The Lionesses have missed out on automatic qualification for next summer’s Women’s World Cup and must now navigate the play-offs to reach Brazil 2027.
There were mixed emotions at the final whistle as it was confirmed that the European champions must take the scenic route to the showpiece despite an emphatic victory over Ukraine in Liverpool.
Last weekend’s 4-0 defeat to Spain in Mallorca had already taken qualification out of England’s hands, leaving their fate dependent on Iceland taking points off the world champions in Reykjavik.
The other part of the equation required England to dispatch minnows Ukraine, whom they had beaten 6-1 in the reverse fixture earlier this year. But the contest quickly took on a processional feel when news filtered through that Spain had taken the lead inside five minutes.
Jess Carter soon followed suit to give England the advantage at Hill Dickinson Stadium, but this appeared to have little impact 1,000 miles away as Spain continued to assert their dominance. By full-time they finished 6-1, leaving England to reflect on a missed opportunity after their victory over Spain at Wembley in April.
The heavy defeat in Mallorca meant only points could separate the sides due to England’s inferior head-to-head record and, on this occasion, this proved the death knell.
Daily Mail Sport’s women’s football reporter Tara Anson-Walsh was at Hill Dickinson Stadium to reflect on an engaging but ultimately disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign…
Georgia Stanway doubled the lead before the break, poking home Alessia Russo’s cross from close range
By half-time, Spain were already 3-0 up against Iceland, leaving England to reflect on a missed opportunity after their own victory over the world champions at Wembley in April
So, what now?
Now that it is official that England have missed out on automatic qualification for next summer’s World Cup, Sarina Wiegman’s side must ensure there are no slip-ups on the road to Brazil.
Thankfully, the structure of the play-offs should work in England’s favour. As one of the seeded League A runners-up, the Lionesses are likely to face two beatable opponents across two two-legged ties – a semi-final followed by a final. Their seeding also means they will host the second leg of each tie.
The play-offs will be contested exclusively between European nations. In the first round, England will be drawn against either one of the League C group winners or one of the two highest-ranked League C runners-up. Their potential opponents are Lithuania, Kosovo, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Belarus, Croatia or Kazakhstan.
Should they progress, they will then face another two-legged tie, with victory securing their place at the World Cup.
The draws for both rounds are scheduled to take place on June 18, with matches set to be played later this year – first in October and then between late November and early December.
No need to panic
England’s 4-0 defeat to Spain made for grim viewing last weekend, with supporters arriving at the stadium this evening recounting how they had switched off their television sets as the goals rolled in.
Yet it is important to view that result as an outlier rather than an accurate reflection of England’s qualifiers as a whole. That campaign included a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Spain at Wembley in April and a series of commanding performances against the other opponents.
The context is also important. In Mallorca, Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp were making their first England appearances since helping Manchester City win the FA Cup just five days earlier, while Ella Toone was thrust into the starting XI despite only recently returning from a lengthy injury lay-off.
While England have often struggled to match Spain technically, they had emerged victorious in their previous two meetings through resilience and sheer force of character – first in the Euros final penalty shoot-out and then through a dogged defensive display following an early goal at Wembley.
It was that trademark resilience that appeared absent in Mallorca. England folded after conceding first, a vulnerability ruthlessly exposed by a Spanish side renowned for its dominance on home soil.
Greenwood and Toone were both omitted from Tuesday’s starting line-up and the Lionesses responded with a composed performance against an improved Ukrainian side whom they had thrashed 6-1 in Turkey in March.
It felt like a return to normality – as though the collapse in Mallorca had been little more than a fever dream, albeit against considerably weaker opposition.
At Everton’s magnificent new stadium, England largely ignored developments in Reykjavik and focused on their own task
Qualification format comes under scrutiny
Why the European champions and world champions were placed in the same qualifying group in the first place was a question fairly raised by players after the match.
Asked how she felt after the game, Stanway said: ‘Mixed feelings, of course. We were very disappointed with the way the game went. It’s very rare that you get 15 points and still not make it out of the group. I think that it shows our level, our consistency but we know our performance today wasn’t good enough and today we got a reaction.’
Wiegman meanwhile was characteristically measured when asked whether the format should be revisited in light of England’s predicament.
‘What I’m disappointed is that we won five games and we’re in a group with the world champions and that we can’t qualify.
‘I’m happy about the result but I’m not happy that we have to go into the play-offs.
‘The Nations League brought more competition in Europe, and I think that’s a good thing because it means that you have to show up. We’ve also noticed that we have played against Spain so many times and I was excited for this campaign to play Iceland and Ukraine and we hadn’t played them.
‘The good news is that there’s a lot of competition, and that’s good news.’
While Wiegman was keen to focus on the positives, there is little doubt she will privately be reflecting on the fact that only one of the four teams to qualify automatically bettered England’s points tally.
England’s Le Tissier dilemma refuses to go away
It remains difficult to understand why Maya Le Tissier, one of England’s most accomplished centre-backs, continues to be viewed primarily as a right-back understudy.
Le Tissier started here against Ukraine at right back, her first appearance in these qualifiers after Lucy Bronze started the previous five, and once again the debate about the long-term health of that position roars its ugly head.
Five knee surgeries and a tournament played on a broken shin bone later, Bronze will do everything she can to soldier on to next summer after recently revealing that her retirement from football isn’t even something which is discussed among her family.
And yet… Bronze is 34 now, and by the World Cup will be 35. While her performance in the last match against Spain wasn’t particularly more error-strewn than those of her team-mates, nor was it particularly impactful either.
And that is a problem. The Lionesses have found themselves in a position where Bronze’s performances have become synonymous with the wider team. Bronze plays well: England play well. On the flip side, when Bronze has an off day, England’s performances suffer. While these are so far thankfully few and far between, this level of reliance on a single player is undoubtedly concerning.
Le Tissier started against Ukraine in the position for her first appearance of the qualifying campaign after Lucy Bronze had started the previous five matches
Perhaps more pressingly, it is causing Le Tissier to be wasted on the bench. The Manchester United centre back – who Wiegman continues to insist is Bronze’s natural replacement – has only earned 13 caps since her England debut nearly four years ago despite often being one of the best players in her position in the league.
Yet because of the lack of alternatives for Bronze, Le Tissier continues to be overlooked in her own position so as to serve as back-up for Bronze – who has played 5,541 minutes since Wiegman took charge of the Lionesses, less only than Keira Walsh (6,070).
Of course there will always be superstar names who are irreplaceable. Just take Harry Kane. But even Thomas Tuchel has brought Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney to the USA with him.
It is hard to believe that there isn’t a single right back out there who couldn’t be blooded in so as to allow one of the best centre backs around – albeit despite some struggles this season – the chance to at least fight to pull on an England shirt.
Hill Dickinson Stadium proves a worthy stage
Finally, Everton’s magnificent new home provided a fitting backdrop for the Lionesses’ final assignment before the summer break.
More than 26,000 supporters passed through the turnstiles on a school night for an 8pm kick-off – a respectable attendance in front of the characteristically family-oriented crowd that has become synonymous with the women’s game.
It was a far cry from some of the venues England have played at, both at home and abroad, in recent years.
If Tuesday evening was any indication, the provision of first-class stage will only help further the growth of the women’s game.
