England's Nations League hopes ended by Spain comeback
England missed out on a place in the Women's Nations League finals after Claudia Pina's brace earned Spain a 2-1 comeback win in Barcelona.
Alessia Russo put England ahead on her 50th international appearance with a cool finish into the bottom corner, despite Spanish protests that Salma Paralluelo had been fouled in the build-up.
But substitute Pina spearheaded the comeback for the world champions, finding an equaliser only moments after being brought on before adding a second 10 minutes later.
Defeat meant England finished second in Group A3, while top-of-the-table Spain secured their spot in October's semi-finals.
Next up for the Lionesses is a friendly with Jamaica on June 29 before their European Championship campaign begins against France on July 5.
Sarina Wiegman, who is set to announce her squad for the tournament this week, made four changes to the side that beat Portugal on Friday as Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway and Russo came into the starting line-up.
Spain attacked from the offset and Hannah Hampton was called into action early after Paralluelo's corner flew through the box to reach Esther Gonzalez, but she was denied by a brilliant save from the England goalkeeper.
The hosts continued to threaten as Gonzalez pounced on a loose Leah Williamson pass before firing her shot well wide and Hampton smothered a teasing ball from Aitana Bonmati.
But England took the lead in the 22nd minute when Charles challenged Paralluelo inside her own half and, despite protests for a foul, play continued with Keira Walsh's smart through pass into Russo, who broke forward before rolling the ball into the bottom corner.
What it means 🙌
Netting on her 50th cap 👊 pic.twitter.com/jYB3rVoc2g
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 3, 2025
Spain were frustrated further as Paralluelo's cross appeared to hit Charles' hand in the box before Hampton grabbed the ball.
The Lionesses had a good opportunity when Beth Mead's free-kick reached Williamson, but her header was comfortably collected by Catalina Coll, while at the other end Gonzalez hit a curling shot over the crossbar.
Missy Bo Kearns came on for Stanway at the break to make her senior England debut.
But Spain nearly equalised seconds into the half when Olga Carmona's cross found Paralluelo, who fired over the bar.
Jess Carter and Chloe Kelly came on for Bronze and Mead, but the hosts continued to dominate with Mariona Caldentey the next to go close, sending her effort over.
The hosts eventually earned their reward on the hour mark when a cross was cleared as far as Patri Guijarro, who tapped the ball into Pina to fire home into the far corner.
Hampton then saved a Pina free-kick, but the influential Spanish forward soon struck again in the 70th minute with a curling strike from outside of the box.
Spain looked to extend their lead as Bonmati sent a shot over the bar before Gonzalez nodded wide and Hampton saved from Bonmati in added time.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
2 minutes ago
- Metro
Legendary defender names the manager Man Utd must replace Ruben Amorim with
Iconic former AC Milan and Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly says Manchester United 'need' to hire Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique. The Spaniard enjoyed a sensational season with PSG, winning the Champions League, Ligue 1 and Coupe de France. The French champions were superb in Europe, knocking out Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal before thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. Clearly PSG have no intention of letting the 55-year-old leave after the immense success of the last campaign, but Desailly reckons Manchester United should be trying to tempt him away from Paris. The 116-cap France international knows that things change quickly in football and the dream situation Enrique is currently in with PSG could turn sour in the near future. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. Desailly feels Manchester United should be ready to replace Ruben Amorim with the Spaniard whenever possible. 'Football moves quickly and say that next season he makes too many mistakes, he might get into conflict with players like Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue as they grow and have a bigger say on the system,' Desailly told Oddspedia. 'Soon they will be able to say no to the coach and his influence and because anything can happen, he might end up in the Premier League. 'We are talking about something that didn't happen 20 years ago, but tactical coaching is now in the Premier League thanks to Claudio Ranieri and Jose Mourinho and so many other coaches. The Premier League has grown. 'Luis Enrique would bring a new dynamic and if I was at Manchester United, I'd be asking Luis Enrique to come to my club. 'They have tried all kinds of coaches and now all eyes are on Enrique because he can build a philosophy from scratch. Manchester United need Luis Enrique.' Speaking in 2023, Enrique made it clear that he would like to manage in the Premier League at some point in his career. 'I have a special attraction – I would like to go to England to work,' he said. 'I follow English football a lot, more than Spanish football. 'In the Spanish league, I do follow the biggest teams and little else – but it's very difficult for it to happen.' It would certainly be a huge coup for the Red Devils as Enrique is now rated as one of the very best managers on the planet. His treble with PSG is the second of his career having achieved the feat with Barcelona in 2015 as well. While Desailly says Manchester United should be looking to bring in Enrique, he has suggested that Red Devils defender Leny Yoro could be best served by leaving the club. More Trending Desailly rates the 19-year-old very highly, but says that it is hard for any player to shine at Manchester United at the moment. 'It's so difficult for Leny Yoro in the Manchester United system,' said the World Cup winner. 'If you look at Pau Cubarsi for Barcelona, he came into a team with a clear winning mentality. 'When you come to Manchester United at the moment, things are not smooth. You can prove that you're good, but for how long? 'They are not the best conditions for Yoro, but when you look at him you can see that he has the ability to become a top defender.' MORE: Man Utd open to offers for 'sensational' player in summer transfer window MORE: Betis to make offer for Antony after Man Utd meeting but new club now interested MORE: When are Premier League fixtures announced for the 2025-26 season?
