Spain vs England live: Result and reaction as Pina double sinks Lionesses in Nations League decider
Spain 2-1 England: The Lionesses lost their final match before their Euro 2025 squad announcement
England missed out on the chance to reach the Nations League semi-finals having fallen to a 2-1 defeat to Spain in their final group stage match in Barcelona.
From the start the hosts took control of the match, maintaining possession and forcing the Lionesses to defend deep inside their own half. Spain lacked the clinical finish needed to send them ahead and it was England who struck first.
A potential foul on Salma Paralluelo was overlooked by the referee allowing Keira Walsh to slot Alessia Russo in behind the high line. She touched the ball into the area and guided the opening goal past goalkeeper Cata Coll.
Needing a ruthless finisher to overturn the deficit, Spain introduced Claudia Pina in the second half and the substitute delivered. She first squeezed past three defenders and rolled in an equaliser before beating Hannah Hampton from range to double her tally.
England couldn’t respond and were outplayed in the middle of the pitch. Defeat ends their chance of progressing in the Nations League and leaves Sarina Wiegman with questions to answer before the Euros this summer.
Relive the action from the RCDE Stadium with our live blog below:
Kick off! Spain 0-0 England
Alessia Russo wins her 50th cap for England tonight and will lead the line.
The Lionesses get the ball rolling in Spain and send it back to Hannah Hampton. She boots the ball long and targets Russo but the hosts recover the ball and fly down the left side.
Alex Greenwood intercepts the ball as it heads along the front edge of the box.
Spain vs England
Here come the players.
Leah Williamson has the armband as usual and leads out the Lionesses.
England are at the home of the world champions and know they need to win tonight.
Kick off is up next...
Spain vs England
England must win tonight to leap ahead of Spain in the Nations League table and progress to the next round of the tournament.
The players are waiting in the tunnel and are about to head out onto the pitch in Spain.
Wiegman's star player
Beth Mead’s goal and assist against Portugal last time out took her tally of goal involvements with England under Sarina Wiegman to 50 (27 goals, 23 assists).
Since the start of 2022 she has 34 goal involvements in 34 appearances for the national team (19 goals, 15 assists).
England's hat-trick hero
Aggie Beever-Jones scored England’s 10th hat-trick under Sarina Wiegman last time out against Portugal, netting four goals in her last three appearances for the national team, after failing to score in her first three appearances.
Is Gonzalez the main threat for Spain?
Esther González’s brace for Spain against Belgium last time out means she has now scored in each of her last five international appearances (7).
Indeed, she has five goals in five appearances in the Women’s Nations League.
The Spanish threat
Among nations England have faced more than once under Sarina Weigman, Spain are the team that average the most shots per game against the Lionesses (15.3).
La Roja have scored just twice in those four matches against England however.
Can England keep Spain quiet?
Spain have scored 28 goals in their last seven games across all competitions, scoring 3+ goals in six of those games.
Indeed, in nine of their 13 games in the Women’s Nations League they have scored 3+ goals.
Struggles on the road
England have failed to win each of their last three away games in all competitions (two draws, one loss).
They last went longer without victory on the road between September 2002 and October 2003 under Hope Powell (played eight, drew two, lost six).
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