Sarina Wiegman has insisted England will not settle for a draw against Spain in their World Cup qualifier, despite the risk of a defeat that could complicate their qualification hopes. The Lionesses face Spain in a crucial Group D match on Tuesday, with a win guaranteeing them top spot and automatic qualification. A draw would leave them level on points with Spain, but the world champions would advance on head-to-head record, forcing England into the playoffs.
Wiegman acknowledged the high stakes but stressed her team's ambition. 'We are not going for a draw. We want to win the game,' she said. 'We know what we have to do, and we will go out there and give everything to get the result we need.' The England manager dismissed suggestions that a cautious approach might be wiser, saying her side would stick to their attacking philosophy.
The Lionesses are coming off a dominant 10-0 victory over Latvia, but Spain pose a far sterner test. Wiegman expects a tight contest against a side she described as 'one of the best in the world'. However, she expressed confidence in her players' ability to rise to the occasion. 'We have a strong squad and a clear game plan. We believe we can beat anyone on our day,' she added.
England have won all five of their qualifiers so far, scoring 47 goals and conceding none. A win against Spain would cap a perfect campaign and secure their place at the World Cup. Wiegman called on her team to show their quality under pressure. 'This is the kind of game you want to be involved in. It's a challenge, but we are ready for it,' she said.
