Spain meet England in a blockbuster showdown in their penultimate 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier.
Victory would see second-placed Spain move level on 12 points with League A3 leaders – England, whilst Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses will secure automatic qualification with a win or draw.
Team News
Spain have no fresh injury concerns with a full squad available, including Andrea Media who has received her maiden senior call-up for this international window.
England will be without defender, Leah Williamson after she suffered a hamstring injury during a recent rehabilitation session with her club, Arsenal.
Williamson’s Arsenal teammate, Taylor Hinds has also withdrawn due to an ankle injury, with Liverpool’s Grace Fisk called up as a replacement player.
Aston Villa goalkeeper, Ellie Roebuck is sidelined with a shoulder injury and had been replaced by Khiara Keating, who is now ruled out of this match due to concussion suffered in training ahead of Manchester City’s FA Cup Final victory against Brighton.
Keating however could return for the Lionesses’ home match against Ukraine on 9 June, with Brighton’s Sophie Baggaley called up to replace her for this match.
When is Kick-Off?
Spain host England on Friday 5 June at Estadio Mallorca Son Moix, Mallorca, at 9pm CEST (8pm BST), live on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Spain are yet to beat England in Women’s World Cup Qualifying (D3, L2).
- England have drawn each of their two previous Women’s World Cup away qualifiers against Spain (D2), having played out a 0-0 draw in December 1993 then a 2-2 draw in June 2010.
- Spain have failed to score in four of their five previous Women’s World Cup qualifiers against England.
- Spain have scored eight goals without conceding in their two home qualifiers in this League A group (W2), having beaten Iceland 3-0 then Ukraine 5-0 in March and April respectively.
- Three of England’s away goals in their two away qualifiers in this League A Group were scored by Alessia Russo.
Prediction
With a 1-0 victory or a win by two goal margin or higher being required for Spain to go top of the group and put automatic qualification in their own hands in the final round of group matches, the reigning world champions need to put together a clinical performance and ideally score first.
England however are a tough team to beat even when not at their absolute best because they’ve been clinical all campaign and dug deep defensively, even if they rode their luck at times against Iceland and Williamson’s absence isn’t ideal for this tough test.
Nevertheless I do think that England will nick something here if their defence can be consistently focused as all the pressure is on Spain, so the longer that the Lionesses can frustrate them then the more likely that this could be a smash-and-grab or a draw which is more my thinking.
Prediction: Spain 1-1 England
Result: Spain 4-0 England
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