Jonathan Liew on a big night for England
Wiegman speaks!
Sophie Downey’s player ratings from Brighton
Sid Lowe has filed his match report from the Amex Stadium, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company; please join us tomorrow for the second semi-final between Germany and Austria. Goodnight!
“The one question that stands: coming home?” says Bill Hargreaves.
After all the abuse I’ve had tonight, I’m never offering an opinion again. (No: I think they’ll lose in the final.)
I’m not sure whether this game should dampen expectations or enhance them. For a long time England were outclassed, but you could argue that Spain can do that to anyone. And winning a game in that manner, when you were this close to going out with a whimper, can set up new pathways in the brain. England’s self-belief will be stratospheric. And yet, at the same, they got a bit of a reality check. Ach, I don’t know.
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This is the moment when England reached the semi-finals. I’m still not entirely sure how they did it, but they did it.
LOOK WHAT IT MEANS! 🙌
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 20, 2022
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Georgia Stanway’s verdict
Unreal. That just shows the level we’re at. We get a setback and we come back and we do it. [Points to the team] I’m gutted I’m not over there!
[The goal] is definitely one to be proud of. There’s nothing much I can say – we’re just going to enjoy this moment and then crack on.
A word for Keira Walsh and Millie Bright, who were both magnificent. As well as putting out umpteen fires defensively, Walsh played four or five quite outstanding passes. And Bright, who has grown so much as a player in the last few years, was a magnet in the England penalty area.
Updated
England will play Sweden or Belgium in the semi-finals after a nerve-shredding victory over Spain. They were seven minutes away from defeat - a deserved defeat at that stage - when the substitute Ella Toone equalised.
That took the game to extra time, and Georgia Stanway settled the match with a barnstorming strike from 25 yards. You have to feel for Spain, who were terrific and taught England a bit of a lesson for the first 83 minutes. A number of their players are in tears, including Ona Batlle, who had an outstanding game at right-back.
They made England work so hard, and took them to some dark places in the second half. Somehow, they found an answer.
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Full time: England 2-1 Spain
It’s all over!
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120+4 min A dangerous ball from Mapi Leon just evades Sarriegi and is claimed to huge cheers by Mary Earps.
120+3 min After Bright, Williamson and Bronze combine to head a dangerous cross away, Stanway hacks the ball somewhere, anywhere.
120+2 min Paredes almost kicks off when Greenwood goes down after a high challenge. Spain aren’t taking this well, and you can understand why - they have been the better team for three-quarters of the match.
120+1 min Bonmati’s corner drifts right across the six-yard box, with Panos very close to getting a touch on it!
There will be four minutes of added time.
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120 min Bonmati wins a corner off Kelly. The goalkeeper Panos is coming up...
119 min “Millie Bright has come up with a performance tonight which I imagine is what the old giffers were going on about with Bobby Moore,” says Michael Jelley. “Absolute pillar of assuredness, phenomenal calm and domination of defence. A full 10/10, and the difference tonight…”
I’d say Keira Walsh has turned it up to 11, but I agree about Bright. For such a passing team Spain put a lot of balls into the box, and Bright has headed most of them away.
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118 min The outstanding Bonmati, who seems to play elite sport with a resting heart rate, wins the ball back for Spain, but then Mapi Leon puts it straight out of play. Two minutes to go.
117 min: England substitution Of course, England have a sixth substitution as we’ve gone to extra time, so they are making two. Jill Scott and Nikita Parris replace Lauren Hemp and the limping Keira Walsh. I’m pretty sure it’s cramp with Walsh, so she should be fine if England make the semi-finals. I can’t tell you how well she has played tonight.
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114 min Russo buys England a bit of time by winning a free-kick near the halfway line. Keira Walsh has cramp, which isn’t especially surprising after the shift she has put in. She has been utterly brilliant.
113 min England look tired now. They still have one substitution, and there’s a case for bringing on Jill Scott in midfield. It would unbalance the team, though, as it would almost certainly be in place of Lauren Hemp.
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112 min “As a proud Irish woman, I am, perhaps surprisingly so up for England,” writes Sinéad Kelly. “They are addictive to watch and never give up despite the intense pressure on and off the field. I wish they would give those young players more time - Kelly, Greenwood, Toone and Russo are obvious starters. Kirby and White are brilliant but struggling for pace at the moment for different reasons. Big shout out to Steph Roche - doing a great job commentating on RTE.”
