove problematic for England, who are hosting France at St. James’ Park on May 31 as they bid to qualify for Euro 2025.
The Lionesses will then travel to France four day later for the reverse fixture in Saint-Etienne.
“I think with the calendar we have talked about that a lot - the windows, congested schedule - and those are a lot of challenges for the players, and for us too,” said Wiegman.
“So, we are now working towards the summer. We have had very good conversations with the clubs.
“I was surprised about that trip [Arsenal are doing]. The competition finishes at the end of May, then there is one week in between, and then we go into the international break.
“I think for all the players, with already the complicated calendar, it’s not good for them to go to the other side of the world - very short term, not having the time to adapt and play a game and come back and go for us to two games in France, home and away.
“But I would say that’s not only for the English players, that’s for every European player that goes into the qualifiers. That’s a thing that will be hard for them to take and to perform at the highest level.
“I am in contact with Jonas [Eidevall] all the time. We talk about players, so I also spoke about these concerns.
“They haven’t announced yet who is going, who is not. This is a matter for Arsenal and the last thing I will do is dictate to the club or to the coach. That’s not my job and that’s not what I want to do.
“I think this is a wider thing. Let’s take away Arsenal, if a club would go - and you have all international players from different countries - then I think for all these players, who are playing competitive games in June with their country, that will be a hard one to take.”
The calendar in the women’s game has proved problematic in recent years following the sport’s rapid growth.
Wiegman has expressed concerns over player welfare in the past and has repeatedly called on governing bodies to address the matter.
England will have qualifiers in June and July this summer, and talks are underway with clubs over when players will be released.
Clubs are wary about players being in camp for too long and not getting a sufficient rest period.
A report in the Guardian this month claimed clubs were getting frustrated and that a club-v-country row could ignite.
But Wiegman said: “I was surprised about that. They are not angry. The conversations we have had, there is no anger at all.
“To be honest, I don’t know where that comes from. The clubs are not angry with us and we are not angry with the clubs.”
