Spain Dominates England as Chelsea Players Face Tough Night
England’s Chelsea core walked into Mallorca riding a wave of four straight World Cup qualifying wins. They walked out having been schooled by the world champions.
Sarina Wiegman handed starts to four Blues. Hannah Hampton in goal. Lucy Bronze at right-back. Keira Walsh, the armband on her arm, dictating midfield. Lauren James given licence to attack.
Spain never allowed them to settle.
Patri Guijarro struck first, Alexia Putellas followed before the interval, and England – top of Group A3 at kick-off – were two down and hanging on by half-time.
The onslaught did not ease after the restart. Putellas, ruthless and relentless, found her second in the 55th minute. Claudia Pina then stepped off the bench and whipped in a fourth, a ruthless finish that underlined the gulf on the night and sealed a statement win for the world champions.
For Chelsea’s England contingent it became a damage-limitation exercise. Hampton stayed in for the full 90, as did Walsh in the centre of the pitch. James was withdrawn on 59 minutes, her influence blunted by Spain’s control. Bronze made way late on, replaced by fellow Chelsea defender Niamh Charles. Aggie Beever-Jones did not make the match-day squad.
Nüsken leads Germany through
While Chelsea’s Lionesses endured a chastening evening, Sjoeke Nüsken enjoyed one to savour.
Handed the captain’s armband for Germany, she guided her country to a decisive win over Norway that booked their ticket to next year’s World Cup in Brazil. The equation was simple: beat their closest Group A4 rivals and qualification was secure. Germany played like a side that had no interest in leaving anything to chance.
Marie Muller opened the scoring inside 20 minutes, settling any nerves. Carlotta Wamser doubled the advantage soon after. Norway carved out chances, enough to ask questions, but Germany never let their grip loosen and saw out the game with the composure of a team already thinking about Brazil.
Cuthbert’s mixed night: goals, assists and a worrying end
In Glasgow, Erin Cuthbert produced the kind of all-action performance that has become her trademark – until a late incident silenced the celebrations.
Scotland dismantled Israel 6-0 in World Cup qualifying, and Cuthbert sat at the heart of it. She struck first in the 17th minute, collecting the ball 20 yards out before driving a fierce effort from the edge of the area into the net. A clean hit, a clean lead.
After the break she turned provider. Her pass unlocked the defence for Caroline Weir’s second of the night and Scotland’s third. Weir then completed her hat-trick, and Cuthbert still wasn’t done, sliding the ball across for Lauren Davidson to add another.
Kirsty Hanson added further shine to a dominant scoreline. Then, just as the evening looked perfect, it took a sharp turn. A seemingly innocuous challenge in second-half stoppage time left Cuthbert needing prolonged treatment. The midfielder was eventually carried off on a stretcher, a jarring sight on an otherwise emphatic night for Scotland.
Baltimore brilliance for France
Sandy Baltimore delivered the highlight in France’s controlled 2-0 win over Poland.
France had to be patient. Poland held firm until early in the second half, when Melvine Malard finally broke their resistance. The visitors then tightened their grip.
Baltimore’s moment arrived just after the hour. The Chelsea winger slipped free of her marker, exchanged passes with Malard, burst into the box and lashed home with authority to kill the contest and cap a composed away performance.
Rytting Kaneryd scores, Harder has the last word
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd found the net for Sweden, but it was a former Chelsea star who decided the contest in Copenhagen.
Cecilie Floe put Denmark ahead in the first half. Sweden regrouped and Rytting Kaneryd levelled early in the second with a close-range finish that briefly swung momentum their way. The comeback stalled there.
On 65 minutes, Pernille Harder – once a Blues favourite, now the tormentor – struck the winner. Her goal sealed a 2-1 victory for Denmark and left Sweden empty-handed despite Rytting Kaneryd’s contribution.
Peng steady as Switzerland cruise
Livia Peng enjoyed a far more straightforward night. The Chelsea goalkeeper played the full 90 minutes as Switzerland dismantled Malta 6-1 in World Cup qualifying.
It was as comprehensive as the scoreline suggests. After five matches, Switzerland sit top of their group, three points clear of Turkey and firmly in control of their path to the tournament.
Dutch duo denied in Cork thriller
In Cork, Veerle Buurman and Wieke Kaptein both started for the Netherlands but could not prevent a dramatic 3-2 defeat to the Republic of Ireland.
Kyra Carusa fired Ireland ahead, only for the Dutch to claw their way back. With 20 minutes left, Dominique Janssen levelled, briefly silencing the home crowd. The response was instant. Abbie Larkin restored Ireland’s lead almost immediately, only for Victoria Pelova to strike with ten minutes to play and drag the Netherlands back to 2-2.
The draw seemed set. It wasn’t. As the game edged towards its conclusion, Amber Barrett pounced from close range, prodding in a late winner that condemned the Netherlands – and their Chelsea pair – to a painful loss.
From Mallorca to Glasgow and Cork, it was a night that underlined the volatility of international football for Chelsea’s players: qualification secured for some, heavy defeats for others, and one key midfielder leaving the pitch on a stretcher with a nation – and a club – waiting anxiously for news.
