England Women vs Spain Women: Lionesses take on La Roja in Euro 2022 quarter-finals (2024)

England face their toughest test yet as they take on Spain in the quarter-finals of Euro 2022 on Wednesday, although neither side have had the smoothest of preparations.

The UK has been hit by an unprecedented heatwave that has seen temperatures reach over 40C, while head coach Sarina Wiegman has only just tested negative for Covid-19 having been absent for England's final group game against Northern Ireland.

While temperatures are set to drop significantly by the time the two teams walk out at the Amex Stadium at 8pm on Wednesday evening, it has seen England alter their training times and implement additional cooling measures to keep the players in good shape.

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While Spain will be used to the heat and humidity, they have also not had the ideal tournament so far. Just days before their opening match against Finland, Alexia Putellas was sidelined with an ACL injury, adding to the already absent Jennifer Hermoso.

The omission of their top two goalscorers has shown at times for Spain in the group stages, who are looking to progress to the semi-finals after being knocked out in the quarters at the last two tournaments.

Spain are not a new opponent for England - have faced them in the Arnold Clark Cup in February, which ended in a goalless draw - and Wiegman is confident the Lionesses can expose La Roja's weaknesses.

"They are missing two key players in (Jennifer) Hermoso and (Alexia) Putellas, but I still think they're a very good team," she said. "They're very tight on the ball, but we have also seen over the last few games that they have some vulnerabilities.

"I do expect the game they have played all the time, they will probably have the ball a lot, I hope we will too. We played them before and they had a little more of the ball, but that's OK in certain moments of the game. I think we're pretty confident on the ball so I'm excited to see what it's going to look like.

"It's all about trying to use our strengths and exploit their weaknesses. We know that if we're a little deeper on the pitch, there will be a lot of space because of their attacking style of play. We are aware of that.

"Absolutely it's going to be a top game tomorrow and I hope we will be successful."

Williamson added: "They're a team we massively respect. They play football that is good to watch and they're all the product of that same style, all the players are on the same page.

"They have a lot of threats, but I think we're a team that, despite our ranking, is in good shape and good form. Hopefully our threats are enough tomorrow.

"It's knockout football. The game changes once you get through the group and the nature of the game is different. At the end of the day, there'll be one winner and that's it.

"We know the situation, but again, we choose to look at it as an opportunity. We're confident and hopefully we can do what we've been doing in this tournament tomorrow night."

Analysis: 'If Spain dominate the ball, England could be in trouble'

Sky Sports' Anton Toloui on the Sky Sports Women's Euros podcast:

"England have overperformed and Spain have done the exact opposite.

"Spain have a coach with a tactical problem. They're three games deep and heading into knockout football and they still don't know their best team. Who is their best left-back? What is their front three? Every time they play, there's a debate about who should be the starting No 9 or whether they need one. They've got fantastic young players on their bench that aren't getting on at a time when they need inspiration.

"Jorge Vilda was given a new contract going into this, which is a surprise considering there has been a criticism that this has been the problem with Spain for a couple of years. Building towards this tournament, they've been getting better and better but if you're still tinkering with your formation and players during a tournament, then what have you been preparing for?

"There should be a plan in place if your best players go out and there isn't. We all love watching Putellas play, but there was always the risk she could get injured, suspended or get Covid at any point during the tournament, and there hasn't been a plan.

"I think that's Spain's biggest problem going into this - not playing England, but figuring out who or what they are.

"They've changed their central midfield every game and so many players in that team are not playing in their club positions. I don't know what they're trying to do, but at the same time, you can't write them off because they're a ridiculously good team, technical and if they do have 60 to 70 per cent possession, that will be a danger and England will not want that. Three of their back four are excellent too, it's just a question of who plays at left-back.

"If Spain dominate the ball, then England could be in trouble."

Analysis: 'Spain have underwhelmed so far'

The Telegraph's Tom Garry on the Sky Sports Women's Euros podcast:

"If you had told me six months ago, England were going to play Spain in the quarter-finals of these Euros, I would've thought it was a disaster, far too early to meet them. They were many people's favourites to win this tournament, and were the bookmakers' favourites right up until a week before it started.

"But I think they've underwhelmed so far and I know they're missing Putellas, who is the best player in the world, anyone would miss her. They're missing Hermoso as well, but I think there are a few things missing, whether that's tactically, there just doesn't seem to be the right things cooking.

"I know it's risky to say, but I've rarely been more confident that England will get through a knockout fixtures, which is a ridiculous thing to say because Spain are incredibly talented and will have a lot of possession.

"They will control the ball, but we've seen weaknesses in the Spain defence. We saw Finland getting in between the centre backs three or four times in the first half. If Denmark had a little bit more composure, Pernille Harder could have had four assists, she set up so many opportunities.

