FT: England 1 - 0 Spain - Hemp scores early for Lionesses
Keira Walsh reaches 100 caps and is captain
Williamson not in squad
England v Iceland on Saturday will be 500th match for Lionesses
Click listen at top of page for BBC Radio 5 commentary
FT: England 1-0 Spain
Thanks for tuning in to our coverage as England beat world champions Spain 1-0 at Wembley.
The rest leaves England sitting top of Group A3, three points ahead of Spain.
That's it for this evening, but I'll leave you with Emma Sanders' report.
FT: England 1-0 Spain
Fran Kirby
Former England forward on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
It is always an easier game plan when you are trying to disrupt the other team, when you know you aren't going to have the ball. Doing it though is harder, in terms of the mental side, the physical side that you have to do without the ball. Of course when you are playing against a team like Spain it's not easy to do.
FT: England 1-0 Spain
England
England forward Lauren Hemp speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's really nice. I didn't expect to score inside the first two minutes and for that to be the decider. It has put us in good stead for automatic qualification but we need to go back to Spain and do the job there, and we also have another important game on Saturday. It was a really resilient performance and we dominated both boxes, so an important win.
"From a corner you always need to make sure that you stay alive to the second phase, and I knew the ball was going to land in that area and somehow Alessia managed to put it on a plate for me. Then you just try to hit it as hard as you can and hope it goes through some bodies. Pleased it went in and that just relaxed us a bit. We had to do a lot of defending and it wasn't pretty at times but sometimes you've got to do that to win."
On defending for long periods without the ball: "It is very tough on the calves. You've got to be really resilient and stay focused at all times. There's the little movements and the ball is always moving, so you need to keep the pressure on them and make them change their minds.
"They had a few chance but we also had a few up the other end on the counter, but it was important that our defensive display was really good from front to back today, and obviously Hannah also made some important saves for us which was massive."
On her link up with Bronze down the right: "It is a little different from what I'm used to, I've been playing on the right, but me and Lucy have been playing together for England for a few years. It is always nice to play with her, we work together really well. I managed to get a goal, could have got a second, so it is nice to contribute where I can."
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
That’ll do… should have been more comfortable BUT this is about qualification and pleasing to see a good defensive display.
Catie, Oxfordshire
Image source, EPAFT: England 1-0 Spain
England
England goalscorer Lauren Hemp: "I was pretty sure to be honest. I did see it cross the line and I was just looking at the ref like 'hurry up and say that went in'. It was nice to score at Wembley. Should've kicked it a bit harder so it actually went in the net. At times it weren't pretty, but we got the job done.
"At times we had to defend a lot. I thought we dominated in both boxes. Fantastic performance from Hannah, it helped us win.
"We would have loved to have dominated more of the ball but sometimes games happen like this. It was a very gutsy performance. Everyone worked hard right until the last minute. I'm really proud of the team tonight.
On Keira Walsh: "Keira is a fantastic player, I've known her since I was young and she was teaching me the ways. It's great to have someone like Keira in the team. I'm really proud of her reaching 100.
"She carries the team at points when we need her to. She's the engine."
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
What a win!! Yes Spain dominated, but that win is all because of such great defending from England!!! I’m so impressed by how well England played and how they held off Spain for 87 minutes after Hemp's goal.
Sakinah, Birmingham
Image source, ReutersFT: England 1-0 Spain
England
England's Lotte Wubben-Moy: "I will always be ready. I live to be ready and a game like this, I enjoyed every second. A lot of defending but that's my thing.
On another game coming up quickly: "We've got to think towards the game on Saturday. We'll take the good vibes and energy into that. That was today, onto Saturday.
"We only had a quick talk in the huddle. The phrase 'win by any means' can take on many forms. Saturday will be a different game where hopefully we can have more possession. Another 90 minutes can look very differently."
On whether this game feels more important than others: "European champions v World champions, it's a great spectacle for the fans and I hope they enjoyed it. Women's football is a joy, we're all here enjoying the moment. Long may it continue."
On qualifying: "It's a relatively new format for us. The home and away leg brings its challenges and the joys. Anything can happen in the second leg. Saturday's the first game that comes to mind."
On Keira Walsh: "On Saturday we'll celebrate the 500th game, she's played a fifth of those games and that's incredible. When you talk about someone to look up to and who epitomises the hard work you put in to get up to this level, that's her. I know she'll be a role model to many."
FT: England 1-0 Spain
Joy for England after a hard-fought victory.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, EPAFT: England 1-0 Spain
England
England manager Sarina Wiegman, speaking to ITV: "I’m really happy. We got a good result. We had to defend a lot, we know Spain are so good on the ball. You have to defend well and be really compact.
"We had our chances, they got some too. But sometimes you have to fight to get the win and that's what we did.
"We hoped we’d be in a higher block more but we got pushed back. Sometimes we could have been better on the ball and create more momentum. As soon as we got in their half of the pitch, we made them uncomfortable."
On Morgan and Wubben-Moy partnership: "I think they did really well. This is the highest level we get and tactically Spain are very good. You need to communicate at all times and have skill at all times. I’m really happy with how they did it."