Powys County Times
7 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Ex-England international wants more female role models in sport
Telford, from County Durham, achieved 27 caps in an England shirt and appeared in three FA Cup finals with Leeds United, Chelsea and Notts County. She lacked visible representation during her youth but since taking on her post-playing role working at Chelsea Women as a Commercial Manager, she can see new opportunities for young girls. 'I basically didn't have any female role models until I was a lot older,' she said. 'If I was asked that question as a youngster, I would have said David Beckham or David Ginola. 'I was in a school last week, and we were doing the trophy tour for the FA Cup. I sat down next to a group of girls, and I said, 'Oh, who are your role models?' and they said Sam Kerr, Millie Bright, Lauren James and that is just so normal for them. 'To see them writing their names down, wishing them good luck, it's just so inspiring for them to be like, I see myself in her, or I want to be like her one day.' A study by Sure in 2024 found that 58% of girls say that having a female role model strengthens their passion for football. Telford, who was part of a panel discussing the issue at Stamford Bridge this week, has been able to become the role model for others that she never had, spending eight years at WSL heavyweights Chelsea during her career. 'It's mad. I sometimes forget it, until someone's like, 'Can you sign my T-shirt? Can you sign my boot?','' she said. 'It's almost like a responsibility as well in the best kind of way. I didn't want to be a footballer for any other reason, I just loved it. I genuinely do. If you ask most of the girls who play the game, it's all for the love of it. 'The responsibility that comes with that is to always turn up as who you are, because there's always going to be a young girl, a group of girls that will be like, 'Oh, I sound like her, I look like her, I play the position she does.' 'Not all of us have a smooth journey. Just because when you get to the top, it looks like it's all great, and Instagram and TikTok can make it look all fun, actually it's a difficult role. 'There's a lot of rejection, sometimes confidence is low, you're not selected. There's a lot of things that you have to deal with but that also helps you prepare for life outside.' For Telford, that authenticity is key in allowing girls to connect with players and create role models who speak to wider aspects of life beyond elite football. 'Role models should allow girls to aspire to be Lionesses and want to be the best of the best, but also empower them to feel confident, to feel like they can do it, and that gives them life skills in the longer term as well,' she added.
South Wales Guardian
21 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Carly Telford: Role models are vital to 'empower' girls in sport
A 2024 study by Sure found that girls in the UK who play football remain more likely to feel represented by male athletes than female ones while research has shown half of young girls see very few female role models in sport. Telford and Chelsea are partnering with Sure to give young girls the authentic role models they deserve in a sport that is growing exponentially. 'So many girls still have barriers to entry, whether that's from sweating, whether that's from clubs to join, not enough coaches, or role models,' said Telford. 'Having role models is super important, not only so girls can aspire to be Lionesses, but also just empower them to feel confident, to feel like they can do it, and that gives them life skills in the longer term as well. 'When you go to school, or you go into a club, you realise quite quickly that you're not all the same. You're right-footed, someone's left, someone's from a different place, someone's got different boots on, or looks a different way, too. 'Being able to show those authentic stories and cases throughout the professional elite level, helps girls at a younger level understand that they're also different, but their differences are their superpowers.' Such a message was the flavour of the day at Sure's Breaking Limits Pitch Day, hosted at Stamford Bridge. Young children, including members of Girls United, were given the opportunity to play on the pitch at the home of the Women's Super League champions and meet former Chelsea shot stopper Telford. 'This is about helping young people feel like they have the confidence and the opportunity to be physically active,' explained Emily Heath, Global Brand Director at Sure. 'It is a special opportunity for these young people from some of our NGO partners to just have a moment where one, they can just have a completely special experience, a real treat. 'Secondly, to really believe that they belong and that they can dream about the fact that one day they might play on Stamford Bridge pitch, or one day they might be able to work in a job that's behind the scenes. 'It's about showing them that that is possible. That's what Sure is trying to do with this event.' With Telford on hand to give out medals, those participating were able to speak directly to a former Lioness and see what can be possible. Sure found 67% of UK girls say seeing female role models inspires them to practice and improve and Heath added: 'We all remember from when we were kids that teacher, that community worker or even that famous athlete that we looked up to or that person that helped you believe that you could do something. 'The role we're trying to do is to act in a way that we can facilitate and draw attention to all the role models needed within the sport on a wider scale, but also the ones that are already there. 'Role models have so much potential to create something where you truly just believe that you can do something and that shouldn't be underestimated.' Visibility plays a vital role in inspiring young girls in sports, but it alone isn't enough. Increased visibility needs to be paired with real world grassroots investment – like Sure's Breaking Limits Programme – find out more here
