Lionesses seek to tame Spain again and show they are ready to conquer the world

T he equation sounds simple: avoid defeat on Friday and England will qualify automatically for the Women’s World Cup. The reality of the task ahead is far more complicated. Facing the world champions, Spain, like the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range that towers into the sky behind the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix, is an imposing barrier between the Lionesses and Brazil 2027. A positive result in Mallorca would do more than guarantee England a shot at glory next summer. It would send a powerful statement that England remain a force to be reckoned with if they can tame the game’s greatest technical midfield, again. Spain away is the toughest fixture in international football. Topping a difficult qualifying group – in a fixture that is a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final – would show the Lionesses are ready for a world title to add to their two European triumphs. As Europe’s two strongest sides, and as two of the best in the world alongside the USA, these rivals met in the European Championship final only 11 months ago, which England won in a penalty shootout . Lucy Bronze says Spain “bring out the best in us”, the England right-back adding: “It’s one of those rivalries where we have made each other better over the years. It’s good for the game and it’s good for each other. “The way Spain has improved over the past four or five years has really pushed this England team on to improve as well. That filters through to the rest of Europe and the world. …