2025 UEFA Women's Nations League Matchday 2: England beat Spain and France stay perfect as Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal triumph

England defeated UEFA Women's Nations League holders Spain 1-0 on Matchday 2 as France saw off Iceland to maintain their 100% start to the league stage. Meanwhile, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Norway also clinched victories and Wales held Sweden.

Group A3 was played on Wednesday, and a first-half Jess Park goal was enough for England to defeat world champions Spain. Portugal joined England on four points with their own 1-0 victory in Belgium.

Having beaten Norway on Friday, France were at home again on Tuesday and defeated Iceland 3-2. Norway edged Switzerland 2-1 to move into second behind their opponents in Group A2.

Germany and Netherlands drew their Group A1 opener and both followed that with comeback wins, against Austria and away to Scotland respectively. Sweden moved clear in Group A4 despite being pegged back for a draw in Wales as Denmark defeated Matchday 1 leaders Italy.

In League B, Poland hit a late winner in Romania to move on to six points in their group, while Simone Magill scored twice at the death to give section rivals Northern Ireland a dramatic 3-2 success against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Slovenia beat the Republic of Ireland 4-0 to also stay perfect, along with Czechia and Ukraine in Group B4.

Finland – who, like Poland, will be at UEFA Women's EURO 2025 – got off the mark to move to within a Group B3 point of Serbia, who were held by Belarus. In League C, Armenia, Cyprus, Israel and Slovakia all secured second wins, while Latvia picked up victory in their first fixture.

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 Women's European Qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, running through 2026.

League A

Group A1 

Germany 4-1 Austria 
Germany were denied victory in the Netherlands on Friday but came from behind for a win tonight. Austria, who beat Scotland in their opener, were ahead within three minutes when Lilli Purtscheller squared for Annabel Schasching to finish. Late in the first half, Germany equalised as Klara Bühl's free-kick was squared by Rebecca Knaak for Laura Freigang to turn in.

Linda Dallmann was brought on by Germany at half-time and nine minutes later she put them 2-1 up following Jule Brand's incisive ball. Dallmann then turned provider for the third goal on 70 minutes, laying off for Giovanna Hoffmann to get her first Germany goal, eight minutes into her competitive debut. Another substitute was on target when Vivien Endemann picked up the ball on the right, cut into the box and produced a low finish.

Lina Dallmann (right) put Germany aheadGetty Images

Scotland 1-2 Netherlands 
Netherlands joined Germany on four points as their comeback win handed Scotland a second defeat. The hosts went ahead on 34 minutes when Emma Lawton – who only made her Scotland debut on Friday – fired in a loose ball after Rachel McLauchlan's strike from outside the box was blocked.

Early in the second half, Lineth Beerensteyn cut in from the left and dribbled through the Scotland defence for a superb solo effort, adding to her two goals in Friday's 2-2 draw with Germany. Ten minutes later, Chasity Grant put the visitors in front after a lay-off from Vivianne Miedema, and Beerensteyn hit the post.

Next fixtures: 4 April
Netherlands vs Austria 
Scotland vs Germany 

Group A2

France 3-2 Iceland 
Grace Geyoro's superb roulette turn created a 23rd-minute opening for France, and although her effort was blocked, Kadidiatou Diani picked up the ball and worked space to break the deadlock. Five minutes later, Sakina Karchaoui's clever back-heel set up Marie-Antoinette Katoto to make it 2-0.

Karólína Vilhjálmsdóttir pulled one back with a deflected free-kick, but France remained on top and Diani hit the woodwork just past the hour, before Sandy Baltimore got their third from the edge of the box. The visitors soon reduced arrears, again through Ingibjörg Sigurdardóttir, but Les Bleues held on as Eugénie Le Sommer came off the bench to earn her 199th cap, one more than Sandrine Soubeyrand's previous France record.

Eugénie Le Sommer is congratulated after becoming France's most-capped playerAFP via Getty Images

Norway 2-1 Switzerland 
In the first of the sides' two meetings before they face off on the opening day at Women's EURO 2025, all three goals came in the last 16 minutes. Elisabeth Terland had just come on for Norway when she notched the opener, applying the finishing touch after Celin Bizet Ildhusøy had got past Switzerland goalkeeper Elvira Herzog and squared.

Seven minutes later, 18-year-old Sydney Schertenleib equalised from distance after Lia Wälti had won the ball in midfield. However, three minutes before the end, Caroline Graham Hansen poked in a loose ball following a free-kick to get Norway off the mark in the group.

Next fixtures: 4 April
Iceland vs Norway 
Switzerland vs France 

Group A3 (played 26 February)

England 1-0 Spain
In these teams' first meeting since the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final Spain – 1-0 winners that day in Sydney – threatened first at Wembley when Lucía García hit the crossbar following a 12th-minute corner. Lauren James twice tested Cata Coll before England scored what proved to be the only goal in the 33rd minute. Alessia Russo burst into the box and although her effort was blocked, Jess Park poked in the rebound.

Spain came back from two down to beat Belgium 3-2 on Friday while England let a lead slip when drawing 1-1 in Portugal. This time there was no comeback, though, despite intense second-half pressure from Spain, to the relief of most the 46,550 crowd.

