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LIVE: Ukraine 1-6 England - Russo, Stanway and Park score two each Listen to BBC Radio Sports Extra coverage at top of page Laura Blindkilde Brown starts for England in midfield Wiegman - 'England have been given reassurances no safety concerns' about game in Turkey as conflict in Middle East widens Emily Salley Ukraine v England (17: 00 GMT) Emma Sanders BBC Sport women’s football news reporter It's a big opportunity for Laura Blindkilde Brown, who has been impressive for Manchester City this season and has been rewarded with a start in midfield. Sarina Wiegman has been in the stands to watch her at recent games - along with several other Lionesses - and she's got her chance tonight. It looks like Jess Park will be playing out wide, as she has done for Manchester United this season, rather than in the number 10 role. And Maya Le Tissier is the replacement for Lucy Bronze, who is not fully fit enough to play back-to-back 90-minute matches. There's a blow for Alex Greenwood, who has picked up a minor muscle injury and will need to be assessed before Saturday's game against Iceland. That has occured in the past 24 hours with Wiegman telling media yesterday that the whole squad were training. Click the yellow 'Get Involved' button at the top of the page Let us know your thoughts ahead of tonight's game! Score predictions? Thoughts on the squad? England's World Cup chances? Click 'Get Involved' to share your thoughts now. Ukraine v England (17: 00 GMT) Leah Williamson joined Kelly Sommers in the latest episode of The Football Interview and conversation turned to the World Cup, given it's the only trophy Williamson is yet to get her hands on. Kelly: "You've achieved so much. What else do you want to achieve? If you could only achieve one more thing, what would it be? " Leah: "The last thing on the list is obviously a World Cup. In the career that I've had, it's the last trophy. " Kelly: "It's no secret that all the other Lionesses that we've spoken to said exactly the same thing. " Leah: "The World Cup? " Kelly: "Yeah. Lucy [Bronze]. .. I don't think I'd finished my sentence. .. " Leah: . ". she said World Cup? " Kelly: "And then she said it. Which probably wouldn't surprise you, knowing Lucy either. " Leah: "No, no. I speak to my team-mates and I'm like, 'Mariona [Caldentey], you have one. .. do you want to do a swap. .. or how does this work? '" Kelly: "Maybe they'll let you have the next one. " Leah: "Yeah. Everybody wants it and the stage of women's football now, it's just so unpredictable. There's so many good teams - it becomes so much harder, which I think only makes you want it more. " Ukraine v England (17: 00 GMT) England have got their captain back! Leah Williamson missed England's friendly victories over China, Ghana and Australia as well as their defeat by Brazil at the end of 2025 due to a knee injury. The Arsenal defender had surgery after lifting England's second successive European title in July and returned to action at the start of December. So this will be the first time she has played in an England shirt since they beat Spain in the final in Switzerland. Ukraine v England (17: 00 GMT) This video can not be played "We did have reassurances" - Wiegman Speaking yesterday, Sarina Wiegman said England have been given reassurances there are no safety concerns about their game being held in Turkey as the conflict in the Middle East widens. On Saturday the US attacked Iran as part of a joint operation with Israel, sparking retaliatory strikes across the Middle East. The Iranian regime has responded with attacks on US assets and countries in the region with a US military presence, including Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq. Turkey borders Iran and Iraq and is close to Cyprus, where an Iranian drone crashed into a British RAF base on Sunday. Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have also exchanged strikes. "Yes, we did have reassurances. We are in close contact with the government and the people here that are responsible, " said Wiegman. "Of course, you're concerned about what's happening in the world. When we think, or our government thinks it's unsafe, we will go back. At this moment, we don't have signals of that. " Ukraine v England (17: 00 GMT) Today's game is is taking place in Antalya because Ukraine are unable to play in their home country as a result of the war with Russia, which is in its fifth year. The Lionesses have been in the country since last Wednesday for a training camp. "We have great facilities here and the climate is really good so we can prepare really well. But the reason we're here is not nice, " she added. "You want Ukraine to be able to play in their home country. They had to travel a lot themselves to get here. The things they have in front of them in their country is really horrible. " Ukraine v England (17: 00 GMT) This will be England's first competitive game since they lifted the Euro 2025 trophy in July. The Lionesses then enjoyed a 'homecoming series' in autumn, playing four friendlies on home soil, but it's back to business today. After losing the first of those friendlies - against Brazil - Sarina Wiegman's side won the next three without conceding a goal. Same again this evening? Ukraine v England (17: 00 GMT) Emma Sanders BBC Sport women’s football news reporter Sarina Wiegman makes seven changes to the England team who beat Ghana in a friendly match in December. Several big names return including captain Leah Williamson and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton but Lucy Bronze is on the bench. There's a rare start for in-form