World Cup revenge? Five things we learned from England 1-0 Spain | OneFootball

England secured a statement victory over world champions Spain in their Nations League clash at Wembley, their first meeting since the 2023 World Cup final.

Despite facing heavy pressure at times, Jess Park’s 32nd-minute goal proved decisive as Sarina Wiegman’s side earned their first win of 2025 in front of 46,550 fans.

It was a closely contested match, with both sides enjoying spells of dominance, further reinforcing why Spain, the world champions, and England, the reigning European champions, will head into this summer’s Euros as favorites.

Here are five things we learned:

Revenge Mission Complete?

While Spain controlled the opening and closing 20 minutes, it was England who found the breakthrough. Grace Clinton played Alessia Russo down the left, and after her shot was blocked, the rebound fell perfectly for Park, who slotted home for a 1-0 lead.

Spain remained dangerous throughout, but England’s defence limited the visitors to shots from distance and prevented any clear-cut chances, securing a hard-fought win.

Is Lauren James England’s brightest spark?

As a trumpet in the stands played Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark, the lyrics – “You can’t start a fire without a spark” – felt fitting. Lauren James was that spark, injecting much-needed energy into England after Spain’s early dominance.

James registered England’s first shot on target with a 24th-minute free-kick, then moments later, surged down the right wing and forced a near-post save. She continued to threaten in the second half, nearly scoring in the 87th minute if not for a superb stop by Cata Coll. Her form could be pivotal for England’s success this summer.

The battle for number one continues

With Mary Earps starting the previous match against Portugal, Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton got the nod in goal as Wiegman continued her rotation between the two.

After a slightly shaky start, Hampton grew into the game, producing crucial saves – including a standout stop in the 49th minute when she reacted quickly to deny Lucia Garcia with her foot. She certainly strengthened her case to be England’s first-choice goalkeeper at the Euros.

Chloe Kelly’s 50th cap

The 64th minute saw Chloe Kelly replace goalscorer Park, marking her 50th appearance for England. Just two weeks ago, she hadn’t even been named in Wiegman’s squad, yet she now has a victory over Spain to mark the milestone – another memorable moment at Wembley for the forward.

Lights out at Wembley

A bizarre moment unfolded in the 52nd minute when the stadium lights briefly went out, leaving Wembley illuminated only by advertisement boards and fans’ phone flashlights. A strange but unforgettable scene in an already eventful night.