Spain v England
UEFA Women's Nations League
6pm BST, Tuesday 3 June 2025
RCDE Stadium, Barcelona

Sarina Wiegman and Lucy Bronze addressed the media on Monday afternoon ahead of England’s UEFA Women’s Nations League match-up with Spain.

Here is what they had to say.

Wiegman on the health of the squad:

I’m happy because we’re all training and everyone came through fit, so we have everyone available and everyone can start. We have some decisions to make and that’s very nice.

On managing the fitness of returning players:

Some players are coming from injuries and not having played many minutes that we have to think about that but also, we have to see how the game goes and how intense it is. There are a couple of players that we are aware of that we have to take care of them too and not take too much risk.

On preparations for this summer’s tournament:

We’re just playing a game again tomorrow and we want to win that game. Also, that’s preparation for the EUROs. In the short term, we’re trying to win that game and a little longer term, it’s preparation for the EUROs which, of course, is the bigger picture.

On following up Friday’s victory with another win:

In February, we had a tie against Portugal and a win against Spain. In April, we had a good performance against Belgium then not a good performance in the second one. I think tomorrow Spain is a totally different game than we had on Friday.

We are aware that Spain is different – it’s the highest level we can imagine so we have to have a good start again. We’re going out there to play the best performance and to take another step in our style of play and our development and have a good gameplan.

I think our squad is strong enough that we can have a good performance tomorrow against a top, top team but I think we’re a good team too and we’re going to do everything to win that game.

We're LIVE with Sarina Wiegman and Lucy Bronze as they preview tomorrow’s UEFA Women’s Nations League game against Spain. 💪 https://t.co/V3SPXyJjdM

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 2, 2025

Lucy Bronze on the competitiveness of the Nations League:

The Nations League is such a difficult competition but one that’s really exciting. Throughout the season, different teams are in different form and missing players at different times and coming back.

We were so disappointed with the first edition of the Nations League – it made us drop into that second seed which has been so difficult to get back out. For us, it’s definitely a big goal of ours. It’s another chance of silverware.

On England changing their style of play:

We’re one of the most adaptive teams in the world. We’ve got the style where we can possess the ball, we can counter-attack, we can play in behind, we’ve got fast players, we’ve got technical players, we’ve got strong players.

It’s something that we’ve been working on for a number of years. We’re growing as a team. It’s something we speak about a lot as an England team – how we can adapt in games and how we can change against different teams.

On previous encounters with Spain:

We’ve faced Spain many times, more than just the World Cup Final – the EUROs previously and the EUROs before that as well before Sarina was here. We know how to beat Spain and they equally know how to beat us – it’s two top teams going head-to-head and I think it’s something both teams will enjoy.

You have to turn up for every game, for every moment because so many teams are capable of so many different teams.

On looking beyond the game:

I play every game like it could be my last. Especially for England, you put on that England shirt and you don’t want to leave anything on the pitch. You’re playing against one of the best teams in the world in Spain, you’ve got an opportunity for England and you can’t ever think too far ahead.

Spain in profile

 

Nickname: La Roja
Coach: Montserrat Tome
Captain: Irene Parades
Last encounter: England 1-0 Spain, 26 February 2025

Match stats

 

● England beat Spain 1-0 at home in this season’s UEFA Women’s Nations League, last winning back-to-back games against the Spaniards between 2016 and 2019 (three in a row). The USA in 2019 were the last nation to beat Spain twice in the same calendar year.

● 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.

● England won just one of their first 18 meetings with the reigning world champions between 1997 and 2020 (D4 L13), but have since won their last two: 2-1 vs USA in October 2022 and 1-0 vs Spain in February 2025 (excluding the 2023 FIFA World Cup final loss to Spain). The Lionesses have, however, lost all five of their away games to the world champions by an aggregate score of 1-20.

● Spain have won nine of their last ten home games in all competitions (D1), since a 3-2 loss to Italy in the 2023-24 UEFA Women’s 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 UEFA Women’s Nations League they have scored 3+ goals.

● Among nations England have faced more than once under Sarina Weigman, Spain are the team that average the most shots per game against the Lionesses (15.3); La Roja have scored just twice in those four matches against England however.

● Esther González’s brace for Spain against Belgium last time out means she has now scored in each of her last five international appearances (7). Indeed, she has five goals in five appearances in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.

● Agnes Beever-Jones scored England’s 10th hat-trick under Sarina Wiegman last time out against Portugal, netting four goals in her last three appearances for the national team, after failing to score in her first three appearances.

● Beth Mead’s goal and assist against Portugal last time out took her tally of goal involvements with England under Sarina Wiegman to 50 (27 goals, 23 assists). Indeed, since the start of 2022 she has 34 goal involvements in 34 appearances for the national team (19 goals, 15 assists).

England women squad news

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How to watch or stream England women v Spain

 

This game will be broadcast in the UK on ITV.

