Numbers tell the real story of a rivalry. When England faces Spain, every pass, tackle, and shot carries weight. This guide breaks down the england-spain-womens-football-team-stats you need before kickoff.
Recent World Cup finals have turned this matchup into a tactical chess match. Both sides play possession football but finish very differently. Let’s examine the data that defines this growing European duel.
Head to Head Record: Who Leads the Rivalry?
Spain holds a surprising edge in official matches. Out of 14 meetings since 2005, Spain has won 7 times. England has claimed 4 victories, with 3 draws. The england-spain-womens-football-team-stats show Spain’s dominance in friendly matches.
- Total matches: 14
- Spain wins: 7
- England wins: 4
- Draws: 3
- Spain goals: 25
- England goals: 17
The 2023 World Cup final changed the narrative. Spain won 1-0 in Sydney, but England controlled possession for long stretches. That match alone added new depth to the rivalry.
Goals Per Game: Attacking Efficiency Compared
Spain scores more consistently. They average 1.8 goals per match against England. England averages 1.2 goals per match in this fixture. The england-spain-womens-football-team-stats reveal a clear finishing gap.
Spain converts 24% of their shots into goals. England sits at 16% conversion. Both teams create similar chances, but Spain’s final pass often finds the net.
| Metric | England | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Goals per game | 1.2 | 1.8 |
| Shots per game | 12.4 | 14.1 |
| Conversion rate | 16% | 24% |
| Big chances missed | 3.2 per game | 2.1 per game |
Spain’s attacking trio (Hermoso, Paralluelo, González) produces more high-quality attempts. England relies more on set pieces and counter-attacks.
Possession and Passing Accuracy: Two Styles Clash
Spain dominates the ball. They average 68% possession against England. The england-spain-womens-football-team-stats show Spain completes 520 passes per match compared to England’s 380.
- Spain passing accuracy: 88%
- England passing accuracy: 82%
- Spain completed passes per game: 520
- England completed passes per game: 380
England uses direct vertical passing. Spain builds through short combinations. When England presses high, Spain’s defensive line still completes 92% of backward passes to reset play.
Defensive Metrics: Who Concedes Less?
Spain allows fewer clear chances. They concede only 6.2 shots per game against England. England allows 9.5 shots. The england-spain-womens-football-team-stats highlight defensive organization.
- Spain tackles per game: 18.3
- England tackles per game: 21.1
- Spain interceptions: 12.4
- England interceptions: 15.7
- Spain clean sheets vs England: 6
- England clean sheets vs Spain: 3
England defends more aggressively. They commit 11.2 fouls per game compared to Spain’s 8.4. However, Spain’s low block forces England into long-range shots (4.6 per game at 8% accuracy).
World Cup Final 2023: Match Stats Deep Dive
The most important meeting happened on August 20, 2023. Spain won 1-0. Let’s review the england-spain-womens-football-team-stats from that final.
- Possession: Spain 58% – 42% England
- Total shots: Spain 14 – 12 England
- Shots on target: Spain 5 – 3 England
- Passes: Spain 523 – 398 England
- Corners: Spain 8 – 4 England
- Fouls: Spain 12 – 10 England
Olga Carmona scored the only goal in the 29th minute. England missed their best chance when Lauren Hemp hit the post in the 16th minute. Mary Earps saved a penalty for England, but Spain’s midfield controlled the rhythm.
Key Players: Statistical Impact in This Fixture
Certain players change these matches. Alexia Putellas has 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 games against England. For England, Lucy Bronze has 1 goal and 4 clean sheets. The england-spain-womens-football-team-stats per player show clear patterns.
Spain’s top performers vs England:
- Jennifer Hermoso: 4 goals, 2 assists
- Aitana Bonmatí: 1 goal, 3 assists, 89% pass completion
- Mapi León: 92% aerial duels won, 0 goals conceded when starting
England’s top performers vs Spain:
- Lauren Hemp: 1 goal, 2 assists, 12 dribbles completed
- Georgia Stanway: 86% tackles won, 1 assist
- Millie Bright: 15 clearances in last 3 matches
Spain’s creative midfield outranks England’s in key passes. Bonmatí averages 3.1 key passes per game against England. Stanway leads England with 1.8.
Tactical Trends: Formation and Adjustments
England prefers a 3-4-1-2 formation under Sarina Wiegman. Spain uses a 4-3-3 with a false nine. The england-spain-womens-football-team-stats reveal how formations affect results.
When England plays a back three:
- Win rate: 50%
- Goals conceded per game: 0.8
- Goals scored per game: 1.1
When Spain plays their standard 4-3-3:
- Win rate: 70%
- Goals conceded per game: 0.5
- Goals scored per game: 1.9
Spain’s full-backs (Batlle, Carmona) push high to create overloads. England’s wing-backs (Bronze, Daly) provide width but often face 2v1 situations. That tactical mismatch explains Spain’s higher xG (expected goals) of 1.7 per game versus England’s 1.1.
Set Piece Stats: Corners and Free Kicks
England gains an edge from dead balls. They score 34% of their goals against Spain from set pieces. The england-spain-womens-football-team-stats show England’s physical advantage.