If England get through, Sarina Wiegman has a big decision to make about White and especially Kirby. But if you start Russo and/or Toone, you lose their impact from the bench.
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111 min Bright, who has had a terrific game, makes another important defensive header. It’s all Spain now.
109 min Sarriegi, who looks a serious player, pulls down a forward pass beautifully on the stretch and has a shot blocked by Bright. It rebounds to Carmona, who smashes over from the edge of the area.
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106 min: Chance for Bonmati! Spain almost equalise after 35 seconds! Mapi Leon drove a brilliant crossfield pass to Sheila Garcia, who got away when Greenwood commited herself unnecessarily. Garcia then laid the ball infield to Bonmati, just inside the area. Her first touch took the ball across her body but then she flipped a shot well wide of the far post.
106 min England begin the second period of extra time.
GEORGIA STANWAY!!!!! 🚀#BBCEuros #BBCFootball
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 20, 2022
“Evening Rob,” says Andy Bradshaw. “To quote the great Alan Partridge about Stanway’s goal ‘S*!@ Did you see that? Foot like a traction engine.’”
Half time in extra time: England 2-1 Spain
Georgia Stanway’s heatseeker has put England within 15 minutes of the semi-finals. But it would be naive in the extreme to think this game is over.
104 min Del Castillo’s short cross is headed wide by Aleixandri, a half chance at best.
103 min Sarriegi’s shot from the edge of the D hits Bright and spins a few yards wide. Earps had it covered but these are dangerous times for England.
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103 min “First game I’ve watched since coming back from holiday,” says Lee in Plymouth. “Loving the passion. The men’s game could learn a lot from fans simply cheering for their team. Refreshing!”
They didn’t even boo the Spanish anthem, which was a disappointing rejection of tradition.
103 min Bonmati whacks a long-range shot that is blocked by the indefatigable Stanway. Human nature being what it is, Spain have had all of the ball since going behind.
101 min “It wasn’t an aerial challenge - Russo was on the ground,” says Zach Neeley. “I personally don’t understand what counts as a foul in those situations but if it’s reliant on it being aerial, then England don’t deserve to still be playing.”
The ball, for which they were challenging, was in the air; that’s all I meant. Jeez, everyone’s a bit grouchy tonight.
100 min: Spain substitution Amaiur Sarriegi, who scores goals in industrial quantities, is on for Mariona.
99 min The dangerous Del Castillo, on the left this time, beats Bronze with ease but then crosses too close to Earps. Del Castillo has been a menace to England’s full-backs.
99 min The crowd are singing Three Lions, which might be a bit premature.
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Pick that out! Walsh was involved, of course she was, picking up a loose ball in midfield and feeding it quickly to Stanway. She ran at a backpedalling defence, to the edge of the area, and then smashed a rising drive across Panos. What a goal!
I’m pretty sure Stanway was looking to pass to Hemp, couldn’t find the right angle and thought, ‘Sod it, I’ll have a crack’. It was a wise thought.
Updated
GOAL! England 2-1 Spain (Stanway 96)
Georgia Stanway puts England ahead with a spectacular goal!
93 min “Russo smacked Paredes in the face and then pushed her down by leaning on her shoulder,” says Andreas Naujoks. “If that’s not a foul, it’s a free-for-all. I’m neutral, btw, but it’s frustrating how in this day and (technological) age people like Russo get away with it, isn’t it?”
I didn’t think it was a foul personally, just a fairly standard aerial challenge, though I can see both sides. Had a foul been given on the field, I don’t think VAR would have overturned that either.
92 min: Great defending from Mapi Leon! Walsh slides a stunning pass down the inside-right channel to find Hemp in the area, and her low cross is brilliantly blocked by Mapi Leon.
Walsh’s passing tonight has been spectacular.
Updated
England 13-12 Spain
25 fouls in the first 90 minutes between England and Spain. Only two games at #WEURO2022 have seen more🥊🥊
— The Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) July 20, 2022
91 min Peep peep! Spain, specifically Mariona Caldentey, get the first period of extra time under way.
