Spain Punishes England as Chelsea Players Shine
England’s Chelsea core walked into Mallorca in form and in charge of their World Cup qualifying group. They walked out having been picked apart by the world champions.
Sarina Wiegman trusted four Blues from the start. Hannah Hampton in goal. Lucy Bronze on the right of defence. Keira Walsh, wearing the armband, dictating midfield. Lauren James asked to bring the spark in attack.
Spain snuffed it all out.
Patri Guijarro struck first, Alexia Putellas followed before the interval, and the Lionesses’ four-game qualifying winning streak lay in ruins by half-time. England, top of Group A3 at kick-off, were two down and hanging on.
The onslaught didn’t ease after the break. Putellas, ruthless and relentless, found her second in the 55th minute. Any faint hope of a response disappeared when Claudia Pina stepped off the bench and whipped in a fourth, a finish that underlined the gulf on the night and the authority of the world champions on home soil.
Hampton and Walsh stayed on for the full 90 minutes, absorbing the damage as England chased shadows. James’ evening ended just before the hour, withdrawn on 59 minutes, while Bronze made way late on for fellow Chelsea defender Niamh Charles. Aggie Beever-Jones did not make the match-day squad.
On a bruising night for England, Chelsea’s most positive storyline came hundreds of miles away.
Nüsken leads Germany to Brazil
In Germany’s camp, Sjoeke Nüsken wore the armband and left the pitch with a World Cup ticket secured.
Germany knew the equation in Group A4: beat Norway, their closest rivals, and Brazil next year would be booked. They played with that clarity.
Marie Müller opened the scoring inside 20 minutes, settling any nerves. Carlotta Wamser soon added a second, and while Norway carved out chances, they never found a way back. Germany held firm, protected their lead, and closed out the win that guarantees their place at the finals.
Nüsken, captaining a side with serious ambitions for next year, could scarcely have asked for a more straightforward night.
Cuthbert’s brilliant, brutal evening
Scotland’s 6-0 demolition of Israel in World Cup qualifying should have been remembered simply as a statement win. Erin Cuthbert made sure her fingerprints were all over it.
Then came the sting.
The Chelsea midfielder opened the scoring on 17 minutes, collecting the ball around 20 yards out and rifling a precise strike from the edge of the box into the net. It set the tone and set Scotland free.
She didn’t stop there. After the break, Cuthbert slipped the pass that allowed Caroline Weir to grab her second and Scotland’s third. When Weir completed her hat-trick, it was again Cuthbert who provided the platform, teeing up Lauren Davidson to add another.
Kirsty Hanson piled on further punishment as the scoreline swelled, but the closing moments turned sour. An innocuous-looking challenge left Cuthbert down, needing prolonged treatment. The player who had driven Scotland’s performance was carried off on a stretcher in stoppage time, her outstanding night ending in obvious concern.
Baltimore brilliance, Harder haunts Sweden
France had to be patient in their qualifier against Poland. The breakthrough finally arrived early in the second half when Melvine Malard broke the resistance, and from there the visitors took control.
Then Sandy Baltimore produced the night’s highlight. Just after the hour, the Chelsea winger slipped free of her marker, exchanged passes with Malard, and surged into the box before drilling home with conviction. A 2-0 victory, sealed in style.
For Sweden, the narrative turned the other way in Denmark. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s goal could not rescue them in a 2-1 defeat.
Cecilie Floe put Denmark ahead in the first half. Rytting Kaneryd responded shortly after the restart with a close-range finish to drag Sweden level, but the decisive word belonged to a familiar face. Former Chelsea forward Pernille Harder struck in the 65th minute, restoring Denmark’s lead and ultimately deciding the contest.
Mixed fortunes across Europe
Chelsea’s influence stretched across the continent, with varying rewards.
In Switzerland, goalkeeper Livia Peng played the full 90 minutes as her side dismantled Malta 6-1 in qualifying. It was as comprehensive as the scoreline suggests. Five games in, Switzerland sit atop their group, three points clear of Turkey and firmly in control.
The Netherlands, by contrast, endured a painful night in Cork. Veerle Buurman and Wieke Kaptein both started, but neither could prevent a 3-2 defeat to the Republic of Ireland.
Kyra Carusa opened the scoring for the hosts, only for Dominique Janssen to haul the Dutch level with 20 minutes remaining. The game then descended into chaos. Abbie Larkin immediately restored Ireland’s advantage, Victoria Pelova answered with an equaliser 10 minutes from time, and a draw looked the likely outcome.
Then came Amber Barrett. As the clock ticked down, she prodded in from close range, delivering a decisive late blow and condemning the Netherlands to defeat.
On a single night of World Cup qualifiers, Chelsea players found themselves at every point on the spectrum: from Spain’s ruthless lesson for England, to Nüsken’s captain’s role in Germany’s qualification, to Cuthbert’s dazzling, then worrying, cameo for Scotland. The results are in. The consequences, for club and country, are only just beginning to unfold.
