England's 1-0 victory over Spain at Wembley on Tuesday showcased the depth of Sarina Wiegman's squad, with several fringe players impressing in the Nations League clash. The Lionesses sit top of their qualifying group with a perfect record, but the focus is already shifting to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Centre-backs Esme Morgan and Lotte Wubben-Moy delivered standout performances, keeping a clean sheet against the world champions. Morgan, 25, who has been excelling with Washington Spirit in the NWSL, said: 'I’m just proud of the concentration and the organisation that we had. As a team, from back to front, we communicated really well.' Wiegman praised the duo, stating: 'They showed up today. It says a lot about them.'
Lucia Kendall, the 21-year-old Aston Villa midfielder, was tasked with marking Barcelona's Patricia Guijarro and worked hard defensively, though she missed a golden chance to score in the second half. Wiegman noted: 'She understands the game very well... it would have been perfect for her – she should have scored that chance.'
Jess Park, in fine form for Manchester United, was surprisingly unused against Spain but is expected to feature against Iceland on Saturday. Midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown also earned minutes as a substitute, boosting her World Cup prospects. New call-ups Erica Meg Parkinson and Keira Barry will hope to make their debuts in the upcoming fixture.