Full time: England 1-1 Spain
England are still in the tournament thanks to Ella Toone’s late equaliser. Spain were the better team for most of the game and led deservedly through Esther Gonzalez, but all bets are off now. See you in about 90 seconds for extra time.
90+5 min “Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “Great to see the England gaffer get a Toone out of her bench!”
Honk!
90+4 min Hemp’s low, driven corner is cleared at the near post by Batlle.
90+3 min The outstanding Keira Walsh sprays a lovely pass out to Kelly, who runs at Carmona and wins a corner.
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90+3 min England have had the majority of possession since the equaliser.
90 min Five minutes of added time.
90 min Bronze’s deep, driven cross skims off th ehead of Hemp, who was offside anyway.
89 min If England get a late winner here it will be a minor scandal.
88 min One of the Spain substitutes, the goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez, has been booked for protesting about the goal.
"Ella Toone with a massive goal!"
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 20, 2022
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Updated
86 min A long-range shot from Mariona is comfortably saved by Earps. I think it was swirling wide anyway.
Russo did muscle Paredes aside from the goal, but I don’t think there was enough contact for a foul. Millie Bright has gone back into defence, with Greenwood moving to left-back.
It was a scruffy goal, the hell England will care. Stanway played a good pass to Hemp on the right corner of the box. She moved onto her left foot and floated a deep cross towards the far post, where Russo fought to win a header against Paredes. The ball bounced off Russo towards Toone, who steered a volley past Panos from five yards.
Paredes has stayed down, and Spain are furious that a foul wasn’t given. There didn’t seem to be much wrong with the challenge from Russo. The goal stands!
Updated
GOAL! England 1-1 Spain (Toone 84)
Ella Toone has equalised for England!!
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83 min Yes, England have switched to a back three of Greenwood, Williamson and Bronze, with Bright up front alongside Russo.
82 min Another change for England: Alex Greenwood replaces Rachel Daly. It looks like Millie Bright is going up front.
80 min Batlle wins another corner for Spain, who look more likely to score a second than concede an equaliser.
79 min: Chance for Spain! A Spain free-kick is headed away to Sheila Garcia near the penalty spot. She chests it down and smacks a shot that is headed away by Williamson in the six-yard box before ricocheting behind for a corner.
Updated
77 min: Spain substitution: Sheila Garcia replaces the goalscorer Esther Gonzalez, who put a helluva shift in up front.
76 min: Chance for England! Toone and Stanway have snapshots blocked by Paredes. The ball runs across the area too Hemp, who screws high and wide from 12 yards. It wasn’t the easiest chance, and on reflection she should probably have taken a touch.
73 min Athenea nutmegs Daly again on the edge of the area, but this time she overhits her cutback. Her introduction at half time was an inspired and potentially decisive move from Jorge Vilda; she’s given Daly a torrid time.
71 min England can’t generate any attacking momentum. They look a bit lost, in truth, with Walsh the only player who has consistently been composed in possession.
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71 min: Spain substitution Laia Aleixandri replaces the surprise selection Teresa Abelleira, who had a really good game in midfield.
69 min Kelly’s second corner is headed away well by Mapi Leon, under pressure from Russo.
69 min Kelly’s inswinging corner is punched behind for another by Panos...
68 min Kelly wins a corner for England. There’s a suggestion, by the way, that Hemp was offside in the build up to that penalty appeal in the 60th minute, so maybe England wozn’t robbed.
67 min Daly plays a neat one-two with Walsh, who is having an outstanding second half, and lifts a shot from 20 yards that is comfortably saved by Panos. That’s England’s first shot on target in the game.
65 min: Great save from Earps! Del Castillo is causing Daly all sorts of problems. She scurries down the right and floats a mishit cross* that is clawed away brilliantly by the backpedalling Earps. The loose ball almost falls for Gonzalez but Bright is around to clear.
* I think. If it was a shot, it was genius.
Updated
65 min All of a sudden, England are 25 minutes away from an unwanted BBC exit montage.
64 min: England substitution Ella Toone replaces Fran Kirby, who had a disappointingly quiet game.
63 min Panis flies to the edge of her area to beat Hemp to a terrific lofted pass by Walsh.
