MY ACCOUNT
England coasted through the group stage at Women’s Euro 2022 but now face their toughest test yet in the shape of Spain in Wednesday’s first quarter-final, which kicks off at 8pm BST.
It has been a dream start for the Lionesses, winning each of their three outings, scoring a competition-high 14 goals as well as keeping three successive clean sheets to top Group A.
Head coach Sarina Wiegman, who led the Netherlands to the title in 2017, could not have asked for any more from her troops, however those group stage performances will matter little if they fail to back it up against La Roja.
Spain, meanwhile, will be disappointed to have finished second in Group B after beating Finland and Denmark either side of a defeat to Germany.
These two sides were rated among the favourites ahead of the Euros getting under way and there is every chance the winner of the tournament could come from this tie at Brighton’s Amex Stadium.
Team news
Wiegman has been very consistent with her team selection throughout the competition with the fitness of her players allowing her to stick with a core group.
The 52-year-old has named the same starting XI in each of the three games so far and that is likely to be the case for this quarter-final.
Injuries have been kind to the tournament hosts but goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who was an unused substitute in the three group matches, will be unavailable due to Covid-19.
Wiegman missed the 5-0 win over Northern Ireland after testing positive for coronavirus herself and it is not clear whether she will be on the sideline for the clash with Spain.
Spain’s hopes of winning the Euros took a major blow before a ball had been kicked with Alexia Putellas joining Jennifer Hermoso on the injured list.
In the absence of that attacking duo, head coach Jorge Vilda has shuffled his pack throughout the group stage to try and find a solution for more creativity in the final third.
There are no new injuries for Vilda to contend with but he is expected to tinker with his XI once again in search of the right formula to keep England quiet.
The stats
England arrived at the Euros unbeaten in 14 games, having won 12 during that sequence, although few would have predicted how smoothly they sealed their progress to the quarter-finals.
The Lionesses have reached the last eight in record-breaking fashion, claiming the biggest winning margin in the history of the competition courtesy of an 8-0 triumph over Norway.
Wiegman’s side also scored the most goals by a single team in the group stage (14), equalled the record of conceding the fewest goals in the groups (zero) and scored the most goals in a first half (six).
There has also been plenty to celebrate from an individual viewpoint, with Beth Mead, who opened England’s account at the Euros against Austria, notching five times over three games to set a new record for goals scored by a player in group, while she is just one shy of Germany’s Inka Grings for the most scored in a single tournament (six).
Of course, improving on those stats is easier said than done when taking into account the level of opposition England will face in the quarter-finals.
Spain enjoyed a 24-game unbeaten run prior to losing their second group match to Germany but they did bounce back to defeat Denmark and wrap up second spot.
The most recent meeting between England and Spain, which came in the Arnold Clark Cup in February, ended 0-0 at Carrow Road, while La Roja earned a 1-0 victory in the SheBelieves Cup in 2020.
England had enjoyed a three-game winning streak over Spain prior to those two fixtures, which included a 2-0 victory in the group stage at Euro 2017.
In terms of goalscorers, England’s Mead is the tournament leader with five, netting as many goals as Spain have scored altogether through the Euros.
Alessia Russo has registered three times, Ellen White has struck twice and Lauren Hemp, Fran Kirby and Georgia Stanway all boast a goal each.
Aitana Bonmati, Mariona Caldentey, Marta Cardona, Lucia Garcia and Irene Paredes have all found the back of the net once for Spain.
Prediction
It is tough to argue against anything but an England win when taking into account the two sides’ form up to this point in the competition.
Spain have exited the last two editions of the Euros at the quarter-final stage, failing to score in their last-eight tie against Austria in 2017, and another loss to nil could be on the cards.
Vilda’s side drew a blank against Germany in the group stage and England’s well-organised backline looks set to have the tools to keep their rivals at bay.
Backing over 2.5 goals could also offer some value with England’s attack-minded approach setting up some exciting results over recent times.
The Lionesses have scored at least three goals in eight of their last nine outings, failing only to do so in the 1-0 victory over Austria, while that result has also landed in four of the last seven meetings between England and Spain.
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