Lucy Bronze: Spain rivalry makes England ‘stronger’ again

Lucy Bronze says England’s repeated battles with Spain have made both teams better as the Lionesses chase automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup. England travel to Mallorca for a 9pm clash with the group on the line, with Sarina Wiegman urging a win an

When England step into Mallorca to face Spain again, it doesn’t feel like a fresh matchup. It feels like déjà vu—seven meetings in less than four years, the latest chapter set for a high-stakes night at 9pm in Spain.

Lucy Bronze, one of the leaders carrying the memory of those games, calls the rivalry something more than background noise. “It’s a rivalry that’s made us both stronger,” she said as the Lionesses prepare to take on the world champions for the seventh time in under four years.

Spain come into the contest as the World Cup holders after beating the Lionesses to win the tournament in 2023. England, though, have their own recent proof of progress: they bettered Spain in both of the last two Euros, establishing themselves as the team capable of overturning the script.

This time, the script for England is about speed. They are already top of Group A3 after four matches, having won all four and conceded just one goal. Avoiding defeat in Mallorca would allow them to create an unassailable lead. meaning the Lionesses could head into their final game against Ukraine at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on June 9 having qualified for next summer’s tournament in Brazil more than one year early.

That proximity to a destination—Brazil 2027—changes the temperature in the camp. Sarina Wiegman made sure the players understood what comes with it by the way she prepared them, holding England’s final training session in the middle of a hot day in Mallorca.

The message was clear and practical. England know they won’t have much of the ball. They know the pitch will be fast. And even with the kick-off at 9pm in Spain, they are treating the conditions as energy-sapping. It’s the kind of game-plan you build when you expect a tough contest, not a comfortable one.

Wiegman also insisted she knows Spain’s strengths and what they do well—but containing them is another matter. For England, the warning from past meetings is hard to ignore. When the sides played in Spain this time last year. England struggled to build momentum even after going 1-0 up in Barcelona; Claudia Pina came off the bench to score twice. and England left feeling like they’d been second best.

A repeat of that kind of performance would threaten England’s automatic qualification path.

And yet, England are not approaching this as a fear-driven mission. The belief is shaped by what they managed to do previously. They prevailed without their captain, Leah Williamson, at Wembley back in April. Now Wiegman is again leaning on confidence—this time backed by selection.

Bronze and Lauren James are both fit to start after injury worries, and the squad’s readiness is part of the reason England believe they can make the night count.

The stakes extend beyond the ninety minutes, too. England know the consequence of qualifying and the pressure it could place on everyone else chasing a World Cup spot next summer—especially if they secure their place and put their greatest rivals into the play-offs.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Wiegman said England’s approach is simple. “We approach the game as we want to win the game. We will go out there tomorrow to win the game.”

She stressed the group position and the urgency behind it. “We’re in a good position. We just really want to qualify as quick as possible. We want to top the group.”

Wiegman framed the challenge as mutual. “It’s a hard group, it’s a difficult game. It’s the same for Spain, it’s a difficult game for them, too.” She added that early qualification creates room for preparation: “And it just helps [to qualify early] because you have time then to prepare.”

Even with the automatic route in play, she refused to talk as if the season would end if it doesn’t go perfectly. “We know what the consequences are so, no matter what happens, we have another opportunity [in the play-offs if they finish second], but we go out there to play and win.”

Team news sharpens the picture. Lauren James is fit to play in England’s World Cup qualifier in Spain. Leah Williamson is out injured, while Ella Toone is “ready to go,” according to Wiegman. Ahead of the match, Wiegman said she has no other injury worries.

So England head into Mallorca with a rivalry they say has made them stronger, a group position that could turn into history with one result, and the weight of past meetings—especially the kind where momentum slips away—hanging over the plan.

Lucy Bronze England women Spain women Lionesses Sarina Wiegman World Cup qualification Group A3 Brazil 2027 Mallorca Ella Toone Lauren James Leah Williamson Claudia Pina