"It's a very difficult game, it's going to be tight, but England have got an amazing chance to get through to the semi-finals."

Vilda: Spain have a chance to make history

Vilda believes his Spain side's Euro 2022 quarter-final against England is a "chance to make history".

Spain have not reached the semi-finals since the 1997 Euros and have been knocked out at the quarter-final stage at the last two major competitions.

England go into the game as favourites, as host nation and having cruised through their group in emphatic fashion without conceding a single goal, but the Spanish head coach insisted his side are looking forward to it.

"We know it's a very exciting game tomorrow, the players have been looking forward to it for a long time, the next game is always the most important one but even more so tomorrow because it's a chance to make history," Vilda said.

"We know how difficult it will be because of the standard of our opponents, but we are looking forward to it and the chance to reach the semi-finals for the first time."

Vilda's side finished second in their group behind Germany after beating both Finland and Denmark.

Spain got through their group dominating possession but struggling to convert chances, especially against Denmark where they had 74 per cent of the ball. Captain Irene Paredes insisted they will not be changing their approach against the host nation.

"I don't think we need to adapt our game to England and we won't," she said. "The best thing we can do is play our game, try and keep our possession - attack is the best form of defence for us.

"We're full of desire, we're in the quarter-finals against the hosts, the stadium will be packed out - it will be a special match.

"Any player would love to be involved here tomorrow, we will give it everything. We haven't stopped talking about it over the last couple of days."

Hemp: You haven't seen the best of me yet | 'Lego and painting help me relax'

Lauren Hemp believes she has yet to show her best form at Euro 2022 for England and revealed Lego and paint-by-numbers help her relax in her downtime.

The 21-year-old winger has started in every game at the tournament and scored her first Euros goal in the 8-0 demolition of Norway in Brighton last week, although Hemp says she is yet to reach the peak of her powers.

"It takes time," she said in a pre-Spain press conference. "It's my first major tournament with England, in front of so many fans and it's nerve-wracking, I'm not going to lie. It's just being consistent as well, it's something I'm striving towards.

"Personally, I don't think you've seen the best yet, it takes time and it will take a while. I'm still learning and I need to remember that I'm still so young. I'm taking it all in my stride.

"I've got a great group around me who are supporting me and are doing amazing as well. It's important that we continue this run, everyone has taken confidence from the recent games and it's important that we take that into the quarter-finals."

England have based themselves at the Lensbury resort in south west London, and while there is plenty of focus and training, there is also enough downtime where the players can unwind.

Hemp revealed some interesting past times that she uses to help keep herself occupied.

"I like to keep myself busy, I enjoy my Lego, so I'm always doing that in my room and paint by numbers, things like that just to keep me occupied because I don't always like sitting there and watching TV, I like cracking on with things.

"At the moment, I'm doing a typewriter [in Lego]. It's random, but I picked the first one I'd seen and got it sent to The Lensbury.

"I enjoy playing table tennis, things like that... I don't like to think about the game too much, I like to keep it simple as a player. As soon as game day hits, I'm focused."

Follow Euro 2022 across Sky Sports

Keep up with all the latest from Euro 2022 across Sky Sports and Sky Sports News this summer.

Coverage will be anchored by Sky Sports WSL presenter Caroline Barker, alongside Jessica Creighton and Kyle Walker. Meanwhile, Karen Carney, Sue Smith, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and Laura Bassett will give analysis throughout the tournament.

They will also be joined by experienced England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley and Manchester City defender Esme Morgan.

The pundits and presenters will work from the Sky Sports Women's Euro 2022 Mobile Presentation Bus, which will follow the Sky Sports News team around the country to the various stadiums where matches are being played.

In addition, Sky Sports' Essential Football Podcast will be rebranded for the tournament to Sky Sports Women's Euros Podcast from 21 June. Hosted by Charlotte Marsh and Anton Toloui, it will feature exclusive news and player interviews in addition to a strong programme line-up around the tournament.

The knock-out phase...

Quarter-finals

Wednesday July 20

Quarter-final 1: England v Spain - kick-off 8pm, Brighton and Hove Community Stadium

Thursday July 21

Quarter-final 2: Germany v Austria - kick-off 8pm, London Community Stadium

Friday July 22

Quarter-final 3: Sweden v Belgium - kick-off 8pm, Leigh Sports Village

Saturday July 23

Quarter-final 4: France v Netherlands - kick-off 8pm, New York Stadium

Semi-finals

Tuesday July 26

Semi-final 1: Winners quarter-final 1 v Winners quarter-final 3 - kick-off 8pm, Bramall Lane

Wednesday July 27

Semi-final 2: Winners quarter-final 2 v Winners quarter-final 4 - kick-off 8pm, Stadium MK

Final

Sunday July 31

Winners semi-final 1 v Winners semi-final 2 - kick-off 5pm, Wembley