Belgium 0-1 Portugal 
In their first home game under new coach Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir, Belgium held up the shirt of Saar Janssen before kick-off after the 19-year-old suffered an ACL injury against Spain. The visitors went closest in a tight first half when Joana Marchão hit the post.

Not long after half-time, Portugal were awarded a penalty for an Amber Tysiak handball and Carole Costa converted. That proved enough to stretch Portugal's unbeaten run to 14 matches and move them ahead of Spain ahead of their two April meetings.

Next fixtures: 4 April
England vs Belgium 
Portugal vs Spain 

Group A4 

Wales 1-1 Sweden 
Wales showed their abilities ahead of their Women's EURO final tournament debut in July as they came from behind for an impressive first group point. Fresh from victory in Denmark, Sweden took the game to Wales from the off and, in the 14th minute, Filippa Angeldahl pounced after Olivia Clark could only parry a Matilda Vinberg cross.

The visitors continued to push for a second, but Wales levelled with 14 minutes left when Emma Kullberg handled in the box and Kayleigh Barton converted from the spot. Sweden still moved a point clear at the top thanks to Italy's loss.

Denmark secured an impressive 3-1 victory in ItalyGetty Images

Italy 1-3 Denmark 
Denmark bounced back from their home loss to Sweden with an impressive win to join Italy on three points. Early in the second half, Emma Færge looped in a shot for her first Denmark goal. Five minutes later, Michela Cambiaghi equalised as she got her head to Lisa Boattin's cross.

With 16 minutes left, Sara Holmgaard produced an outrageous piece of skill inside the Italy box to restore Denmark's lead. The visitors then sealed the result in added time as Pernille Harder played Janni Thomsen through superbly to find the net.

Next fixtures: 4 April
Sweden vs Italy 
Wales vs Denmark 

League B

Group B1

Tuesday's results
Romania 0-1 Poland
Northern Ireland 3-2 Bosnia and Herzegovina

Next fixtures: 4 April
Poland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina 
Romania vs Northern Ireland 

Group B2

Tuesday's results
Türkiye 1-0 Greece 
Slovenia 4-0 Republic of Ireland 

Next fixtures: 4 April
Greece vs Republic of Ireland 
Slovenia vs Türkiye 

Group B3

Tuesday's results
Hungary 0-1 Finland 
Serbia 0-0 Belarus

Next fixtures: 4 April
Finland vs Belarus 
Hungary vs Serbia 

Group B4

Tuesday's results
Czechia 5-1 Albania 
Ukraine 2-1 Croatia 

Next fixtures: 4 April
Albania vs Croatia 
Ukraine vs Czechia 

League C

Group C1

Tuesday's results
Slovakia 1-0 Moldova 
Gibraltar 0-1 Faroe Islands 

Next fixtures: 4 April
Faroe Islands vs Moldova 
Gibraltar vs Slovakia 

Group C2

Tuesday's results
Cyprus 2-1 Georgia
Malta 1-0 Andorra

Next fixtures: 4 April
Cyprus vs Andorra 
Georgia vs Malta 

Group C3

Tuesday's results
Armenia 2-0 Kazakhstan 
Luxembourg 7-0 Liechtenstein 

Next fixtures: 4 April
Armenia vs Luxembourg 
Liechtenstein vs Kazakhstan 

Group C4

Tuesday's result
Montenegro 3-1 Lithuania 

Next fixture: 4 April
Lithuania vs Azerbaijan 

Group C5

Tuesday's result
Israel 3-1 Estonia

Next fixture: 4 April
Estonia vs Bulgaria 

Group C6

Tuesday's result
Kosovo 0-1 Latvia 

Next fixture: 4 April
North Macedonia vs Latvia 

Who plays in the UEFA Women's Nations League finals?

The four League A group winners qualify for the knockout finals.

How do the UEFA Women's Nations League finals work?

In a change from the first edition, all the ties will be played over two legs. As previously, there will be two semi-finals, a third-place play-off and a final. A draw will determine the ties and the home team in each of the first legs.

The final winners are declared the UEFA Nations League winners.

Who is promoted or relegated or goes into play-offs?

League A

The top two teams in each group remain in League A for the European Qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.

The four third-placed teams play off over two legs against the second-placed teams in each group of League B. The winners of each tie will play in League A for the European Qualifiers phase; the defeated teams will play in League B.

The fourth-placed teams are relegated to League B.

League B

The four group winners are promoted to League A.

The four second-placed teams play off over two legs against the third-placed teams in League A. The winners of each tie will play in League A; the defeated teams will play in League B.

The two best third-placed teams play off over two legs against the two best-ranked second-placed teams of League C. The winners will play in League B for the European Qualifiers phase; the defeated teams will play in League C.

The two lowest-ranked third-placed teams and the four fourth-placed teams are relegated to League C.

League C

The six group winners are promoted to League B.

The two best-ranked second-placed teams play off over two legs against the two best third-placed teams of League B. The winners will play in League B for the European Qualifiers phase; the defeated teams will play in League C.

The remaining teams stay in League C.