England secured a 3-0 victory over Ukraine at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but this result was not enough to guarantee automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The Lionesses will now proceed to the play-offs after Spain clinched the top spot in Group A3 with a dominant 6-1 win against Iceland in Reykjavik.
The win against Ukraine saw goals from Jess Carter, Georgia Stanway, and substitute Beth Mead. Carter opened the scoring in the 14th minute, heading in a cross from Lauren James. Stanway doubled the lead in the 37th minute, slotting home after an interplay that involved Alessia Russo. Mead sealed the victory in the 67th minute with a free-kick, marking her 40th goal for England.
Despite the positive performance against Ukraine, the team’s fate was determined by Spain’s superior head-to-head record in the group. Both teams secured home victories against each other, but Spain’s 4-0 win on Friday against England outweighed the Lionesses’ 1-0 victory at Wembley in April.
The Road Ahead: Play-offs
Head coach Sarina Wiegman’s side must now navigate two rounds of home and away play-off ties against European opposition to secure their spot in Brazil. England will be seeded in the first round and drawn against a League C group winner or one of the two best-ranked League C runners-up, hosting the second leg of the tie.
Potential opponents in the first round include teams such as Lithuania, Kosovo, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Belarus, Croatia, and Kazakhstan. If they successfully advance, England will then face a second two-legged tie, with the winners of these matches earning a place in the World Cup finals.
The draws for both play-off rounds are scheduled for Thursday, 18 June, with matches set to take place in October, November, and December. This play-off route means less time for the team to prepare for the World Cup, and significant pressure to perform in October.
Wiegman acknowledged the increased competition in Europe, stating that while she was pleased with the team’s performance against Ukraine, she was disappointed about having to go into the play-offs despite accumulating 15 points in the group. Midfielder Georgia Stanway echoed this sentiment, noting that it is rare to achieve 15 points and not win the group.
Lessons from the Campaign
Throughout the qualifying campaign, England demonstrated strong performances, winning five of their six matches, scoring 13 goals, and conceding only five, with four of those against Spain. They also maintained four clean sheets. However, the heavy defeat in Majorca against Spain proved to be a critical factor in missing out on automatic qualification.
Wiegman opted for an experienced starting lineup against Spain, including Ella Toone and Lucy Bronze, despite recent injury concerns for some players. The team’s midfield was described as passive, and the frontline, including Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp, and Lauren James, was deemed ineffective in that match. Defensively, only Esme Morgan was noted for her performance.
Despite the setback, there were positive takeaways. Esme Morgan appears to have solidified her position as a centre-back partner for captain Leah Williamson upon her return from injury. Midfielder Lucia Kendall has shown her capability to challenge for a regular role, and Lauren Blindkilde Brown was a standout performer in the number 10 position against Ukraine.
Former defender Lindsay Johnson highlighted Blindkilde Brown’s strong season and her ability to link play effectively. Wiegman also noted that the competition within the team has increased, with various players capable of bringing different strengths to similar positions. She emphasized her commitment to selecting the best players for the highest level of competition, regardless of age or experience.
The team will have some time off before preparations begin after the play-off draw on 18 June.
The Lionesses will need to be ready for the challenges ahead in October, November, and December.
The team’s ability to overcome these play-off hurdles will determine their participation in the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
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Source: bbc.com
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