- England set-piece goals vs Spain: 6 of 17 total (35%)
- Spain set-piece goals vs England: 3 of 25 total (12%)
- England corners per game: 5.2
- Spain corners per game: 6.8
Despite fewer corners, England converts more. Keira Walsh’s delivery and Millie Bright’s aerial presence create problems. Spain defends set pieces with a zonal system that has conceded only 2 headed goals in 3 years.
Discipline: Cards and Fouls
This rivalry stays clean but physical. No red cards have been shown in 14 matches. The england-spain-womens-football-team-stats on discipline show similar aggression levels.
- Yellow cards per game: England 1.6 – Spain 1.4
- Fouls per game: England 11.2 – Spain 8.4
- Penalties conceded: England 2 – Spain 1
Walsh and Stanway commit the most fouls for England. Bonmatí and Patri Guijarro lead Spain’s foul count. Referees allow more physical play in this fixture compared to other European rivalries.
Goalkeeper Performance: Saves and Clean Sheets
Spain’s keepers post more clean sheets. The england-spain-womens-football-team-stats for goalkeepers reveal a reliability gap.
| Goalkeeper | Saves per game | Clean sheets | Save percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Earps (ENG) | 3.8 | 3 | 78% |
| Cata Coll (ESP) | 2.9 | 4 | 82% |
| Sandra Paños (ESP) | 3.1 | 2 | 80% |
Earps faces more shots but also makes spectacular saves. Coll’s positioning limits rebound chances. Spain’s goalkeeping has conceded only 2 goals in the last 5 matches against England.
Home vs Away: Venue Impact
Location matters. England has never beaten Spain on Spanish soil. The england-spain-womens-football-team-stats split by venue tell a clear story.
Matches in England:
- England wins: 3
- Spain wins: 2
- Draws: 2
- England goals: 10
- Spain goals: 9
Matches in Spain:
- England wins: 0
- Spain wins: 4
- Draws: 1
- England goals: 4
- Spain goals: 12
Neutral venues (World Cups, Euros):
- England wins: 1
- Spain wins: 1
- Draws: 0
Wembley gives England a boost. They scored 3 goals against Spain there in 2022. But Spain’s home record remains untouchable.
Youth and Experience: Squad Age Comparison
Spain fields a younger squad. Their average age is 26.1 compared to England’s 27.8. The england-spain-womens-football-team-stats on minutes show Spain’s rising stars.
- Spain players under 23: 6
- England players under 23: 3
- Spain players over 30: 4
- England players over 30: 5
Salma Paralluelo (20 years old) averages a goal every 112 minutes against England. Lauren James (22) has 1 goal in 3 appearances. Spain’s younger core suggests future dominance.
Attacking Zones: Where Goals Come From
Spain scores from central areas. England finds success from wide positions. The england-spain-womens-football-team-stats by shot location prove different approaches.
Spain goal locations vs England:
- Inside box (center): 17 goals
- Inside box (right): 5 goals
- Inside box (left): 2 goals
- Outside box: 1 goal
England goal locations vs Spain:
- Inside box (center): 7 goals
- Inside box (right): 4 goals
- Inside box (left): 5 goals
- Outside box: 1 goal
Spain’s midfield penetrates through the middle third. England relies on crosses from full-backs. That explains why Spain faces more blocked shots (3.2 per game) than England (1.9 per game).
Recent Form: Last 5 Encounters
The last five matches show tightening margins. Here are the england-spain-womens-football-team-stats from 2020 to 2024.
- World Cup Final 2023: Spain 1-0 England
- xG: Spain 1.4 – England 0.9
- Possession: Spain 58%
- Arnold Clark Cup 2023: England 1-1 Spain
- England goal: 83rd minute (Russo)
- Spain goal: 37th minute (Redondo)
- Euro 2022 Quarterfinal: England 2-1 Spain
- England extra-time winner (Stanway)
- Spain led 1-0 at halftime
- Friendly 2021: Spain 2-0 England
- Spain goals: Hermoso (2)
- England 0 shots on target
- SheBelieves Cup 2020: Spain 1-0 England
- Only goal: 33rd minute
- England missed a late penalty
Spain has won 3 of the last 5. England has won 1. One draw. The gap in big tournaments is smaller, but Spain consistently edges the results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the head-to-head record between England and Spain women’s teams?
Spain leads with 7 wins to England’s 4 wins. Three matches ended in draws. Spain has scored 25 total goals compared to England’s 17.
Who won the 2023 World Cup final between England and Spain?
Spain won 1-0 on August 20, 2023. Olga Carmona scored the only goal in the 29th minute. Mary Earps saved a penalty for England.
Which team has more possession in matches against each other?
Spain averages 68% possession against England. They complete 520 passes per game compared to England’s 380 passes per game.
Who is the top scorer in England vs Spain women’s matches?
Jennifer Hermoso leads with 4 goals. Lauren Hemp is England’s top scorer in this fixture with 1 goal and 2 assists.
How many clean sheets have Spain kept against England?
Spain has kept 6 clean sheets in 14 matches. England has kept 3 clean sheets against Spain.
What formation does England use against Spain?
England typically uses a 3-4-1-2 formation. Spain counters with a 4-3-3 system that controls central midfield areas.
The Numbers Point to One Clear Trend
Spain owns the historical stats. Their 7 wins, 25 goals, and 68% possession create a strong case. But the england-spain-womens-football-team-stats from tournament matches tell a different story. England pushes Spain to the limit when trophies are on the line.
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