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England, Germany and Spain on mark in women's Nations League / Photo: Ben STANSALL - AFP
England, Germany and Spain on mark in women's Nations League
England and Germany cruised and World Cup champions Spain downed Portugal on matchday three in the women's Nations League on Friday.
First-half headers from Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright set England on the road to beating Belgium in Bristol, with maiden Lionesses goals from Aggie Beever-Jones and Keira Walsh and substitute Jess Park also contributing to the lop-sided 5-0 win.
The two sides meet again next Tuesday in Leuven with England manager Sarina Wiegman firmly focused on her side's European Championship title defence and an event further ahead.
"Now, of course, every game is competitive, but you have to win because we want to get in the best possible position for the World Cup draw too," Wiegman said.
"I would never be complacent. We'll bring the team on the pitch that we think at that moment is the best team to play against Belgium."
World champions Spain downed Portugal 4-2 to go second by one point to England in group A3.
Germany were also in trigger happy mood, routing Scotland at Dundee's Tannadice Park 4-0.
Scotland conceded their first goal with less than a minute on the clock after a terrific strike from Elisa Senss.
The hosts responded well and were in the match until Scotland's Germany-born defender Sophie Howard's own goal.
The top seeds and third-ranked side in the world completed Scotland's miserable night with goals from Cora Zicai and Lea Schuller.
Scotland have plenty of food for thought before round two in Wolfsburg on Tuesday.
Germany are top of their group on goal difference from the Netherlands, 3-1 winners over Austria with Sherida Spitse becoming the joint most capped European player.
France, beaten finalists to Spain in last year's Nations League, beat women's Euro 2025 hosts Switzerland 2-0 in St Gallen.
Sandy Baltimore opened the scoring with Selma Bacha's powerful long strike lifting France five points clear at the top of their group from Norway, who they face in Oslo on Tuesday.
The four League A group winners qualify for the finals in the autumn.
The group standings also determine the teams contesting promotion and relegation matches to establish their starting league position in the European Qualifiers for the 2027 Women's World Cup, running through 2026.
A.Mariconda--INP
