England v Spain
UEFA Women's Nations League
7.45pm GMT, Wednesday 26 February 2025
Wembley Stadium connected by EE

Sarina Wiegman and Alessia Russo faced the press on Tuesday morning ahead of England’s home clash against world champions Spain at Wembley Stadium tomorrow evening.

Here is what they had to say in full.

Wiegman on how the team is adapting:

Firstly, we work really hard and we try to play our best every single game. What we do every time is we review the game and we want to do better tomorrow. That’s what we’re working on and that’s what we can control to be at our best. No game is going to be easy anymore – the world has changed. We are adapting and of course, we try to win every single game.

On how England have evolved since last meeting Spain:

I think we have evolved. You can’t relate to the EUROs and the World Cup anymore because there’s so many new players coming in. The game has evolved too so not only are we trying to adapt but also, the opponents have changed with the Nations League coming up too with different matches at a much higher level which is what we want. We’re still developing, adapting and trying to improve every single game.

On the magnitude of the game:

It's absolutely a big game but I think when you play the likes of Germany and the USA, I think there are many big games at the moment because everyone is improving so quickly to the next level. It’s an exciting game tomorrow again and we’re looking forward to it.

On learning from games:

We’re playing football to win games and we’ll try to be at our best tomorrow again and be connected as a team. What we want to do is get more consistency and create momentum in the game. Sometimes things go really well and sometimes things don’t go that well. We’re trying to stay very neutral and say, ‘this is where we are right now and we want to move forward so what do we have to do?’ Hopefully that will bring us the win tomorrow.

We're LIVE with Sarina Wiegman and Alessia Russo as they preview tomorrow’s game against Spain at @Wembleystadium 💪 https://t.co/E5UaHq7ZJj

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) February 25, 2025

Russo on the 2023 World Cup final:

For me, revenge kind of reflects on the past a little bit. We’re a new team and we’ve got lots of new faces and lots of new qualities within the squad now. We don’t want to be looking back. Obviously, it hurt. You can ask every player that was in that game and it wasn’t nice to lose out but we want to be moving forward. We’ve got a new opportunity – we’re back at Wembley and we’ve got all of our fans there and we’re really looking forward to it.

On returning to Wembley:

It is an iconic place. (Laia) Codina was so buzzing when she found out the game was at Wembley. It’s nice for them to come to our home. We’re really proud and grateful to get to play here so often. It really does feel like a home for us with the fans and the energy around the place. It’s nice that we get to share that with other players that deserve to playing in these stadiums. It’ll be nice to be tested against the best but also be at our home as well.

On how much England have changed:

Every team goes through different processes after tournaments. Speaking on our process, we’ve got a new team now and lots of different, new faces and lots of energy around the place which is nice. We’re feeling good and we’re in a good place as a team. We’re enjoying our football as well which is nice. Camps are a really enjoyable place to come in and I think it’s a place where people can flourish.

On the boost beating Spain could give the team:

Winning games in general gives you confidence as a team but we learn a lot from performances that aren’t as positive. That’s part of football and that’s part of the journey we’re on. Ultimately, we want to be our best ready for the EUROs and this is another massive step in our journey. We want to be testing ourselves against top opposition and with our group in the Nations League, we’ve got. It’s really good prep but in the moment, these are the games you want to play as a player.

Spain in profile

Match stats

● England are unbeaten in all eight of their previous meetings with Spain on home soil in all competitions (W5 D3), most recently beating La Roja 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-finals of EURO 2022.

● After a run of three straight defeats to England between 2016 and 2019, Spain have since lost just one of their four games against the Lionesses across all competitions (W2 D1), last beating England 1-0 in the 2023 FIFA World Cup final.

● England have lost only one of their last 54 competitive matches in England (W45 D8), a 2-1 defeat to France in May last year in UEFA European Championship qualifying.

● Excluding neutral venues, Spain have won six of their eight away games under manager Montse Tomé (D1 L1), most recently beating France 4-2 in Nice in a December 2024 friendly.

● England have lost just two of their last 11 home matches in all competitions (W6 D3), and could keep a clean sheet in three successive matches for the first time since November 2021 (run of four).

● Spain have won each of their last three games in all competitions, scoring 12 goals in that time, three of which have come in added time in the second half, including two in their 3-2 win over Belgium last time out.

● Since the induction of the UEFA Women’s Nations League, Spain have scored more goals (31) and averaged more goals per game (3.4) than any other nation, while their games have seen more goals than any other side (42 – 11 conceded also).

● This game will see Sarina Wiegman move level with Mark Sampson (59 each) into third for the most games managed in England’s history, with only Hope Powell (161) and Martin Reagan (68) taking charge of more matches for the Lionesses.

● No England player has scored (6) or been involved (7) in more goals since the start of 2024 than Alessia Russo, though she’s yet to score in her previous three appearances against Spain in all competitions (127 minutes).

● Spain’s Mariona Caldentey has been involved in more goals for the national team than any other player since the start of 2024 (12 – 5 goals, 7 assists), four of which have come in her last three games (1 goal, 3 assists).

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Match programme

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Sarina Wiegman has named her England team to face Spain in the UEFA Nations League at Wembley Stadium.

The Lionesses kick-off at 8pm and you can follow all of the action with our live commentary and stats on this page.