On celebrations at Wembley across the evening: "Overall, the bigger picture of this evening is incredible. The legends are here and we always say we stand on their shoulders. Then Keira’s 100th cap, that’s massive for her and for Lucia [Kendall], her first start at Wembley, and I thought she did a good job.
"I’m very grateful that I’m part of this, it’s so good that we celebrate the generations that were before us. It’s great the game is moving up, we still have many steps to take but from where we were it’s incredible."
On what it means for World Cup qualification: "It’s a great step forward. This is hard now, tonight we recover and tomorrow we get ready for Iceland because it’s a quick turnaround. It was an intense game. Be happy now but then switch straightaway to Iceland."
FT: England 1-0 Spain
Fran Kirby
Former England forward on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Every time we've come up against Spain, I've been in those meetings, it is accepting how the game is going to go, and the team did that tonight. They knew that they were going to have to work hard without the ball. There is going to be so much buzz in that team huddle because England won in a way we aren't used to seeing. We aren't used to seeing them play that way, we normally see them possess the ball and create a lot of chances, but today they had to stick at it.
FT: England 1-0 Spain
England
England midfielder Keira Walsh, speaking to ITV: "I think everybody knows you can't go toe-to-toe with Spain for possession. Our plan was to sit in a low block and when we had a chance to go forward.
"They had chances at the end but they're an unbelievable team."
On Hampton's save: "She's an unbelievable goalkeeper. I'm not surprised but to do it in front of this crowd shows her talent."
On reaching 100 caps: "Obviously it's not something I ever thought would be possible. To do it 100 times, I never take it for granted."
FT: England 1-0 Spain
Fran Kirby
Former England forward on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
England have been blessed over the years to have fantastic goalkeepers. It is a game where they are not always involved, they have the ball at their feet in some moments but it is those moments [the save at the end] where you need them to step up.
Hampton has also come into this camp with a lot of question marks around her because of her form at club, because of the goals she has been conceding, but this is the moment for her confidence to grow again.
That save at the end basically won England the game. In the middle of the goal, comes at her fast, she has to take immense confidence from that going into the next game.
FT: England 1-0 Spain
Spain dominated the stats.
England had the better of the only one that matters.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: England 1-0 Spain
Anita Asante
Former Arsenal defender on ITV
England showed great maturity, they were very disciplined. Frustrated Spain and didn't allow them to get into a rhythm.
They did everything diligently. They stopped their threat and retained a threat themselves.
FT: England 1-0 Spain
Fran Kirby
Former England forward on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
It wasn't a classic from either side. England did what they had to do to get the job done. They got the early goal, yes it was scrappy, but it went in which is all we care about, and then they did very, very well defensively.
Spain didn't cause too many problems. I thought they lacked pace in the final third and allowed England to get back into their defensive block. And then Hampton with a fantastic save at the end of the game, those are the moments you need players to step up.
FT: England 1-0 Spain
England are three points clear at the top of the table. The group winner progresses automatically to the 2027 Women's World Cup.
They still have to play Spain in Mallorca.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: England 1-0 Spain
Vicki Sparks
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentator at Wembley Stadium
Just as they did in the final of the Euros last summer, England get the better of World champions Spain once again. A precious win for the European champions and their hopes of qualifying automatically for next year's World Cup.
England 1-0 Spain
Mapi Leon swings a corner into the box, England get it cleared and the referee blows her whistle.
England get the better of the world champions once again.
Image source, PA MediaEngland 1-0 Spain
Not to be that person, but surely if you're Spain you just get it in the mixer at this point?
The ball is finally swung in towards Vicky Lopez after a lot of passes around the edge of the England box, but she can't control it.
England 1-0 Spain
Fran Kirby
Former England forward on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
It's too slow from Spain. Everything is so, so slow and it allows England to drop back into their block.
Image source, EPA
Lauren Hemp scored in the first three minutes for England
At a glance
Lauren Hemp gives England lead within three minutes and hits post later in the first half
Olga Carmona's effort deflected on to crossbar in second half for Spain, while Vicky Lopez hits post
England fail to take further chances, while keeper Hannah Hampton denies Edna Imade with fine late save
Midfielder Keira Walsh makes 100th appearance for Lionesses
England claimed a significant victory over rivals Spain to take control of their 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying group.
In a repeat of both the Euro 2025 final and the 2023 World Cup showpiece, two of Europe's best teams were battling to take top spot in Group 3.
It was a perfect start for Sarina Wiegman's side at Wembley as Lauren Hemp poked the ball over the line within three minutes to give them a crucial lead.
The Manchester City winger almost doubled her tally when Lucy Bronze's backheel set her up in the box but Hemp sliced her effort just wide.
That set the tone for the Lionesses, who defended well and played out the perfect gameplan in the first half to limit Spain's chances.
The reigning world champions controlled possession and came close through Irene Paredes and Ona Batlle, but did not do enough to test goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
Only the top team in the group earns automatic qualification to the World Cup in Brazil, with the rest entering the play-offs, so there was a lot at stake.
