Lionesses need setbacks like Spain loss – Wiegman
England’s Defeat to Spain and Qualification Outlook
Lionesses need setbacks like Spain loss – Sarina Wiegman led England to consecutive European championships, but the Lionesses faced a significant challenge in their 4-0 loss to Spain in Majorca on Friday. This defeat threatened their automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, leaving them reliant on Spain’s results against Iceland to secure their spot. With the top team in their group guaranteed a place at the tournament, England must now hope for a strong performance against Ukraine in their final qualifier to remain competitive.
Coach’s Strategy for Recovery
Wiegman emphasized the importance of setbacks in driving improvement, stating that her team needed to “bounce back” from this tough loss. “You don’t want these moments, but at some point you need them to create urgency and push for better results,” she explained to BBC Radio 5 Live. The coach acknowledged the disappointment but highlighted that the team would use the experience to refine their approach. “We had similar moments before Euro 2025, and those games forced us to ask, ‘What can we do better?’” she added. All 24 players trained at Melwood on Monday, with adjustments planned for the upcoming match.
Player’s Perspective on the Loss
England forward Lauren Hemp reflected on the team’s performance, noting the difficulty of sleeping after the defeat. “It wasn’t a great display from us,” Hemp said, while insisting the squad remains focused. “We know every player is capable of delivering more, and we proved our ability to rise to higher levels just a month ago.” She stressed the importance of maintaining a strong mindset, stating, “The performance will matter as much as the outcome. We owe our fans a response they deserve.”
“We’re a competitive team. We want to win. We were really disappointed—this is a big setback. But we had a day of disappointment, and then we move on,” Wiegman said. “That’s how it works. We stick together. We want to show we’re England and that we can recover from these moments.”
Spain’s decisive victory in Majorca underscored the gap in quality between the two teams, despite England’s earlier 1-0 win at Wembley in April. The match revealed vulnerabilities in England’s play, with Wiegman’s staff monitoring Spain’s game against Iceland to gauge their progress. The Dutch coach confirmed they would not share the scoreline with players, who remain determined to secure a win against Ukraine. “We want to give a great performance and prove our strength,” she said, as the team prepares for their final challenge in October.
