Key occasions
13 min: The ball bobbles round within the England field and it breaks against González however her first contact is somewhat too heavy, permitting Hampton to temporarily collect the ball.
12 min: Hemp performs Charles into the field however the flag is going up once more. This one gave the impression of the best resolution.
11 min: Bonmatí is thru on objective however the flag is going up for offside. She wags her finger, denying the declare. The replay presentations she was once properly onside with Williamson stuck out however there is not any VAR within the staff levels of the Nations League so play continues.
8 min: Spain get two corners back-to-back. The first results in a wild Carmona shot and the second one is cleared away via Charles.
8 min: What a let-off! Williamson looks as if she is going to simply take care of a unprecedented ball excessive from Spain however as an alternative passes it instantly into the go of González. The striker cuts within and shoots however it’s well-wide.
6 min: England rise up the pitch however Bronze and Mead can’t get their passing slightly proper.
3 min: Spain win an early nook. Paralluelo takes the set-piece and it lands to Parades who has a swipe at it. It lands against González, who spins and shoots however Hampton is there, her sturdy hand popping out and denying what gave the impression of a certain objective. Great save from shut vary!
1 min: Spain get started early with Bonmatí and Paralluelo making an attempt to mix however Williamson offers with the drive.
Kick-off: Spain 0-0 England
The gamers take a knee earlier than the referee blows her whistle. The hosts in all crimson and the guests in white and blue.
The groups are out and the nationwide anthems are performed. Paredes and Williamson – the 2 captains – shake palms and we’re moments clear of kick-off.
The pre-match postbag is right here!
Peter questions the line-up:
Stanway begins, Beever-Jones a sub. Why? Stanway has had a couple of mins enjoying for England. Beever-Jones a hattrick. This is an important sport.
Definitely an enchanting alternate from Wiegman. She didn’t in reality give a transparent solution in her pre-match interview for her reasoning however I imagine she’ll need to assess Stanway’s talent earlier than this summer season and notice if she will stay up towards one of the vital easiest midfields on the planet in Spain. Let’s see if Beever-Jones make an look off the bench.
And Assaf with some more data:
Besides being all-or-nothing for Nations League semi-final qualification, the No 1 group of every League A gaggle additionally qualifies at once to the 2027 Women’s World Cup. That’s a minimum of 4 video games stored for the an increasing number of drained our bodies of most sensible gamers.
Great spot! Wiegman has been vocal concerning the choice of video games her gamers are pressured to play and I’m certain she and the gamers would be thankful for the remaining.
Thank you for the entire dialogue! Feel unfastened to proceed sending your ideas by way of e-mail.
Sarina Wiegman speaks to ITV earlier than kick-off:
It is superb as everybody was once are compatible these days. So everyone may just get started. It is just right to have them at the pitch and just right to produce other choices too.
[On dropping Beever-Jones to the bench after her hat-trick]: She is in just right shape, however Alessia [Russo] is in just right shape too. It is just right to have these kinds of centre forwards within the squad. It offers me many choices. [On Jess Park starting]: “Jess has carried out in reality properly. Ella [Toone] is coming again, we need to construct her into the squad, coming again with a little bit niggle, however Jess remains within the lineup. [On if she knows her starting XI for the Euros]: It is a little bit bit too early. Of path, the gamers get some relaxation, then we play Jamaica, after which we make the selections.
15 mins till kick-off on the RCDE Stadium!
There is slightly a competition construction between those two aspects. England knocked out Spain within the final Euros with Stanway scoring in extra-time.
Spain then went on to overcome England within the World Cup last with the sole objective coming from Real Madrid’s Olga Carmona.
Here are one of the crucial stats between those two aspects:
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England beat Spain 1-0 at house on this season’s Nations League. The USA have been the final country to overcome Spain two times in the similar calendar yr (2019).
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Spain are unbeaten at house to England in all competitions (W1 D3), final webhosting the Lionesses in June 2010, a 2-2 attract a World Cup qualifier. They did give up a 2-0 lead in that tournament, then again.
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Spain have received 9 in their final 10 house video games in all competitions (D1), since a 3-2 loss to Italy within the 2023-24 Nations League.
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England have didn’t win every in their final 3 away video games in all competitions (D2 L1), final going longer with out victory at the street between September 2002 and October 2003 underneath Hope Powell (P8 D2 L6).
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Spain have scored 28 objectives of their final seven video games throughout all competitions, scoring 3+ objectives in six of the ones video games. Indeed, in 9 in their 13 video games within the Nations League they’ve scored 3+ objectives.
England are in just right shape, beating Portugal 6-0 final week with Beever-Jones’s first-half hat-trick main the rout.
But Spain, the arena champions, are a unique check all in combination. Here is what Wiegman stated on this night’s job:
I believe Spain is a unconditionally other sport than what we had on Friday.
We are mindful that Spain is other – it’s the easiest degree we will be able to believe so we need to have a just right get started once more. We’re going in the market to play the most efficient efficiency and to take every other step in our taste of play and our construction and feature a just right gameplan.
I believe our squad is robust sufficient that we will be able to have a just right efficiency towards a most sensible, most sensible group however I believe we’re a just right group too and we’re going to do the entirety to win that sport.
Sarina Wiegman will announce her Euro 2025 squad on Thursday as England start their name defence towards France in Switzerland. Will any of her gamers make sufficient of a mark this night to reason a final minute shuffle?
One participant we all know may not be at the group sheet is Mary Earps, who introduced her surprise retirement overdue final month.
Wiegman has most popular Hampton between the sticks today however Earps’ enjoy would were worthwhile this summer season.
Quite a couple of England and Spain gamers have been part of the Champions League last final month, the place Arsenal – the heavy underdogs – beat Barcelona 1-0. Lucy Bronze, a five-time Champions League winner stated it was once just a sure extra England gamers have received the head of membership soccer.
It’s simply implausible for us as an England group and us as a rustic, to have such a lot of extra gamers who’re doing good stuff and reaching good stuff.
The Chelsea full-back additionally spoke on her teammate Millie Bright’s resolution to take a damage for her psychological well being.
We’ve all spoken to Millie all the way through the week. We’ve simply introduced her our enhance. Both bodily and mentally, it’s been an extended season for everybody however, having spent each day with Millie, I do know she’s any individual who’s slightly tricky and possibly simply holds so much in, so I believe it’s been slightly courageous for her to return out and discuss.
Team information
Spain (4-3-3): Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Aleixandri, Carmona; Bonmatí, Guijaro, Putellas; Caldentey, González, Paralluelo
Subs: Nanclares, Sullastres, Fernandez, S García, Méndez, Zubieta, López, L García, Redondo, Pina, Martín-Prieto, Del Castillo
England (4-3-3): Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood, Charles; Stanway, Walsh, Park; Mead, Russo, Hemp
Subs: Moorhouse, Keating, Wubben-Moy, Morgan, Carter, Le Tissier, Toone, Kearns, Agyemang, Parris, Beever-Jones, Kelly
Preamble
It is all or not anything for the Lionesses in this night’s Nations League tournament between Spain and England as either side combat to complete most sensible of Group A3 to qualify for the finals.
Spain these days lead the pack in a gaggle that still contains Portugal and Belgium with 12 issues whilst England path in 2d with 10.
Sarina Wiegmna’s facet desire a win this night to advance to the knockout level whilst Spain can get via with just a level.
Join me for group information and buildup earlier than the 6pm BST/7pm CEST kick-off. And, as all the time, be at liberty to ship me an e-mail together with your ideas, questions, predictions, proceedings and rituals. I need to pay attention all of it!