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Saturday, June 6, 2026

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Poor England humbled by rampant Spain

Spain 4 (Guijarro 19, Putellas 37,55, Pina 78) England 0

Spain inflicted a heavy 4-0 defeat on England in Mallorca, bringing the Lionesses’ unbeaten start to their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifying campaign to an abrupt and jarring end on a sobering night.

Alexia Putellas scored twice, either side of half-time, after Patri Guijarro had given Spain a deserved early lead. Clàudia Pina added a fourth late on at the Estadio Mallorca Son Moix as Spain took firm control of UEFA League A Group 3 by inflicting England’s heaviest defeat since the Euro 2009 Final, when they lost 6-2 to Germany.

Both teams sit on 12 points, but Spain now have the advantage on head-to-head results and will win the group if they record a victory in their final game in Iceland, whilst England’s final qualifier is against Ukraine at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday.

Spain began brightly and took the lead inside 20 minutes. Guijarro capitalised on a loose ball in the England half, first nutmegging Georgia Stanway before she drove forward and fired a deflected strike past Hannah Hampton.

The hosts remained dominant, with Salma Paralluelo and Putellas both going close. England offered little in response, although Keira Walsh sent a shot just over from the edge of the area in a rare attempt on goal.

Spain doubled their advantage shortly before the break when Putellas was played in behind the Lionesses’ defence and finished powerfully.

England showed more intent at the start of the second half, with Stanway flashing a drive just wide. However, Spain quickly settled back into the rhythm and pressed the England defence at all opportunities, with the visitors looking completely out of sorts and unable to cope with the home side’s intensity.

Ten minutes after the restart, Spain increased their advantage as Putellas netted her second, forcing the ball home at the second attempt after Lucy Bronze had blocked her initial effort on the line, reacting after the ball had come back off the post.

Spain added a fourth with twelve minutes remaining when substitute Clàudia Pina cut inside and finished neatly after being set up by a supber defence splitting pass from Aitana Bonmatí, who had also come on moments before.

England will now have get this result and match out of their system - they failed to register a single shot on target all match - and must now focus on getting their campaign back on track against Ukraine on Tuesday.

Spain: Cata Coll, Ona Batlle, Irene Paredes, Mapi León, Lucía Corrales (sub Olga Carmona 85mins), Patri Guijarro, Mariona Caldentey (sub Clara Serrajordi 85mins), Alexia Putellas (sub Aitana Bonmati 77mins), Vicky López (sub Claudia Pina 68mins), Salma Paralluelo, Edna Imade (sub Esther Gonzalez 77mins). Subs not used: Fiamma Benítez, Laia Codina, María Méndez, Adriana Nanclares, Eva Navarro, Misa, Athenea del Castillo.

England: Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze (sub Niamh Charles 85mins), Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Lotte Wubben-Moy (sub Jess Carter 85mins), Esme Morgan, Lauren James (sub Chloe Kelly 60mins), Georgia Stanway, Alessia Russo, Ella Toone (sub Beth Mead 60mins), Lauren Hemp. Subs not used: Maya Le Tissier, Anna Moorhouse, Laura Blindkilde Brown, Lucia Kendall, Jess Park, Sophie Baggaley, Freya Godfrey, Grace Fisk.