Spain confirmed their status as favourites for the upcoming European Championship with a commanding 2-1 victory over England in the Women’s Nations League at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona. Coming from behind, Spain’s technical superiority and control of possession ultimately decided the match, with substitute Clàudia Pina emerging as the decisive figure by scoring twice in the second half.
England started strongly and took the lead before halftime through Alessia Russo, who marked her 50th international appearance with her 22nd goal for her country. Russo’s goal came after a precise through ball from Keira Walsh, which allowed her to outpace Irene Paredes and finish calmly past Spain’s goalkeeper Cata Coll. However, the goal was met with frustration from the home crowd, who believed there was a foul in the buildup. Despite the protests, play continued, and England went into the break with a narrow advantage.
From the opening whistle, Spain had dominated possession and created the better chances but were kept at bay largely thanks to an outstanding performance from England’s goalkeeper Hannah Hampton. Hampton made a crucial save to deny Esther González from close range early on, keeping England’s hopes alive.
The second half saw a shift in momentum as Spain brought on Clàudia Pina, who made an immediate impact. Just two minutes after coming on, Pina equalised with a composed finish inside the box, displaying quick movement and clinical technique to beat Hampton with her left foot. This goal was a signal of Spain’s growing dominance as they controlled the game more convincingly thereafter.
Pina’s second goal was a stunning long-range strike, hit with power and precision, which bounced off the post and left Hampton with no chance. This remarkable effort sealed the victory for Spain and ensured their progression to the Nations League semi-finals in October. For England, the defeat meant finishing second in the group and missing out on the finals.
England’s head coach Sarina Wiegman was left with plenty to consider ahead of the European Championship in Switzerland this summer. Wiegman, who has a flawless record in previous European Championship campaigns as a head coach, appeared to field a strong starting eleven but made several substitutions in the second half aimed at managing player workload with the tournament in mind. She acknowledged the challenge posed by Spain’s quality and the need to balance the team’s fitness for the months ahead.
Missy Bo Kearns made her senior England debut in this game, coming on to replace Georgia Stanway. Despite the intensity of the match, Bo Kearns showed promise, and Wiegman praised her performance, highlighting it as a positive step forward for the young midfielder.
Spain’s control over the game was evident, with key players such as Aitana Bonmatí and Patri Guijarro also threatening from distance but unable to add to the scoreline. The tactical substitutions from Spain strengthened their attack and midfield, further unsettling England’s defensive structure.
Despite England’s early lead and spirited efforts, Spain’s blend of technical ability, tactical discipline, and individual brilliance, particularly from Pina, ultimately proved decisive. The victory puts Spain in strong form heading into the European Championship, having also recently secured an emphatic 5-1 away win against Belgium.
England, meanwhile, will regroup and prepare for a friendly against Jamaica later in June as their final tune-up before the Euros. They will look to defend their European title but face the daunting task of overcoming a Spain side that has demonstrated it could be the team to beat this summer. The Nations League encounters between the two teams have shown a balance of strength and competition, with Spain now holding the psychological edge after this recent victory.