60 min: England penalty appeal! Hemp goes down in the area after a clumsy challenge from Batlle, but the referee gives a free-kick to Spain. I think that’s a foul on Hemp, though I don’t expect VAR to overturn it on the grounds that it wasn’t clear and obvious. No penalty.
Updated
59 min Here’s that Spain goal. It wasn’t great defending from England.
"SPAIN LEAD!"
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 20, 2022
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58 min: England substitutions Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly replace Ellen White and ... Beth Mead. That’s a brave call from Sarina Wiegman.
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57 min You don’t need me to tell you that it’s the first goal England have conceded at the Euros. They are about to bring in Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly.
56 min It was lovely play from Del Castillo but poor defending from Daly, who made a split-second misjudgement and tried to win a ball that was always going to be Del Castillo’s.
Daly committed herself on the edge of the area and was nutmegged by Del Castillo. She cut the ball back to Gonzalez, who had enough space to turn and drag a low shot past both Earps and Bright on the line.
Updated
GOAL! England 0-1 Spain (Gonzalez 54)
Esther Gonzalez puts Spain ahead!
Updated
52 min England have been much better since the interval, without the ball at least. It’s still a bit of a hot potato when they do have it.
Updated
49 min White screws Stanway’s cross well wide from 15 yards, though she was offside anyway.
49 min England’s pressing has been more aggressive since half time.
47 min There’s a delay to the free-kick because of a protestrr on the field. Eventually it’s curled towards the far post, where Williamson is penalised for a challenge on Mariona. I’m not sure she did much wrong, though Mapia Leon cleared the ball anyway.
46 min Carmona is penalised for what looked a fair tackle on Mead. Free-kick to England on the right wing...
46 min Peep peep! England begin the second half.
A half-time change for Spain: Athenea Del Castillo has replaced Marta Cardona on the right wing.
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“Am I the only one thinking Spain have been quite cynical with their challenges?” says Brendan Large. “I feel like that yellow card was beyond due. I hate cards for the sake of cards but the whole point is to stop repeat offences. They have repeatedly offended haven’t they?”
I don’t think they’ve been too bad, though I agree they know what they are doing. Fouling has become a skill, which is a bit depressing.
“Kirby’s not at the races,” says Christophe Brown. “Too slow to help defensively and too negative in possession. Needs to get the hook.”
She has been quiet, though she’s still the England player most likely to play a killer pass. Ella Toone will probably replace her at some stage in the second half.
Half time: England 0-0 Spain
Tense, nervous headache? Yeah. England have plenty to think about after a difficult first half in Brighton. Spain were smoother and more relaxed, with Bonmati superb in midfield, though neither team created a really clear chance. England came closest to taking the lead when Ellen White had a goal ruled out for offside.
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45 min Mapi Leon is booked for a tactical foul on Stanway, who was leading a dangerous England counter-attack. Stanway has been one of England’s better players.
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41 min We’ve just seen another replay of the disallowed goal. It hit Mariona and then, crucially, came off Daly before the offside White belted it into the net.
40 min Walsh’s dipping, angled cross from the left is headed well wide by Hemp, 10 yards out. She was unsighted, with Walsh jumping for the ball in front of her, and in fact replays show it hit Hemp on the shoulder.
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39 min That disallowed goal has enlivened England, and Bronze gets the crowd going with a tremendous backheel to Hemp.
38 min Had Hemp’s free-kick hit Mariona and deflected straight to White, I think the goal would have given. There was also talk of Lucy Bronze being offside, though she didn’t touch the ball. Anyway, it’s still 0-0.
Updated
VAR check: no goal! Hemp’s free-kick from the left bounced off the unsighted Mariona and then an England player before falling for White. She finished emphatically but seemed to know immediately that she was offside. And she was.
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37 min: White has a goal disallowed! I’d like to see this again.
35 min “I’ve seen this game before Rob,” says Ruth Purdue. “England are outfought, outpassed and overrun. That precise pass into the centre midfield is causing all sorts of chaos.”
I suppose the positive thing is that, for all Spain’s dominance, they haven’t created any clear chances.
33 min England are struggling to keep the ball, and they still haven’t had a shot at goal. Spain have had five, one on target.
32 min Carmona’s cross hits Bronze and goes behind for another Spain corner. It’s punched away by Earps and volleyed over from the edge of the area by Bonmati.
