Spain Punish England Lionesses as Chelsea Stars Struggle

England’s Chelsea core walked into Mallorca in form and in charge of their World Cup qualifying group. They walked out having been schooled by the world champions.

Sarina Wiegman trusted four Blues from the start. Hannah Hampton in goal. Lucy Bronze on the right of defence. Keira Walsh, armband on, anchoring midfield. Lauren James high up the pitch, tasked with unsettling Spain.

Instead, it was Spain who tore through the script.

Patri Guijarro struck first, Alexia Putellas followed before the break, and England found themselves two down and chasing shadows. The Lionesses arrived on a run of four straight qualifying wins and top of Group A3; by half-time, they were hanging on.

Spain never eased off. The pressure only tightened.

Putellas added her second ten minutes into the restart, a ruthless reminder of why this Spain side now sets the standard. From there, the contest slipped away from England. Claudia Pina came off the bench and, with the swagger of a side in total control, whipped home a fourth to turn a bad night into a bruising one.

Hampton stayed in for the full 90 minutes, exposed too often by the red shirts swarming in front of her. Walsh did the same, battling in a midfield Spain dominated. James’ evening ended in the 59th minute, replaced with the game already drifting out of reach. Bronze made way late on for fellow Chelsea defender Niamh Charles, a small consolation on a chastening night for England’s Blues. Aggie Beever-Jones did not make the match-day squad.

Nusken leads Germany to Brazil

While Chelsea’s England contingent were overrun, Sjoeke Nusken enjoyed the kind of night every international captain craves.

Handed the armband for Germany against Norway in Group A4, she guided her side to the win they needed to punch their ticket to next year’s World Cup in Brazil. The stakes were clear: beat their closest rivals and qualification was done.

Germany settled any nerves early. Marie Muller struck inside 20 minutes, a goal that settled the rhythm and put Norway on the back foot. Carlotta Wamser added a second soon after, and from there Germany managed the game with authority.

Norway carved out chances, but the lead never truly looked in danger. Nusken’s team saw it out, job finished, place in Brazil secured.

Cuthbert dazzles, then departs on a stretcher

In Scotland, Erin Cuthbert produced the kind of all-action display that has become her trademark – then left the pitch in the most worrying fashion.

The midfielder drove Scotland to a 6-0 demolition of Israel in World Cup qualifying, scoring once and supplying two assists before being carried off in second-half stoppage time.

Her night began in style. On 17 minutes, Cuthbert collected the ball around 20 yards from goal, stepped into space on the edge of the box and lashed a precise strike into the net to open the scoring. It set the tone for a ruthless Scottish performance.

After the break she turned creator. First, she slipped the pass for Caroline Weir’s second of the night – Scotland’s third – as the hosts pulled away. When Weir had completed her hat-trick, Cuthbert fed Lauren Davidson to add another layer to an already emphatic scoreline.

Kirsty Hanson then added further gloss, but the closing stages brought a jarring change of mood. An innocuous-looking challenge left Cuthbert needing lengthy treatment, and the sight of her being taken off on a stretcher cast a shadow over an otherwise perfect result.

Baltimore brilliance for France

Sandy Baltimore delivered a moment to remember for France as they ground down Poland in their qualifier.

France had to wait. Poland resisted through the first half and deep into the second, but Melvine Malard finally broke their resolve shortly after the interval, nudging the visitors in front.

Then came Baltimore’s touch of class just after the hour. The Chelsea winger slipped away from her marker, exchanged a sharp one-two with Malard, burst into the box and drilled home with conviction to seal a 2-0 win. One sweeping move, one ruthless finish, and the points were safe.

Rytting Kaneryd scores but Sweden fall in Denmark

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd found the net for Sweden, yet still left Denmark on the wrong side of the result.

Cecilie Floe put Denmark ahead in the first half, and Sweden had to chase. Rytting Kaneryd dragged them level early in the second period with a close-range finish, a poacher’s effort that briefly swung the momentum.

But Pernille Harder, so often decisive in these fixtures, stepped up again. The former Chelsea forward struck in the 65th minute, restoring Denmark’s lead and ultimately deciding a tight qualifier 2-1.

Peng steady as Switzerland cruise

For Livia Peng, the evening brought a very different kind of test: long spells of concentration behind a dominant Switzerland side.

The Chelsea goalkeeper played the full 90 minutes as Switzerland overwhelmed Malta 6-1 in qualifying. The result keeps them top of their group after five matches, three points clear of Turkey and firmly in control of their route to the finals.

Dutch duo denied in late drama

Veerle Buurman and Wieke Kaptein both started for the Netherlands in Cork, but a wild finish left them empty-handed against the Republic of Ireland.

Ireland struck first through Kyra Carusa, a goal that gave the hosts something to cling to. The Dutch pushed and finally broke through when Dominique Janssen levelled with 20 minutes left, only for Abbie Larkin to restore Ireland’s lead almost immediately.

The drama didn’t stop. Victoria Pelova made it 2-2 with ten minutes to play, and the match seemed to be drifting towards a draw. Then Amber Barrett pounced. A close-range prod in the dying moments condemned the Netherlands to a 3-2 defeat and left Buurman and Kaptein reflecting on a night that slipped away right at the end.

For Chelsea’s internationals, it was an evening of sharp contrasts: heavy defeat, secure qualification, individual brilliance, and one injury that will now be watched with real concern back at club level.