Sarina Wiegman has named her team to take on Spain on Tuesday evening.

Among the changes, Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway and Alessia Russo return to the line-up.

England: 1 Hannah Hampton, 2 Lucy Bronze, 3 Niamh Charles, 4 Keira Walsh, 5 Leah Williamson (c), 6 Alex Greenwood, 7 Beth Mead, 8 Georgia Stanway, 9 Alessia Russo, 10 Jess Park, 11 Lauren Hemp

Substitutes: 12 Jess Carter, 13 Khiara Keating, 14 Maya Le Tissier, 15 Esme Morgan, 16 Missy Bo Kearns, 17 Chloe Kelly, 18 Aggie Beever-Jones, 19 Nikita Parris, 20 Ella Toone, 21 Anna Moorhouse, 22 Lotte Wubben-Moy, 23 Michelle Agyemang

England were denied a place in the UEFA Women’s Nations League semi-finals after a 2-1 defeat to defending champions Spain in Barcelona.

On her 50th cap, Alessia Russo gave England the lead with a strong finish against the run of play.

Clàudia Pina equalised for the hosts with an hour gone and added a stunning second ten minutes later to confirm her side’s passage through to the knockout stages.

In a repeat of the 2023 Women’s World Cup Final, England were forced to defend for much of the opening exchanges and were kept level by a stunning save from Hannah Hampton just three minutes in.

The ball found Esther González from a corner, whose attempt was stopped on the line by Hampton before Georgia Stanway could kick clear.

The pressure continued to be heaped on the Lionesses as they defended three corners in the opening ten minutes before Hampton was again required to deny an on-rushing González.

England had only limited chances to go forward before the dynamic of the match changed in the 21st minute.

Keira Walsh sent a bobbling ball through to Russo, who used her strength and speed to get goal side before firing past Cata Coll to put the visitors ahead.

England moved into the ascendancy with Niamh Charles attempting to find Russo in the box as the left channel proved to be fruitful for the Lionesses.

From the opposite side of the pitch, Beth Mead sent a free-kick into the box, but her Arsenal teammate Leah Williamson could only direct her header at Coll.

The tempo of the first half quietened as the break approached with the action concluding with an off-target attempt by Patri Guijarro.

Stanway made way for Missy Bo Kearns at half-time, with the England U23 captain making her senior Lionesses debut in Barcelona.

Kearns was forced into defending early on in her England career with Salma Paralluelo and Alexia Putellas both having chances, but neither was able to put them on target.

The home side’s pressure finally told on the hour mark as Pina netted with a low strike only seconds after coming on as a substitute.

Pina saw another attempt saved, this time from a free-kick, before earning her second ten minutes after her first.

The Barcelona forward was found by Ona Batlle before working herself into a shooting position and unleashing a powerful strike to put Spain ahead.

England looked to respond as Kearns had a chance for a debut goal, but her header was saved by Coll.

Spain continued to search for a third but the Lionesses denied them the opportunity to put the game out of sight.

England now conclude their preparations for the defence of their Women’s EUROs title with a friendly against Jamaica on Sunday 29 June.

England: 1 Hannah Hampton, 2 Lucy Bronze, 5 Leah Williamson, 6 Alex Greenwood, 3 Niamh Charles, 8 Georgia Stanway, 4 Keira Walsh, 10 Jess Park, 7 Beth Mead, 9 Alessia Russo, 11 Lauren Hemp

Substitutes: 16 Missy Bo Kearns for Stanway 46’, 12 Jess Carter for Bronze 56’, 17 Chloe Kelly for Mead 56’, 20 Ella Toone for Park 75’, 18 Aggie Beever-Jones for Russo 87’

Substitutes not used: 13 Khiara Keating, 14 Maya Le Tissier, 15 Esme Morgan, 19 Nikita Parris, 21 Anna Moorhouse, 22 Lotte Wubben-Moy, 23 Michelle Agyemang

Goals: Russo 21’

Bookings: Missy Bo Kearns 83’, Keira Walsh 90+3’

Head coach: Sarina Wiegman

Spain: 13 Cata Coll, 2 Ona Batlle, 4 Irene Paredes, 6 Aitana Bonamtí, 7 Olga Carmona, 8 Mariona Caldentey, 9 Esther González, 11 Alexia Putellas, 12 Patri Guijarra, 14 Laia Aleixandri, 18 Salma Paralluelo

Substitutes: 20 Clàudia Pina for Paralluelo 58’, 17 Lucía García for González 82’, 3 Jana Fernández for Carmona 89’

Substitutes not used: 1 Esther Sullastres, 5 Maite Zubieta, 10 Athenea del Castillo, 15 Cristina Martín-Prieto, 16 Shelia García, 19 Vicky López, 21 Alba Redondo, 22 María Méndez, 23 Adrian Nanclares

Goals: Claudia Pina 60’ 70’

Bookings: Laia Aleixandri 29’

Head coach: Montse Tomé