Updated
31 min Carmona’s hopeful cross shot goes a few yards wide of the far post.
29 min After a quick Spain break, Cardona’s cross is headed away well by Williamson at the near post. Spain keep coming, and Mariona plays a slick one-two with Gonzalez in the area before being ushered out of play by Bright.
Spain are well on top now.
29 min Possession percentages so far: England 44-56 Spain.
Updated
28 min Some good pressing from White forces Paredes to hack the ball out of play. That’s got the crowd going again, which is something England need.
26 min Hemp and Mead have swapped wings for the first time. I’m surprised it didn’t happen a bit earlier as they’ve been very quiet so far.
23 min Bonmati skins Walsh on the right and angles a low cross towards Gonzalez at the near post. She lays it back to Cardona, whose first-time shot from 12 yards is deflected over the bar.
22 min Mead tries to run Carmona, who matches her for pace and calmly wins the ball. Spain have been the better, more relaxed team in the first quarter.
20 min Mead commits a needless foul on Mariona down the Spanish left. England look nervous, especially without the ball. The resulting free-kick is swung towards the near post by Mariona, where Patri helps it on with a clever looping backheader. The ball drifts a few yards wide of the far post.
Updated
19 min Abelleira’s corner bounces off an England defender and is cleared by Daly.
18 min Mariona scoots away from Bronze and lifts a cross that is put behind by Bright. Another corner for Spain...
17 min Mariona zips infield from the left, away from Mead, and curls a long-range shot that is comfortably saved by Earps.
16 min Spain’s formation looks closer to 4-2-3-1, with Bonmati playing ahead of Patri and Abelleira. It’s all very fluid, though, so I might be wrong.
15 min It’s all pretty cagey. England are picking their moments to press, with Spain still generally dominating possession - we haven’t seen a stat, but it feels about 40/60.
Updated
13 min After a promising move, Mead goes down a bit easily 25 yards from goal. Stephanie Frappart waves play on.
11 min This is a better spell for England, who are starting to win the ball in dangerous areas.
10 min Carmona fouls Mead on the right wing. Mead takes the free-kick herself, curling it away from goal, and White flicks a header wide from about 12 yards. She was flagged offside once the ball went dead, though I don’t think she was.
Updated
9 min An excellent tackle from Stanway sparks an England break, but Batlle confidently wins her first one-v-one with Hemp.
7 min A loose pass from Daly goes behind for the first corner of the game. Mapi Leon’s floated corner is headed back across goal by Patri and volleyed wide from a very tight angle by Cardona. That was half a chance, and not great marking from England.
Updated
5 min Stanway’s role is interesting - she’s almost playing as a No6 when Spain have the ball and an eight when England have it. At the moment, she’s more of a six: Spain have started well.
4 min “Disappointing that no Danish TV Channel is showing the game,” says Nick Ridley. “But I could watch Surrey’s cricket team hammer Essex this evening on YouTube.”
3 min Carmona is found in a lot of space on the left and teases a deep cross that is confidently claimed by Earps. She takes a hit from Cardona in the process but is fine.
Updated
2 min It looks like Georgia Stanway is playing as a second No8 for England, though she will drop in to support Walsh when Spain have the ball.
Updated
1 min Peep peep! Spain, kicking from right to left as we watch, get the first quarter-final of Euro 2022 under way.
The teams are out on the field, and it’s time for the national anthems. The players on both sides look extremely focussed. There aren’t many smiles; this is serious business now.
Updated
A reminder of the teams
England (4-1-2-3) Earps; Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Daly; Walsh; Stanway, Kirby; Mead, White, Hemp.
Substitutes: Greenwood, Carter, Scott, Parris, Kelly, England, Toone, Roebuck, Wubben-Moy, Russo.
Spain (4-1-2-3) Panos; Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Carmona; Patri; Bonmati, Abelleira; Cardona, Gonzalez, Mariona.
Substitutes: Gallardo, Rodriguez, Aleixandri, Andres, Guerrero, Del Castillo, Sarriegi, Ouahabi, L Garcia, Pereira, S Garcia, Pina.
Referee Stephanie Frappart.
Updated
Anyone for penalties?
