England delivered the resounding victory their manager craved, but it wasn't without its early drama! The Lionesses secured a dominant 6-1 win over Ukraine, a result that Sarina Wiegman had explicitly demanded. This match saw a fresh-faced England squad take to the pitch, a strategic move by Wiegman as she reintegrates key players returning from injury and rewards those currently in stellar form.
We witnessed the debut of Poppy Pattinson, a defender from London City Lionesses, who stepped onto the international stage in the second half. Laura Blindkilde Brown of Manchester City was also handed a rare starting opportunity. What's particularly noteworthy is the relative inexperience of the starting back four; collectively, they boasted fewer than 100 caps. Captain Leah Williamson contributed a significant 65 of those, while Maya Le Tissier was deployed at right-back instead of the more established Lucy Bronze. Meanwhile, Taylor Hinds earned her third start in four matches at left-back.
Jess Park, who has been electrifying for Manchester United out wide this season, was given the chance to shine in a similar role, rather than her usual midfield position. This approach was uncharacteristically experimental for Wiegman, especially considering this was England's first competitive fixture since Euro 2025. It took a while for this new-look team to gel.
In the first half, England enjoyed a staggering 85% possession and managed 40 touches in the opposition box. However, despite 15 shots on goal, the net remained empty. The tempo of the game seemed to dip, and Ukraine's disciplined defense proved a tough nut to crack, preventing England from the quick start they desired. As former England midfielder Fran Kirby aptly put it, "They didn't quite figure it out in the first half. They were a little bit stunned about what to do." She further elaborated on Ukraine's effective defensive strategy, noting how "tight between the lines" they were, making it "very difficult for England." Kirby suggested a need for "a little bit more composure in the box instead of crossing it for the sake of crossing it." The good news? "The second half showed that they learned from the first half in terms of what wasn't working."
But here's where it gets truly impressive... With a squad brimming with talent, the two-time European champions found their stride in the second half. Alessia Russo, the Arsenal striker, netted two goals in just four minutes, swiftly putting England in a commanding position. Georgia Stanway then extended their lead with a brace of her own, taking the game well out of Ukraine's reach. Wiegman's call for a "clear win" was emphatically answered when Jess Park also contributed two goals to the tally.
Russo herself acknowledged the initial challenge, stating, "I think it took us the first half to break them down. We were still very good in the first half. They were defensively solid." She added, "When the spaces opened, we took our chances. I wouldn't say it was relief [when we scored]. We knew we had the quality in us and it was just executing it." The key, she explained, was "finding the final moment, the final pass and the final shot. You saw that in the second half."
And this is the part most people miss... The match itself was played in Turkey, as Ukraine is currently unable to host fixtures due to the ongoing war with Russia. The Ukrainian players undertook a lengthy 15-hour coach journey to reach the Mardan Stadium. For the Lionesses, back-to-back European champions and heavy favorites, this was a fixture they simply had to win. Their rivals, Spain, also did their part with a 3-0 victory over Iceland. This means that if England hopes to keep pace with the defending world champions and secure automatic qualification, they need to not only beat Ukraine and Iceland but do so convincingly. The race for qualification could very well come down to goal difference between England and Spain, though there's still a considerable amount of football to be played.
Wiegman had subtly emphasized the need for ruthlessness before the match, stating, "It is very important, of course, we know the group. For ourselves, we want to play a very good game and we want to get a clear win which gives us a good starting position going into the next game against Iceland." The upcoming fixture against Spain in April is shaping up to be a monumental clash, a rematch of the 2023 Women's World Cup final (which Spain won) and the Euro 2025 final (where England exacted revenge).
This competitive spirit is clearly on the players' minds. Georgia Stanway expressed her "very disappointed" feelings about conceding a goal against Ukraine, acknowledging its impact on their goal difference. She reflected, "We'll look back and see what the mistake was. Potentially it was me. I needed to track her but I need to watch it back. Overall, it was a solid start."
Currently, England leads the table with a two-goal advantage over Spain heading into their game against Iceland. They will be aiming to make a significant leap forward when they face their rivals in April.
What are your thoughts on England's experimental lineup? Do you think goal difference will be the deciding factor in qualification? Let us know in the comments below!