England: 1 Hannah Hampton, 2 Lucy Bronze, 3 Niamh Charles, 4 Keira Walsh, 5 Leah Williamson (C), 6 Millie Bright, 7 Jess Park, 8 Grace Clinton, 9 Alessia Russo, 10 Ella Toone, 11 Lauren James

Substitutes: 12 Esme Morgan, 13 Mary Earps, 14 Maya Le Tissier, 15 Millie Turner, 16 Jess Carter, 17 Chloe Kelly, 18 Jessica Naz, 19 Aggie Beever-Jones, 20 Nikita Parris, 21 Anna Moorhouse, 22 Ruby Mace, 23 Laura Blindkilde Brown

Jess Park’s first-half strike gave England a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Spain at Wembley in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.

Park prodded home from close range midway through the opening 45 minutes, after impressive work from Alessia Russo in the build-up.

It proved the sole and decisive goal in a closely fought encounter in London, with both sides creating a number of chances but finding goalkeepers Hannah Hampton and Catarina Coll equal on all other occasions.

Victory gives the Lionesses their first three points of the current Nations League campaign and sends them top of League A Group 3 following Friday’s 1-1 draw with Portugal.

Spain started in control and had the first sight of goal inside ten minutes when Salma Paralluelo showed dancing feet inside the box, but the England defence eventually crowded her out.

Lucia Garcia then rattled the crossbar just four minutes later for the visitors, after England failed to clear a corner.

The Lionesses began to work their way into the match, but Spain continued to threaten with Claudia Pina rifling over from just outside the box.

It was then England’s turn to gain some momentum, with Lauren James at the heart of Sarina Wiegman’s side grabbing a foothold in the contest.

The forward dropped deep and produced a neat turn before releasing the overlapping Niamh Charles in behind, and the full-back was fouled by Irene Paredes just outside the box.

James’ resulting free kick was saved comfortably by Coll at the near post, and the Spanish stopper was called into action just a minute later to again deny James.

Millie Bright’s long raking pass found James over the top of the Spain defence, but Coll stood strong to deny James’ curled effort.

The England pressure eventually told, as Jess Park made the breakthrough just after the half hour mark.

Excellent work from Alessia Russo saw the striker turn her marker and drive into the box before the ball was eventually deflected to Park with an open goal, and the attacker made no mistake from close range.

Spain looked to respond quickly and almost did so through Paralluelo, but the winger’s ambitious long-range strike was just wide of Hampton’s post.

Hampton was then called into action, but she was more than equal to Aitana Bonmati’s shot from the edge of the box before Paralluelo again tried her luck, but her effort was also straight at the England stopper.

Hampton became increasingly busy towards the end of the half and did well to palm away another Bonmati effort after the Ballon D’Or winner found herself unmarked in the box.

Spain had the first sight of goal in the second half, but Bonmati’s effort curled wide of the target from just inside the area.

The visitors then forced a smart save from Hampton, with the England keeper denying Garcia with her legs after Mariona Caldentey split the defence with a slide-rule pass.

The early stages of the second half were end-to-end, with Grace Clinton forcing Coll into a comfortable save after Park broke free from a throw in on the right wing.

England continued to find joy attacking Spain’s full backs, and James continued her bright display when she cut inside Ona Batlle before curling a shot that was well saved by Coll.

Spain then spurned a great chance to equalise. Substitute Athenea del Castillo broke in behind on the right and squared to Paralluelo but she was crowded out by England defenders as she bore down on goal.

The visitors continued to put the pressure on the Lionesses’ defence, Leila Ouahabi the next to test Hampton from range but the goalkeeper was able to push away the shot, before Caldentey rippled the side netting moments later.

England almost doubled their lead late on when Clinton’s cross found James unmarked in the box and her shot was spilled by Coll, only for the keeper to recover just in time to prevent a second goal.

Spain continued to threaten into additional time, and Hampton was required to parry a Pina cross that was goal-bound.

England: 1 Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), 2 Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), 3 Niamh Charles (Charles), 4 Keira Walsh (Chelsea), 5 Leah Williamson (Arsenal), 6 Millie Bright (Chelesa), 7 Jess Park (Manchester City), 8 Grace Clinton (Manchester United), 9 Alessia Russo (Manchester United), 10 Ella Toone (Manchester United), 11 Lauren James (Chelsea)

Substitutes: 20 Nikita Parris (Brighton & Hove Albion) for Russo 64’, 17 Chloe Kelly (Arsenal on loan from Manchester City) for Park 64’, 18 Jess Naz (Tottenham Hotspur) for Toone 83’

Subs not used: 1 Mary Earps (Paris Saint-Germain), 12 Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), 14 Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), 15 Millie Turner (Manchester United), 16 Jess Carter (NJ/NY Gotham), 19 Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), 21 Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), 22 Ruby Mace (Leicester City), 23 Laura Blindkilde (Manchester City)

Goals: Park 33’

Head coach: Sarina Wiegman

Spain: 13 Catarina Coll; 2 Ona Batlle, 4 Irene Paredes, 6 Aitana Bonmati, 7 Olga, 8 Mariona Caldentey, 11 Salma Paralluelo, 12 Claudia Pina, 14 Laia Aleixandri, 17 Lucia Garcia, 22 Maria Mendez

Substitutes: 15 Leila Ouahabi for Olga 56’, 10 Athenea del Castillo for Garcia 70’, 21 Alba Redondo for Paralluelo 83’, 20 Maite Zubieta for Aleixandri 83’

Subs not used: 1 Esther Sullastres, 5 Laia Codina, 9 Cristina Martin-Prieto, 16 Sheila Garcia, 18 Maite Oroz, 19 Vicky Lopez, 23 Adriana Nanclares

Yellow Cards: Paredes

Head coach: Montserrat Tome