England has taken a significant step towards automatic qualification for the Women's World Cup, defeating Spain 1-0 at Wembley. This win marks a crucial point in their campaign, as only the top team in Group A3 will qualify directly for the tournament in Brazil. The match was a hard-fought victory, with England's Lauren Hemp scoring the winning goal in the first three minutes.
The team's defense played a crucial role, with goalkeeper Hannah Hampton making a key save late in the game to secure the win. England now leads the group by three points and will face Iceland in their next qualifier. The team's manager, Sarina Wiegman, expressed her happiness with the result, stating that the team had to defend well and be compact against a skilled Spanish side. England midfielder Keira Walsh, who earned her 100th cap, praised the team's strategy and acknowledged the challenge of playing against Spain.
The win is a significant boost to England's qualification hopes, but the team must maintain their momentum in upcoming matches to secure their spot in the World Cup.