1 - Spain are the opponent that England last failed to beat (a 0-0 draw in February) and are the only side the Lionesses have failed to score against in their 17 games under Wiegman. Wary. #WEURO2022
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 20, 2022
“Mariona Caldentey has looked pretty good in Spain’s games; I know that she plays a good bit further forward than Fran Kirby, but she has some of the same talents – picking up, finding space to receive, distributing,” says Charles Antaki. “Also plus shooting. Maybe it’s not too risky a prediction to say that whoever performs better tonight will be on the winning side.”
She’s a class act, and it looks like she’ll be up against Lucy Bronze tonight. Northern Ireland had a bit of joy down that side on Friday, though that was mainly with longer passes around the defence.
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The pre-match thoughts of Sarina Wiegman
I’m good. It’s really nice to be here, of course. We had two scenarios, one with me here and one with me not here, and I’m glad it’s the first one.
[Patience] is key, and it’s okay sometimes to not have the ball. We want the ball, they want the ball too; that’s their style of play. There will be moments when they are tight on the ball and it’s not the time to win it, but to leave it and wait until they come a little closer. We have to be patient and really strong together.
Here's what returning #Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman has had to say pre-match 👇
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 20, 2022
🖥💻📱 Live @BBCOne, @BBCiPlayer, @BBCSounds and the @BBCSport app.#WEURO2022 #Euro2022 #BBCEuros #BBCFootball
Updated
Spain have never won a knockout game at a major tournament, which is hard to comprehend. They did reach the semi-finals of Euro 97, but that tournament went straight from the group stages to the last four.
Updated
Getting set on the south coast! 💪 pic.twitter.com/bE8qOZ6t1i
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 20, 2022
Guess who’s back guess who’s back guess who’s back guess who’s back
Great to see you, boss! 👋 pic.twitter.com/1MW6XomIBg
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 20, 2022
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If you want to know about Bonmati, or any of the other players involved tonight, this interactive guide is custom designed for your needs.
One of England’s toughest tasks tonight will be to stop the great Aitana Bonmati controlling the tempo of the game. She’s been speaking to Sid Lowe.
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“There may be 11 Lionesses on the pitch,” says Peter Oh, “but in a potentially ominous development, Spain has a lion (Leon).”
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at that.
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The Fiver’s big-match preview
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Here’s Karen Carney on Spain’s strengths (and weaknesses)
Taking on the trolls: how to support the Guardian’s women’s football coverage https://t.co/285Ej8j0Bu We are doing our best here at @guardian_sport but we’d love to do even better. For that to happen we need some help from those who can help. By @SuzyWrack
— Marcus Christenson (@m_christenson) July 20, 2022
Four changes for Spain
As expected, Olga Carmona and Marta Cardona come into the Spain team. So do a couple of their Real Madrid teammates, Teresa Abelleira and Esther Gonzalez. Fine player though she is, Abelleira’s selection is a big surprise; this is only her fifth cap, and she has yet to play a minute in the tournament. Either she or Patri Guijarro will play as the midfield pivot.
Lela Ouahabi, Athenea del Castillo, Lucia Garcia and Sheila Garcia are the players left out. I’m slightly surprised that Athenea has been dropped as she was good against Denmark, but Abelleira’s inclusion means Mariona will move back to the left wing.
Spain (possible 4-1-2-3) Panos; Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Carmona; Abelleira; Patri, Bonmati; Cardona, Gonzalez, Mariona.
Substitutes: Gallardo, Rodriguez, Aleixandri, Andres, Guerrero, Del Castillo, Sarriegi, Ouahabi, L Garcia, Pereira, S Garcia, Pina.
🔴 𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 I ¡¡ESTA ES LA ALINEACIÓN DE ESPAÑA!!
— Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol (@SEFutbolFem) July 20, 2022
👥 Así sale la @SEFutbolFem para buscar la clasificación a semifinales ante la 𝗮𝗻𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮.
¡¡𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗦 𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗥 𝗘𝗟 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗘!!#ENG 🆚 #ESP#JugarLucharYGanar I #WEURO2022 pic.twitter.com/1TM41wxKxP
Updated
England unchanged
As expected, Sarina Wiegman has named the same XI for the fourth consecutive game at this tournament.