Manchester City midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown, while Maya Le Tissier is at right-back. Arsenal's Taylor Hinds gets the nod at left-back but there is no Alex Greenwood - due to a minor muscle injury - or Grace Clinton in the squad. Ukraine XI: Samson, Shaynyuk, Kotyk, Petryk, Korsun, Basanka, Andrukhiv, Kalinina, Ovdiychuk, Kozlova, Kravchuk. Subs: Boklach, Keliushyk, Podolska, Kotiash, Hiryn, Ivkova, Zaborovets, Shmatko, Kohut, Hlushchenko, Olkhova. England XI: Hampton, Le Tissier, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, Hinds, Stanway, Walsh, Blindkilde Brown, Park, Russo, Hemp. Subs: Bronze, Moorhouse, Pattinson, Morgan, Fisk, Kelly, Kendall, Beever-Jones, James, Roebuck, Carter, Godfrey. Ukraine v England (17: 00 GMT) Hello and thanks for joining us as England start their journey towards Brazil 2027. They've got their first World Cup qualifying game this evening, taking on Ukraine in Turkey before they host Iceland on Saturday. Let's get the team news. .. Ukraine v England (17: 00 GMT) After falling at the final hurdle in 2023, the Lionesses' bid for World Cup glory starts again this evening. Can they kick it off with a win against Ukraine? Let's find out! Georgia Stanway scored two goals and grabbed an assist against Ukraine At a glance England score six in opening World Cup qualifier after goalless opening 45 minutes Alessia Russo, Georgia Stanway and Jess Park all score two goals each in the second half Poppy Pattinson makes her debut as a second-half substitute England in a qualifying group with Spain, Ukraine and Iceland England got their 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying campaign off to the perfect start with victory over Ukraine. Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway each scored twice to set England on their way in the second half after Ukraine had held England at bay in a frustrating opening 45 minutes. In-form Manchester United midfielder Jess Park sealed a comfortable win later on with a double of her own - as she poked home Stanway's cross and thumped another effort past goalkeeper Kateryna Samson. Sarina Wiegman's side are in a qualifying group with world champions Spain, Ukraine and Iceland, with just one automatic qualification spot up for grabs. They welcomed the return of several key players including captain Leah Williamson and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, while Wiegman handed a debut to London City Lionesses left-back Poppy Pattinson as a substitute in the second half. Trailing 2-0, Ukraine caused a stir when Yana Kalinina scored from a set-piece but Lauren Hemp won a penalty when she was tripped in the box and England's two-goal lead was restored in the 64th minute. The game took place in Antalya because Ukraine were unable to play in their home country as a result of the war with Russia, which is in its fifth year. On Monday, Wiegman said the Football Association was given safety reassurances as the conflict in the Middle East widens near Turkey's borders. With just one country guaranteed automatic qualification, England knew anything less than victory against Ukraine would be a major setback for them in a group containing world champions Spain. The hosts, who had to take a 15-hour coach journey to the stadium in Turkey, set up to defend and were successful in a frustrating first half for the Lionesses. Manchester City midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown saw plenty of action on a rare England start, hitting the underside of the crossbar with the best chance of the half. But on the whole, it was a wasteful 45 minutes from England, who struggled to break down Ukraine's stubborn defence and lacked quality in the final third, despite having 40 touches in the opposition box and 85% of the possession. They immediately improved after the break with Russo delivering two goals in four minutes – chopping inside from Keira Walsh's pass to slot the ball past goalkeeper Samson, before poking home Hemp's cross. That was reward for a dominant display and although Ukraine rocked them with a goal against the run of play, it did little to disrupt the Lionesses' rhythm. It was a warning sign and England responded to regain control through Stanway's double – the first from the penalty spot and the second a thumping strike in the box – before Park got in on the action. Goal difference could become a crucial factor with many expecting England to wrestle with Spain for top spot in the group, so their second-half display was a welcome one for Wiegman. The England manager was able to rotate players who are still returning to full fitness, while in-form players Park, Stanway and Russo showed their quality on a positive evening. They will go into Saturday's match against Iceland hoping to build momentum and a lead at the top of the table before a crucial meeting with Spain in April. England host Iceland in their second Women's World Cup qualifier at Nottingham's City Ground on Saturday (12: 30 GMT). Ukraine host world champions Spain in Antalya at 17: 00 GMT on Saturday. After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Head here to get involved Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 3rd March 2026 at 21: 40 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Iya Andrushchak Formation: 4 - 4 - 2 Manager: Sarina Wiegman Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1 Manager: Iya Andrushchak Formation: 4 - 4 - 2 Manager: Sarina Wiegman Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1 Women's WC Qualification Europe All competitions All competitions All competitions Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.