Goals from Lucy Bronze and Georgia Stanway gave England a perfect start to their 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign, and now the focus shifts to a crucial clash with Spain at Wembley in April.
The Lionesses set out to clinch the top spot in their group and avoid the playoffs, a target that was never in danger of being upset by Ukraine or Iceland. Ukraine proved a routine win after they found their rhythm in the second half, finishing 6‑1 at the City Ground in Nottingham, while Iceland, despite being ranked higher than Ukraine, offered little resistance.
All eyes are on the two meetings with Spain – rematches of the Euro 2025 and 2023 World Cup finals – with one side boasting a roster of world‑class talent that could carry them through a four‑match playoff.
“I’m very pleased with today’s performance and with the camp,” Sarina Wiegman said after the 2‑0 victory. “Iceland are a disciplined side, strong and compact, and it’s difficult to break them down … we dealt with that very well, which is not easy. Of course we’d like to score more, but the win comes first, and a clean sheet makes me happy too.”
Wiegman altered three places in the starting eleven from the Ukraine game: Esme Morgan partnered Leah Williamson at centre‑back instead of Lotte Wubben‑Moy, Lauren James returned to the lineup, and Bronze reclaimed her right‑back spot from Maya Le Tissier. The match marked Bronze’s 145th cap, moving her past Karen Carney into third on England’s all‑time appearance list behind Jill Scott (161) and Fara Williams (172).
“Lucy has an incredible mindset,” Wiegman observed. “It starts with what she does on the pitch, and that’s exactly what she delivers. She reads the game exceptionally well and also lifts her teammates.”
The familiar, strong starting XI and the benefit of an 11‑day international break – which Wiegman said allowed them to “work on some tactical aspects” – were evident. England moved fluidly, with the interplay and passing among Stanway, James and Alessia Russo on the left standing out. It was no surprise that the opening goal emerged from that productive wide movement.
Earlier, the left side had already shown danger: Lauren Hemp missed a chance to meet Russo’s ball at full stretch, then headed James’s cross from a similar position, only to see it rebound off the post.
The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute. Stanway’s precise pass found an overlapping James, whose cross was swept toward the back post where club teammate Bronze was waiting to head it home.
Although England did not fully exploit their dominance – 31 shots to one, 71 % possession and 45 touches in the opponent’s box compared with two – they remained in control throughout.
Read next
Stephen Bunting calls death threats and social media abuse ‘very hurtful’ as he addresses Luke Littler’s rise
Definitely," Stephen Bunting says, reflecting on whether the relentless effort required as a darts player on social media feels like a deal with the devil. Following Luke Littler, the prodigious teenage world champion, Bunting is darts' most heavily marketed figure. Yet over the past year, his success on
Bernie Ecclestone questioned after shotgun discovered on his private jet in Portugal
Bernie Ecclestone was detained in Portugal on Monday after customs authorities found an undocumented shotgun in his possession at Tires Aerodrome in Cascais. The incident was confirmed by CuriosityNews, which independently verified the matter with authorities.
The 95-year-old former Formula One chief’s private jet had just landed
49ers preseason: fake wide receivers and undercover stings make it the wildest ever?
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers have arrived in Australia for this week's NFL season opener in Melbourne. While the flight duration from California to Victoria is approximately 16 hours for both squads, their paths to the season's beginning have been starkly contrasting.
The