Spain delivered a stunning 4-0 victory over England in Mallorca, leaving the European champions facing a World Cup qualifying playoff unless a minor miracle occurs. The World Cup holders dominated from start to finish, with talismanic Alexia Putellas scoring twice to secure a crucial win.
Match Summary
Patri Guijarro opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a deflected strike from 25 yards after capitalizing on a Lucy Bronze error. Putellas added two goals, in the 37th and 55th minutes, before Claudia Pina sealed the rout in the 78th minute. Spain's emphatic win puts them in pole position to top Group A3, needing only a victory against Iceland on Tuesday.
England's Humbling Defeat
England, who needed only a one-goal defeat to maintain their hopes of topping the group, were outclassed in every department. Spain enjoyed 61% possession and had 39 touches in the opposition box compared to England's seven. The Lionesses lacked sharpness, with defensive errors proving costly. Alex Greenwood played Putellas onside for the second goal, and Hannah Hampton failed to keep out a powerful strike. The defeat leaves England staring at a playoff route to qualify for the World Cup.
Manager Sarina Wiegman made changes in the second half, bringing on Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead, but Spain's substitutes proved decisive. The result was a stark contrast to England's historic Euro 2025 final win and their 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture in April.
With captain Leah Williamson injured, England face an intense post-mortem. Turning things around for the World Cup next summer, if they qualify through playoffs, will be a huge challenge.
