Lauren James fit as England Women seek World Cup spot against Spain
Forward Lauren James is fit to feature as England can secure their place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup by avoiding defeat against Spain in Mallorca on Friday.
The Lionesses currently sit top of Group A3 after winning all four of their qualifying matches and conceding just one goal.
Sarina Wiegman’s side hold a three-point advantage over second-placed Spain heading into the penultimate qualifier.
A draw or victory against Sonia Bermudez’s team will give England an unassailable lead before their final group game against Ukraine.
Rivalry renewed in Mallorca
The fixture reignites a fiercely competitive rivalry between the two European heavyweights.
England suffered a heartbreaking defeat to the Spaniards in the 2023 World Cup final in Sydney.
However, the European champions have won three of their four meetings since, including a narrow 1-0 victory at Wembley in April.
“We approach the game as we want to win the game,” said manager Wiegman.
“We’re in a good position. We just really want to qualify as quick as possible and top the group.”
Squad updates as key players return
Wiegman confirmed her entire travelling squad is fully fit and ready for the crucial tie.
The availability of the dynamic Chelsea attacker provides a significant boost, alongside the return of Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone.
Captain Leah Williamson remains absent through injury, but the coaching staff are confident in the team’s overall depth.
“We have done this before, a squad without Leah, so I am comfortable with that,” added the Dutch coach.
Securing early qualification for the tournament in Brazil would provide the national squad with invaluable preparation time over the next year.