Spain Overpower Lionesses as Chelsea Stars Face Tough Night

England’s World Cup qualifying momentum crashed into a red wall in Mallorca, and several Chelsea players were right in the eye of the storm.

Sarina Wiegman named four Blues in her starting XI against world champions Spain. Hannah Hampton took the gloves, Lucy Bronze lined up at right-back, Keira Walsh captained the side from midfield and Lauren James led the charge in attack.

It looked a strong spine. Spain tore through it.

Patri Guijarro struck first, Alexia Putellas followed, and by half-time England were two down and hanging on. The Lionesses arrived on the back of four straight qualifying wins and top of Group A3; they went into the interval chasing shadows.

Spain never eased off. Putellas added her second ten minutes after the restart, and the pressure kept building. From the bench came Claudia Pina, and with her, the final blow – a whipped finish that capped a ruthless 4-0 display from the world champions and left England well beaten.

Hampton and Walsh stayed on for the full 90 minutes, absorbing the Spanish onslaught. James’ night ended on 59 minutes, replaced as Wiegman searched for a response that never truly came. Bronze made way late on for fellow Chelsea defender Niamh Charles, a small shuffle in a back line that had already taken heavy damage. Aggie Beever-Jones did not make the match-day squad.

Nüsken leads Germany through, Cuthbert’s mixed emotions

Elsewhere, Chelsea’s Sjoeke Nüsken enjoyed a far more satisfying evening. Wearing the 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.

Germany knew exactly what was at stake. Beat their closest Group A4 rivals and qualification was done. They started like a team intent on settling the issue early. Marie Muller opened the scoring inside 20 minutes, Carlotta Wamser quickly added a second, and although Norway carved out chances, they never prised the game away from German control. The lead held, the job finished, and Nüsken’s side secured their place at the finals.

In Scotland, Erin Cuthbert produced a performance that was almost the perfect night for a midfielder – until the closing minutes turned it sour.

Scotland demolished Israel 6-0 in World Cup qualifying, with Cuthbert at the heart of it. She broke the deadlock on 17 minutes, collecting the ball 20 yards out and drilling a fine strike from the edge of the area into the net.

After the break she turned provider. First, the pass for Caroline Weir’s second of the night – Scotland’s third – as the hosts ran away with it. Then, once Weir had completed her hat-trick, Cuthbert slipped in Lauren Davidson to add another. The scoreline swelled again when Kirsty Hanson got in on the act.

Then the mood changed.

In second-half stoppage time, an innocuous-looking challenge left Cuthbert down and needing prolonged treatment. The same player who had driven Scotland forward all evening was carried off on a stretcher, the emphatic victory suddenly overshadowed by concern for one of their key figures.

Baltimore brilliance for France, mixed fortunes across Europe

France also kept their qualifying push on track, with Sandy Baltimore delivering the standout moment. Les Bleues eventually broke stubborn Polish resistance when Melvine Malard struck early in the second half. Once the deadlock snapped, France looked freer.

Baltimore supplied the flourish. Just after the hour, the Chelsea winger slipped away from her marker, exchanged passes with Malard, burst into the box and lashed home with authority to seal a 2-0 win for the visitors.

Not every Chelsea player ended on the right side of the scoreline. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd found the net for Sweden in Denmark, but her goal could not prevent a 2-1 defeat.

Cecilie Floe put Denmark ahead in the first half, only for Rytting Kaneryd to level with a close-range finish early in the second. Sweden appeared to have wrestled back control. Then former Chelsea forward Pernille Harder stepped up, striking in the 65th minute to decide a tight qualifier in the hosts’ favour.

There was no such drama for Livia Peng. The Chelsea goalkeeper played the full match as Switzerland overwhelmed Malta 6-1 in World Cup qualifying. It was a statement win that kept the Swiss three points clear of Turkey at the top of their group after five games, with both their attack and their defensive structure looking firmly in sync.

Late heartbreak for Dutch duo

In Cork, Chelsea’s Veerle Buurman and Wieke Kaptein both started for the Netherlands, but a wild finish left them empty-handed in a 3-2 defeat to the Republic of Ireland.

Kyra Carusa fired Ireland in front, and for long spells the Dutch chased the game. With 20 minutes to play, Dominique Janssen finally dragged them level. The relief barely lasted. Straight from the restart, Abbie Larkin restored Ireland’s lead.

The Dutch refused to fold. Victoria Pelova struck with ten minutes remaining to make it 2-2, and suddenly the momentum looked theirs. A point seemed the minimum.

Then came the sting. As the clock ticked down and a draw looked inevitable, Amber Barrett prodded home from close range, snatching the win for Ireland and leaving Buurman, Kaptein and the Netherlands to reflect on a night that slipped away in the final moments.

For Chelsea’s internationals, it was a window of sharp contrasts: heavy defeat and commanding victories, qualification clinched and chances missed, and above all, one worrying injury that could shape the weeks ahead.