Spain 2 – 1 England
By Catherine MacKenzie (3/6/25)
Above: the Lionesses’ celebrate opening the scoring. Photo: Clare Wood for Impetus.
Football is England’s favourite sport – and with that distinction comes knowledge and passion. In every household you are likely to find at least one football fan, who follows their club with passion and spends their time reading about their favourite team. In pubs and bars all over the country, people sit and discuss games, teams, players, tactics; they shout with joy and sometimes anger.
The prevalence of social media means these conversations are now open to anyone with an internet connection, and millions of people all over the world take part in daily discussions based on football. The rise of social media has coincided with the rise in popularity of the women’s game, giving fans – varying in demographics – the opportunity to voice their opinions to the world.
This is often a good thing, however it has become increasingly tiresome – the same complaints, endless abuse towards players (and managers) – and the anonymity gives us the ability to speak without consequence. Particularly when so many are emotionally invested in the Lionesses, there is a tendency for online conversations to take on a level that is beyond what would happen in real life.
On Tuesday evening, the Lionesses fell 2-1 to Spain in Barcelona. There were endless narratives around this game: the world cup final of 2023, England’s win in February, Arsenal’s Champions League victory. Then there is the fact that the Euros are around the corner.
The stakes feel high for every England game, but for this game, they felt even higher.
England got the early goal courtesy of Alessia Russo (on her 50th Cap); if VAR had been in place, the goal would have been ruled out as there was a foul in the build-up. For the remainder of the first half, England fans were joyous as the team managed the game well – Alex Greenwood and Leah Williamson strong in defence, and a recently-returned Georgia Stanway holding down the midfield.
After half-time, substitutions were made. Young Missy Bo Kearns earned her debut, and Lucy Bronze’s minutes were managed as she was replaced by Jess Carter.
Spain’s substitutes made the difference, though: minutes after coming on, Claudia Pina got her first goal and soon found the net again.
This is where the narrative changed for England and their fans. Suddenly the excitement over Bo Kearns’ debut was replaced with anger, and many questioned Stanway’s removal (likely managing minutes due to her recent injury).
The game ended with Spain decidedly the better team on the day, deserving the win. The loss exposed a deep fracture in the nation’s relationship with the Lionesses: Chelsea fans blamed Leah Williamson for the loss, Arsenal fans blamed Keira Walsh.
In reality, the loss is not a major negative. Finishing second in the Nations League group still means England are in league A for World Cup qualifying, and they can choose their opponents in the fall instead of playing yet another European rival once again. A narrow loss against the world champions – with a number of players only just returning from injury – is not a bad return. However, the discourse amongst fans suggests otherwise.
In the women’s game in England, it feels like there is an inability to support country independently of club – which, combined with the mess that social media likes to hold – is dangerous. Add the fact that the Lionesses brought home the first major trophy for a senior English side in decades, and we do not accept the team losing.
Ahead of this summer’s Euros, England do have a deep problem to fix. It is not one, however, that is found on the pitch or in the dressing room. It is in the stands.
TEAMS: SPAIN (4-3-3): Coll, Batlle, Paredes, Aleixandri, Carmona, Guijarro, Paralluelo, Bonmati, Putellas, Caldentey, Gonzalez. Substitutes: Nancleres, Sullastres, Fernandez, Garcia, Mendez, Zubieta, Lopez, Garcia, Redondo, Pina, Martin-Prieto, del Castillo.
Scorers: Pina 60’, 70’
ENGLAND (4-3-3): Hampton, Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood, Charles, Stanway, Walsh, Mead, Park, Hemp, Russo. Substitutes: Moorhouse, Keating, Wubben-Moy, Morgan, Carter, Le Tissier, Toone, Bo Kearns, Agyemang, Parris, Beever-Jones, Kelly.
Scorer: Russo 22’
Referee: Katalin Kulscar (HUN)
Attendance: TBC
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