England Lionesses don suffer heavy 4-0 defeat against Spain for Mallorca, as world champions show clear gap for technical ability between di two teams.
Di game bin almost turn to showboating for second-half stoppage time, as Aitana Bonmatí dey flick ball around with grace and swagger, sending strong message: Spain dey better pass England.
For balmy evening for Palma, Spain teach European champions painful lesson. Scoreline bad but di real worry na di undeniable gulf for technical ability wey give Lionesses brutal reality check, one year before Women’s World Cup for Brazil.
E dey okay to still dey talk about England preparation for dat World Cup, even though Spain don enter pole position to grab automatic qualification at England expense. Dat one fit send Wiegman team into two-round playoff process later dis year.
Given di playoff format, England still go be hugely fancied to qualify. No need for panic. But England dream na to win first world title, and dat ambition right now dey look far away.
Of course e less dan 11 months since England beat Spain for European Championship final, but Friday heavy defeat show say 2025 glorious triumph for Basel come as result of every England player dey right at di very top of dia game, and di team nail dia tactical plan. Dis game show say, player for player, Spain dey superior.
Put dese two squads through skills test, Spain go sweep di board. To be fair, some extenuating circumstances dey for England sloppy performance, especially di fact say many Lionesses squad don go 20 days without game since Women’s Super League season end on 16 May, while Spanish top flight continue till 31 May. Dat one help Spain arrive for Mallorca with match sharpness to put on show for dia fans.
But dis na England heaviest defeat for Wiegman era, pass 2023 2-0 friendly loss to Australia, and di margin of victory fit – and probably suppose – don bigger.
Wiegman make some mistakes? E get understandable logic to her decision to start Ella Toone, given her extensive experience for big games, but e clearly backfire, as di Manchester United midfielder no be match-sharp and dey off pace throughout. But she no dey alone.
Lucy Bronze, usually rock wey England depend on, get Spain forwards run rings around her and she give possession away cheaply for di opening goal. Alex Greenwood, so often reliable and experienced leader, appear to play Alexia Putellas onside for second goal, wey Hannah Hampton get two hands to but fail keep out.
Di Chelsea goalkeeper get disappointing night, same as centre-back pairing of Esme Morgan and Lotte Wubben-Moy wey bin dey immense for April reverse fixture, but here dem no match for Putellas, Salma Paralluelo, and later substitute Clàudia Pina.
You fit say e easy to point out failings with benefit of hindsight, but England tactical approach to dis game suppose don significantly more defensive. Wiegman side start with dangerously high line, and while dia commitment to dia core principles go be admirable to some people, more pragmatic approach needed.
For buildup, Wiegman talk say she dey always go out to win. But a draw na wetin required. Even losing by only one-goal margin for Mallorca, and cancelling out England impressive 1-0 victory over Spain for Wembley for April, for don be decent outcome. Dis group always dey likely to hinge on wetin amount to two-legged tie between dese two sides.
Di mindset England need for dis second game na say dem dey 1-0 up on aggregate. Dig in, scrap, slow di clock down, and maybe consider five across di back or more defensively minded, deeper midfield three. Instead, England play for win and Spain show why dem go be favourites for next summer World Cup. England go need to search deep within for some solutions.
