FOOTBALL – Following a last-minute meeting with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), the Spanish team reached an agreement and confirmed they would participate in the UEFA Women´s Nations League. The first games in the group stages took place on Friday.
UEFA Women´s Nations League
The teams are split into 3 leagues – A, B, and C. Within each league there are 4 groups (5 in group C). Each of the groups play a home and an away game against all the teams in their group.
League A – Group 1
England v Scotland
Scotland took on England in the UEFA Women´s Nations League at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on Friday. The match was played at a fast pace with good chances for both sides. Mary Earps made some amazing saves, but the England appeared to open the score line when Rachel Daly met the corner kick and hit the ball in the net. However, just after it was announced over the tannoy, the goal was disallowed for offside.
But then it came! Thirty-nine minutes in, Zelem sent the ball towards the goal, and Lucy Bronze met it with a brilliant header to make it 0-1 for England.
The second goal for England came from Hemp, assisted by Daly on the 45-minute mark. But Scotland managed to pull one back when Kirsty Hanson scored in the second minute of stoppage time.
The first half ended 1-2 for England. The game ended the same way with England bagging all 3 points.
Belgium v Netherlands
Belgium won 2-1 against the Netherlands with all 3 goals coming in the second half.
After the first games, Belgium and England are top the table. The next matches in this group take place on Tuesday 26. England are away to the Netherlands, and Scotland are at home against Belgium.
League A – Group 2
France are top of the table as the only side to win their game. Austria and Norway shared the points with a draw, and Portugal are bottom of the table.
League A – Group 3
Denmark are top of the table with Iceland in second place after both won their games. Wales are in third place and Germany forth, both having lost.
League A – Group 4
Sweden v Spain
World Cup winners, Spain took on Sweden in their first game of the competition. The last time these two sides came together was in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup when Spain won 2-1 and went on to win against England in the final. In that game, all 3 goals came after 80 minutes. This time round, it was different. Sweden opened the scoring after just 23 minutes with a goal from Magdalena Eriksson. But Athenea del Castillo brought it back level 14 minutes later. The first half finished 1-1.
There were lots of substitutions in the first 10 minutes of the second half before Spain did it again. The second goal came in the 77th minute for Eva Navarro. But just 5 minutes later, Lina Hurtig equalised.
It remained 2-2 until 4 minutes into stoppage time, a red card was issued to Sweden´s Amanda Ilestedt. Spain was awarded the penalty. Mariona Caldentey stepped up and scored. The match ended with Spain winning 2-3.
Italy won their game against Switzerland putting them into second place.
In the next round of matches on Tuesday, Italy are at home against Sweden, and Spain play at home against Switzerland.
Saturday September 23
Yesterday, the Republic of Ireland won 3-0 at home against Northern Ireland in League B, Group 1
Spain v Scotland
On October 12, Hispanic Day (Dia de la Hispanidad), Scotland take on Spain at the Cartuja Stadium in Seville. This is the second leg of the Euro 2024 qualification. Scotland won 2-0 at home in Glasgow in the first leg. Tickets are on sale now via The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
