Spain Defeats Lionesses as Chelsea Players Face Tough Night
England’s Chelsea core walked into Mallorca on a high. They walked out having been picked apart by the world champions.
Sarina Wiegman trusted four Blues from the start against Spain. Hannah Hampton in goal. Lucy Bronze at right-back. Keira Walsh, the armband on her sleeve, running midfield. Lauren James asked to provide the spark in attack.
The Lionesses arrived top of Group A3, four World Cup qualifying wins behind them and momentum to match. Spain stripped that away before half-time.
Patri Guijarro struck first, Alexia Putellas followed, and by the interval England were two down and hanging on. Spain moved the ball with the authority of a side that know exactly what they are. England chased shadows.
The pressure didn’t ease after the break. It intensified.
Putellas found her second in the 55th minute, the stadium sensing a statement result. From there, it became damage limitation for Wiegman’s side. Claudia Pina came off the bench and promptly whipped in a ruthless finish, sealing a resounding win and underlining why Spain wear the world crown.
From a Chelsea perspective, it was a mixed, draining watch. Hampton stayed in for the full 90, exposed too often by a defence that never settled. Walsh, captain for the night, also completed the game, battling to stem a tide that kept coming in waves. James was withdrawn on 59 minutes, her influence blunted by Spain’s control. Bronze made way late on for fellow Chelsea defender Niamh Charles, a small consolation on a bruising evening. Aggie Beever-Jones didn’t make the match-day squad.
Nüsken leads Germany through, Cuthbert’s bittersweet masterclass
There was relief, not regret, for Sjoeke Nüsken. The Chelsea midfielder captained Germany to a decisive win over Norway that punched their ticket to next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Germany knew exactly what was at stake against their closest Group A4 rivals. They played like it. Marie Muller opened the scoring inside 20 minutes, settling any early nerves. Carlotta Wamser quickly added a second, and although Norway carved out chances, they never found a way back. Germany held firm, closed the door, and walked off with qualification secured.
In Scotland, Erin Cuthbert produced the kind of all-action display that defines her – and then left the pitch in worrying fashion.
She set the tone in a 6-0 demolition of Israel, scoring first in the 17th minute. Cuthbert collected the ball 20 yards out, stepped into space on the edge of the area and lashed a fine strike into the net. From there, she turned creator.
After the break, she slipped the pass for Caroline Weir’s second goal, Scotland’s third of the night. Once Weir had completed her hat-trick, Cuthbert threaded another assist, this time for Lauren Davidson to add to the tally. Kirsty Hanson later added further gloss to a ruthless scoreline.
Then the mood changed.
In second-half stoppage time, an innocuous-looking challenge left Cuthbert on the turf, requiring prolonged treatment. The midfielder who had dominated the contest was carried off on a stretcher, a cloud over an otherwise emphatic night for Scotland.
Baltimore brilliance for France, mixed fortunes across Europe
Sandy Baltimore delivered the highlight for France. The winger, representing Chelsea, scored a stunning goal in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Poland.
France had to wait for their breakthrough. Melvine Malard finally broke Polish resistance early in the second half, nudging the visitors in front. Baltimore then took over just after the hour. She slipped free of her marker, exchanged passes with Malard, burst into the box and finished with authority to kill the game and underline France’s control.
Not every Chelsea player ended on the right side of the result.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd found the net for Sweden in Denmark, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a 2-1 defeat. Cecilie Floe opened the scoring for the hosts before the break. Rytting Kaneryd responded with a close-range finish early in the second half, dragging Sweden level and briefly swinging the momentum. Then came a familiar name. Former Chelsea forward Pernille Harder struck in the 65th minute, her goal deciding the contest and leaving Sweden empty-handed.
There was comfort, though, for Livia Peng. The Chelsea goalkeeper played the full 90 minutes as Switzerland dismantled Malta 6-1 in World Cup qualifying. After five matches, Switzerland sit top of their group, three points clear of Turkey and very much in control of their route to the finals.
For the Netherlands, it was late heartbreak. Chelsea duo Veerle Buurman and Wieke Kaptein both started in Cork against the Republic of Ireland, only to see their side beaten 3-2 in a wild finish.
Kyra Carusa put Ireland ahead, a lead that stood deep into the second half. Dominique Janssen finally dragged the Dutch level with 20 minutes left, only for Abbie Larkin to restore Ireland’s advantage almost instantly. Victoria Pelova then struck with ten minutes to go, apparently salvaging a point.
The game had one final twist.
As the clock ticked towards full time and a draw seemed inevitable, Amber Barrett pounced from close range to win it for Ireland and condemn the Netherlands to a painful defeat.
For Chelsea’s internationals, it was a night of sharp contrasts: qualification clinched, statements made, heavy defeats suffered, and one worrying injury that could shape the weeks to come.
