1 min:Spain start early with Bonmatí and Paralluelo attempting to combine but Williamson deals with the pressure.
The players take a knee before the referee blows her whistle. The hosts in all red and the visitors in white and blue.
The teams are outand the national anthems are played. Paredes and Williamson – the two captains – shake hands and we are moments away from kick-off.
The pre-match postbag is here!
Peter questions the line-up:
Definitely an interesting change from Wiegman. She did not really give a clear answer in her pre-match interview for her reasoning but I believe she’ll want to assess Stanway’s ability before this summer and see if she can keep up against one of the best midfields in the world in Spain. Let’s see if Beever-Jones make an appearance off the bench.
And Assaf with some extra info:
Great spot! Wiegman has been vocal about the number of games her players are forced to play and I am sure she and the players would be grateful for the rest.
Thank you for all the discussion! Feel free to continue sending your thoughtsvia email.
Sarina Wiegman speaks to ITVbefore kick-off:
15 minutesuntil kick-off at the RCDE Stadium!
There is quite a rivalrybuilding between these two sides. England knocked out Spain in the last Euros with Stanway scoring in extra-time.
Spain then went on to beat England in the World Cup final with thesole goal coming from Real Madrid’s Olga Carmona.
Here are some of the stats between these two sides:
England beat Spain 1-0 at home in this season’s Nations League. The USA were the last nation to beat Spain twice in the same calendar year (2019).
Spain are unbeaten at home to England in all competitions (W1 D3), last hosting the Lionesses in June 2010, a 2-2 draw in a World Cup qualifier. They did surrender a 2-0 lead in that match, however.
Spain have won nine of their last 10 home games in all competitions (D1), since a 3-2 loss to Italy in the 2023-24 Nations League.
England have failed to win each of their last three away games in all competitions (D2 L1), last going longer without victory on the road between September 2002 and October 2003 under Hope Powell (P8 D2 L6).
Spain have scored 28 goals in their last seven games across all competitions, scoring 3+ goals in six of those games. Indeed, in nine of their 13 games in the Nations League they have scored 3+ goals.
England are in good form, beating Portugal 6-0 last week with Beever-Jones’s first-half hat-trick leading the rout.
But Spain, the world champions, are a different test all together. Here is what Wiegman said on tonight’s task:
Sarina Wiegman will announce her Euro 2025 squadon Thursday as England begin their title defence against France in Switzerland. Will any of her players make enough of a mark tonight to cause a last minute shuffle?
One player we know will not be on the team sheet is Mary Earps, who announced her shock retirement late last month.
Wiegman has preferred Hampton between the sticks as of late but Earps’ experience would have been invaluable this summer.
Quite a few England and Spain playerswere a part of the Champions League final last month, where Arsenal – the heavy underdogs – beat Barcelona 1-0. Lucy Bronze, a five-time Champions League winner said it was only a positive more England players have won the pinnacle of club football.
The Chelsea full-back also spoke on her teammate Millie Bright’s decision to take a break for her mental health.
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
It is all or nothing for the Lionesses in tonight’s Nations League match between Spain and England as both sides fight to finish top of Group A3 to qualify for the finals.
Spain currently lead the pack in a group that also includes Portugal and Belgium with 12 points while England trail in second with 10.
Sarina Wiegmna’s side need a win tonight to advance to the knockout stage while Spain can get by with only a point.
Join me for team news and buildup before the6pm BST/7pm CESTkick-off. And, as always, feel free tosend me an emailwith your thoughts, questions, predictions, complaints and rituals. I want to hear it all!