England (4-1-2-3) Earps; Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Daly; Walsh; Stanway, Kirby; Mead, White, Hemp.
Substitutes: Greenwood, Carter, Scott, Parris, Kelly, England, Toone, Roebuck, Wubben-Moy, Russo.
Your #Lionesses to face Spain in tonight's #WEURO2022 quarter-final! 👊 pic.twitter.com/9dmpUdu6Io
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 20, 2022
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Jonathan Liew’s match preview
“Quick question from an ex-pat living in Norway,” says Brendan Large. “How is the atmosphere around the country in terms of the tournament? Does it compare to the lads last year? I really hope the buzz is as big as I hope it is.”
I live in Orkney, where, I’ll be honest, it’s not the talk of the toon. But everything I’ve read and listened to suggests that women’s football has never been more popular in England. Not in our lifetime, anyway. The difference between this year and Euro 2005, when the brilliant Georgina Turner was one of the few people in England giving the tournament the coverage it deserved, is enormous.
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Early team news
England are expected to be unchanged, though there is a case for bringing in Jill Scott for Fran Kirby to add more protection in midfield. I’m overthinking it, aren’t I.
Spain are likely to make changes from the side that beat Denmark in their Group B decider. The only goal in that game was scored and made by two substitutes, Marta Cardona and the superb left-back Olga Carmona. Don’t be surprised if they start. There’s also a chance that Laia Aleixandri will return to the midfield so that Mariona Caldentey can switch to the left wing.
Updated
Wiegman tests negative for Covid
This is a huge boost for England: Sarina Wiegman, who missed the Northern Ireland game because of Covid isolation, will be on the touchline tonight.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Euro 2022 quarter-final between England and Spain at the Amex Stadium in Brighton. This is where sh stuff gets real for England. Thrillingly, terrifyingly real. After cavorting through Group A, England – the team, and the country – must now experience the exquisite torture of the knockout stages.
It’s all part of the risky pact that was made when the FA applied to stage what was then Euro 2021. Hosting increases your chances of winning a tournament, but should you fail, the pain will be so much greater. It’s not the despair, Laura…
At every major tournament the hosts provide a uniquely fascinating story, even more so when they have a realistic chance of going the distance. It’s the time of their life, an emotional crescendo of hope, expectation, joy, fear and Sweet Caroline. But once the knockout stages begin, there is always the danger that the music will suddenly stop.
Tonight, either England will move within two games of immortality, or we’ll find out the answer to one of life’s most haunting questions: what tearjerking song will the BBC use to soundtrack their England exit montage?
The Euro 2022 draw meant England were always going to face a difficult quarter-final. Spain are formidable opponents, even if they are not the same without the injured Alexia Putellas and Jenni Hermoso. A month ago Spain were favourites to win the tournament; now, after labouring through an admittedly difficult group, they are fifth on that list.
England can really hurt Spain in transition, especially now that temperatures have dropped to a humane 19C. But they will need to leave their ego in the dressing-room, because they are likely to spend large parts of the game without the ball.
That doesn’t have to be a problem. Indeed, there’s an argument that it’s the best template for an England victory. Germany beat Spain 2-0 in the group stage despite having only 30 per cent of the possession. And England won by a similar score at Euro 2017 even though Spain had the ball for 78 per cent of the match.
England won’t fear Spain, but then the feeling’s mutual. When you keep the ball better than any team in the world, you develop a bulletproof confidence. Spain don’t care about what happened in the group stage, especially as England were rarely under pressure in those games. This is the real quiz.
I could prattle on about gegenpressing v tiki-taka, about Lucy Bronze coming up against her new Barcelona teammates, about the Manchester derby between Lauren Hemp and Ona Batlle, about Ellen White being one short of Wayne Rooney’s England goalscoring record. But a game like this doesn’t need a never-ending preview: it’s a European Championship quarter-final between the hosts and the pre-tournament favourites. That’s it. That’s the preamble.
The winners will play Sweden or Belgium in the semi-final at Bramall Lane next Tuesday. How are the nerves? No, it’s not too early for that. I mean, maybe for the top shelf, but you do what you have to do. Nights like this don’t come around too often.
Kick off 8pm BST.
The scene is set. ☀️🏟 pic.twitter.com/ngCXM1Q8ce
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 20, 2022
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