FootyChatter.com

By TARA ANSON-WALSH Published: 05: 04 AEST, 4 June 2025 | Updated: 07: 19 AEST, 4 June 2025 30 View comments The billboards may have called it a Nations League fixture, but in reality, this was an opportunity for this summer’s two European Championship favourites to size each other up. The reigning world champions against the European champions – these heavyweights have plenty of history, not least England’s haunting 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final. With Sarina Wiegman set to name her final squad on Wednesday, it also marked a final audition for her players, as well as the chance to blood back in some of her returning-from-injury stalwarts. And, despite the defeat, the England head coach was largely positive after the game. ‘We did learn more from them and we learned about ourselves too. I thought it was a very good game to have going into the Euros, ’ she said, adding: ‘We wanted to win this game, but we also had to have a look to the Euros and manage a bit of load. ’ As for the match itself, Spain took control early and never truly let go.   England's Nations League hopes are over following a 2-1 defeat to world champions Spain Claudia Pina scored a second half brace as Spain came from behind to triumph in Barcelona Sarina Wiegman's side were beaten days before her European Championship squad announcement They fired 19 shots to England’s four, dominating possession and having the lion’s share of the chances – particularly in the second half after Wiegman had withdrawn Georgia Stanway and Lucy Bronze to manage their minutes ahead of the tournament.   England stole an early lead through Alessia Russo against the run of play – the Arsenal striker taking her goal tally to 22 on her 50th appearance – before Spain took the driver’s seat. Sarina Wiegman brought on Aston Villa’s 24-year-old midfielder Missy Bo Kearns for her England debut at half-time, deeming 45 minutes enough for Stanway. Fifteen minutes into the second half with England under the cosh, both Wiegman and Spain’s coach Montse Tome looked to their bench to make a change.   On came Chloe Kelly and Jess Carter, while Claudia Pina replaced Salma Paralluelo for Spain. And it was the 23-year-old Barcelona forward Pina who turned the screw, driving in an effort from close range after mere seconds on the pitch.   Ten minutes later, Pina struck again from 20 yards out to seal the victory for the hosts. England will now regroup with one final friendly to go against Jamaica before their Euros campaign begins. Alessia Russo had put England ahead on the night on her 50th appearance for her nation Russo fired the Lionesses ahead in Barcelona after racing onto a through ball from Keira Walsh  Spain levelled on the hour mark with Pina firing past Hannah Hampton from close range Pina struck again 10 minutes later to complete the turnaround for the world champions England will have to regroup after losing their last competitive match before the Euros Spain (4-3-3): Coll 7; Battle 7. 5, Paredes 6. 5, Aleixandri 6, Carmona 7 (Fernandez 89); Bonmati 7. 5, Patri 7, Putellas 7. 5; Caldentey 7, Esther Gonzalez 7 (Lucia Garcia 82), Paralluelo 7 (Pina 58, 8). Subs not used: Sullastres, Nanclares, Zubieta, Athenea, Martin-Prieto, Sheila Garcia, Lopez, Redondo, Mendez. Scorer: Pina 60, 70. Booked: Aleixandri. Manager: Montserrat Tome 7. England (4-3-3): Hampton 6; Bronze 6. 5 (Carter 56, 6), Williamson 6. 5, Greenwood 7, Charles 6; Stanway 6 (Kearns 46, 6), Walsh 7, Park 7 (Toone 75); Mead 6 (Kelly 56, 7), Russo 7. 5 (Beever-Jones 87), Hemp 7. Subs not used: Keating, Moorhouse, Le Tissier, Morgan, Parris, Wubben-Moy, Agyemang. Scorer: Russo 22. Booked: Walsh. Manager: Sarina Wiegman 6. Referee: Katalin Kulcsar 7. Attendance: N/A. One player who won’t be heading to Switzerland is Fran Kirby, who on Tuesday night announced her retirement from international football after being informed by Wiegman that she would not be making the cut. The England boss said: ‘Over time Fran and I have had several conversations. She has been unlucky with injuries too; she always fought back and still had some opportunities to play. ‘I told her she was most likely not going to make the squad – we had these honest conversations. I think she’s an inspiration to a lot of people and an example. ’ As for the Nations League, the result means that England have been knocked out of the competition – although they have qualified for the first league of Europe’s 2027 World Cup qualifiers by securing a top two finish.

Share what you think

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mail Online.

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual.   Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on Mail Online. To do this we will link your Mail Online account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group