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Under the guidance of manager Wiegman, England fielded a significantly altered squad as several crucial players made their return from injury, while others who have been impressive recently were rewarded with starting roles. Notably, Manchester City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown earned a rare starting spot. Additionally, Poppy Pattinson from the London City Lionesses was introduced during the second half to make her debut appearance. The defensive line showed a blend of youth and experience with the back four collectively holding under 100 international caps, led by captain Leah Williamson with 65 of those. Maya Le Tissier was preferred at right-back instead of Lucy Bronze, and Taylor Hinds continued at left-back, marking her third start in four matches. Jess Park featured out wide, reflecting her successful wide role at Manchester United this season, diverging from her usual midfield position favored by Wiegman.
This match marked England’s first competitive outing since Euro 2025, and Wiegman’s approach was noticeably experimental, resulting in some initial struggles. Despite dominating possession with 85% and registering 15 shots on target during the first half, England was unable to convert. The pace slowed as Ukraine defended resolutely, denying England the quick breakthrough they might have hoped for. Ex-England midfielder Fran Kirby commented on BBC Radio 5 Live Extra, “They didn’t quite figure it out in the first half. They were a little bit stunned about what to do… Ukraine defended really well. They were really tight between the lines and they made it very difficult for England. They needed to have a little bit more composure in the box instead of crossing it for the sake of crossing it. The second half showed that they learned from the first half in terms of what wasn’t working.”
Once adjustments were made after the interval, the two-time European champions began to exert control over the match. Alessia Russo, the striker from Arsenal, scored twice in quick succession within four minutes, giving England a commanding lead. Georgia Stanway added another brace to firmly put the game out of Ukraine’s reach. Later on, Jess Park also found the net twice to complete England’s comprehensive victory. Russo reflected on the match’s progression, saying, “I think it took us the first half to break them down. We were still very good in the first half. They were defensively solid. When the spaces opened, we took our chances. I wouldn’t say it was relief [when we scored]. We knew we had the quality in us and it was just executing it. It was finding the final moment, the final pass and the final shot. You saw that in the second half.”
The game took place in Turkey, as Ukraine was unable to host the fixture due to the ongoing conflict with Russia. Ukrainian players endured a taxing 15-hour bus journey to reach the Mardan Stadium for the match. Heading into the contest as heavy favorites and reigning European champions, the Lionesses were aware of the stakes. With rivals Spain securing a 3-0 win over Iceland, England needed a convincing victory not only over Ukraine but also against Iceland in upcoming fixtures to maintain their hopes of automatic qualification. Goal difference could potentially prove decisive between England and Spain, though considerable matches remain before the group is decided. Ahead of kickoff, Wiegman expressed the importance of a strong start: “It is very important, of course, we know the group. For ourselves, we want to play a very good game and we want to get a clear win which gives us a good starting position going into the next game against Iceland.” The April encounter with Spain, a rematch of both the 2023 Women’s World Cup final and the Euro 2025 final, looms large with both teams aware of its significance. Midfielder Georgia Stanway admitted disappointment at conceding a goal against Ukraine that affected goal difference, saying, “We’ll look back and see what the mistake was. Potentially it was me. I needed to track her but I need to watch it back. Overall, it was a solid start.” England currently lead the group by two goals over Spain as they prepare for their next challenge against Iceland at Nottingham’s City Ground
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