Sarina Wiegman sent her squad into this World Cup qualifying campaign with a point to prove, and they answered in the most emphatic way possible. England Women beat Ukraine 6-1 in Antalya on Tuesday night — a neutral venue because of the ongoing war — with Georgia Stanway, Alessia Russo and Jess Park each grabbing a brace. It was one of those performances where the scoreline doesn't feel like an exaggeration. England were better in every department, every phase, almost every minute.
Ukraine had the crowd's sympathy — there was genuine emotion in the stadium before kick-off, given the context — but football still had to be played. England were respectful of that, and then they got on with being very, very good. The three double-scorers each brought something different: Russo with her movement in behind, Stanway with her power and drive from midfield, Park with her directness and the willingness to shoot from anywhere. Together they made Ukraine look overmatched, though credit is due to the Lionesses for the manner in which they turned a difficult evening into a professional demolition.
Wiegman's World Cup blueprint takes shape
This was the first competitive match since England retained the European Championship in 2025. Expectations were high, but there was also genuine curiosity about how Wiegman would set up for the World Cup cycle. The answer, in broad terms, is: much the same as before. The defensive structure is compact and well-organised, the transitions are fast, and the quality in the final third remains the best England have had in the women's game. The group also includes Iceland and defending champions Spain, so this campaign will have harder nights than Tuesday. But as opening statements go, 6-1 is difficult to argue with.
What stood out beyond the goals was the cohesion. England have had key players move clubs and face injury concerns heading into this camp, and yet nothing looked disjointed. Stanway, now at Bayern Munich but still performing like she belongs at the very top of the international game, controlled the tempo of the second half almost single-handedly. Park's contributions on the right flank were relentless. And Russo, still only 26, reminded everyone why she remains the focal point of this attack — she scored twice and created half a dozen problems that didn't end in goals.
Eyes already on the return fixture and Spain
Ukraine visit England for the second leg in June, and while a similar result feels unlikely given home advantage shifts, England look capable of winning that comfortably too. The real tests come when Spain enter the picture. Defending champions, technically superior squad, a coach who has navigated every kind of pressure tournament football can produce — that's the genuine benchmark for where this Lionesses side stands. If Tuesday is anything to go by, they're not afraid of the standard. They're aiming for it.
Match facts: Ukraine 1-6 England Women, Mardan Stadium, Antalya, Turkey, March 3, 2026. Scorers: Russo x2, Stanway x2, Park x2. 2027 Women's World Cup Qualifying Group 3: England, Ukraine, Iceland, Spain.
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