It led to a fiery second half with both teams creating huge chances. Lauren James, Alessia Russo and Lucia Kendall failed to take theirs for England, while Olga Carmona and Vicky Lopez struck the woodwork for Spain.
Spain put the hosts under late pressure and Edna Imade headed wide from close range before being denied by a fine save from Hampton in the final minutes.
Victory maintained England's 100% record in qualifying after three games and sit top of the table on nine points, knowing a trip to Spain is due in June.
They head to Iceland - third in the group after beating Ukraine - on Saturday knowing another three points will put them in a strong position going into the final round of qualifying fixtures in the summer.
Wiegman said afterwards: "I think as a team against Spain you have to defend really well as their individual quality is so high.
"If you don't stay compact, like we did, then they find spaces to get behind and become more dangerous. We tried not to let them drag us out of position.
"Overall, we did that. We also had moments in the game where we went forward and created chances.
"At the moment it's a really good result and we're really happy but we need to keep that significance by getting a result on Saturday against Iceland."
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This is a rivalry that has developed rapidly during Wiegman's tenure with many considering England and Spain the current best two teams in the world.
It was the European champions facing the world champions - a repeat of the last two major finals - and with just one automatic qualification spot up for grabs in their group, this was a crucial encounter.
Hemp's winner - the fastest ever by England Women at Wembley - followed Russo's quick-thinking to scoop the ball up while she fell to the floor in the box.
It helped the hosts get an early foothold in the game and Wiegman will have been pleased at half-time as her gameplan worked a treat.
England were organised and smart off the ball and dangerous and patient on the rare occasions they were able to attack.
Hemp enjoyed herself down the right-hand side, James was exquisite in her defensive duties on the opposite wing and young Aston Villa midfielder Kendall looked at home in the number 10 role.
Spain were weaker without three-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati - currently recovering after a broken leg - and starting centre-back Laia Aleixandri, but England made it difficult for them to show their quality.
However, as the match wore on, their pressure built and England defended deeper, needing Hampton to pull off a superb save to deny forward Imade an equaliser.
Wiegman admitted: "[Hampton] had a save against Iceland when we really dominated but it was still 1-0 and she had that crucial save. She had that tonight also.
"It makes a difference. As a team we really fought. Most of the games we played recently we have the ball a lot and this was a bit different to what we have recently showed and I felt we did that really well."
Spain made attacking substitutions and created more in the second period, but England were resolute and appeared fairly comfortable defending set-pieces.
It has always been a high-quality match when these teams have met previously, and this was no different, although Sonia Bermudez's side will be disappointed by their lack of ruthlessness in the box.
The narrow success has given England the upper hand in qualifying with a three-point lead in top spot over Spain, who will need to respond in similar fashion when the two meet again in Mallorca in June.
England travel to Reykjavik to face Iceland in their next Women's World Cup qualifying match on Saturday (17:45 BST).
Spain host Ukraine on the same day in Cordoba (15:00 BST). They meet the Lionesses again in Mallorca on 5 June.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Denmark | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
|
2 Sweden | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
|
3 Italy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
|
4 Serbia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
|
2 France | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
|
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 3 |
| |
4 Poland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| |
2 Spain | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
|
3 Iceland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 3 |
|
4 Ukraine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | -8 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Germany | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 9 |
|
2 Norway | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
|
3 Slovenia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 10 | -9 | 3 |
|
4 Austria | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 7 |
| |
2 Czech Republic | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 7 |
|
3 Albania | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 3 |
|
4 Montenegro | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 13 | -11 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Switzerland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
|
2 Turkey | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
|
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| |
4 Malta | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | -10 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Portugal | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 9 |
|
2 Finland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
|
3 Slovakia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 3 |
|
4 Latvia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Belgium | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 7 |
|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 7 |
| |
3 Israel | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 3 |
|
4 Luxembourg | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 | -18 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Latvia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 0 |
|
2 Malta | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | -10 | 0 |
|
3 Montenegro | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 13 | -11 | 0 |
|
4 Luxembourg | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 | -18 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Lithuania | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
|
2 Bosnia-Herzegovina | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 12 | 6 |
|
3 Estonia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 4 |
|
4 Liechtenstein | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 21 | -18 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Kosovo | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 9 |
|
2 Croatia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
|
3 Bulgaria | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
|
4 Gibraltar | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | -12 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Hungary | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
|
2 Azerbaijan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
|
3 North Macedonia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 3 |
|
4 Andorra | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Greece | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
|
2 Faroe Islands | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 0 |
|
3 Georgia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Romania | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
|
2 Moldova | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
|
3 Cyprus | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Belarus | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
|
2 Kazakhstan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|
3 Armenia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Bosnia-Herzegovina | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 12 | 6 |
|
2 Azerbaijan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
|
3 Croatia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
|
4 Kazakhstan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|
5 Moldova | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
|
6 Faroe Islands | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 0 |
|
Manager: Sarina Wiegman
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Sonia Bermúdez
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
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