What to expect after the Spain debacle? Prediction for England (W) vs Ukraine (W) - 09.06.2026
England (W)
Ukraine (W)
One of the Women's World Cup qualification clashes will take place on Tuesday at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, where England will host Ukraine. For the Lionesses, this is a golden opportunity to bounce back quickly from a painful defeat to Spain, while Ukraine will be looking to end their group stage campaign with pride against one of Europe's strongest sides.
England must respond after Mallorca meltdown
England head into this match on the back of their toughest night in recent memory: Sarina Wiegman's team suffered a 0-4 defeat to Spain, seriously complicating their bid for direct World Cup qualification. After beating Spain at Wembley, a draw would have been enough for the Lionesses, but in Mallorca they struggled both with the pace and the midfield quality of their opponents.
Now, England not only need to beat Ukraine, but also hope for a Spanish slip-up against Iceland. Motivation for the hosts, however, goes beyond the standings: after such a heavy loss, Wiegman will surely demand a reaction, more aggression in their press, and sharper attacking play. The Lionesses are chasing an 11th straight home win, and with the quality in their squad, they are expected to dominate from the first whistle.
Ukraine saying goodbye to the elite, but not to the fight
Ukraine have already lost their chance for direct qualification and will finish bottom of the group. The team has lost all five matches, conceded 16 goals, and scored just twice; before their trip to Liverpool, they fell 0-1 to Iceland.
The main issue for Ukraine is their lack of attacking edge: they have failed to score in three consecutive games and rarely manage to play out from the back with quality. Still, the defeat against Iceland showed Ukraine can maintain their structure longer and not crumble under pressure. Against England, this may not be enough for points, but defensive discipline will be key to avoiding a rout before half-time.
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the first meeting between these teams in this qualification cycle, England thrashed Ukraine 6-1.
- Ukraine have lost all five group matches, conceding 16 goals and scoring just two.
- England have won their last three encounters with Ukraine and are chasing their 11th consecutive home victory.
Prediction
England remain clear favourites despite their heavy loss to Spain. In fact, that result could make the hosts even more dangerous: Wiegman needs to restore confidence and the players will be eager to prove the Mallorca disaster was a one-off, not a sign of decline.
Ukraine will likely sit deep and try to withstand the early onslaught, but holding out against Hemp, James, and Russo will be a huge challenge. England have already shown the gulf in class in the first meeting, so the logical prediction is a confident home win with a handicap.
