Women's World Cup Qualifier LIVE: Ukraine vs England

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Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

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'We want to get a clear win today'

Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)

Sarina Wiegman, speaking to a Sky Sports reporter: "I think they're in good form and what we expect from Ukraine, they can play a big role in that. Laura I expect tight spaces and she has done so well in these tight spaces. I hope she takes this opportunity and is going to enjoy it as well.

"Alex picked up a minor injury so is not in the squad so we will assess her. We came with 25 players and we could only pick 23 so I think this squad will give us the most opportunity if we need it in the game.

"We want to get a clear win today which gives us a good starting position going into the next game against Iceland. We have Spain in front of us in April."

Will Pattinson and Godfrey make debuts?

Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)

This is Poppy Pattinson's first senior call-up to the Lionesses.

The London City Lionesses defender has featured for England's youth teams, while she has made seven WSL appearances this term.

"[Pattinson] plays at left-back, is very proactive and takes a lot of initiative. She likes to go forward and she can cover the whole wing on the left side," said Wiegman.

"She is looking for passes forward which I thought was really good. Although she is not the tallest, she does use her body well in defence.

"You have seen different options. [Pattinson] is now one of them and Taylor [Hinds] has played there. In both the left full-back and right-back position, we are figuring out what's best for the team."

Her London City team-mate Freya Godfrey could also make her debut tonight, although she was named in the last squad.

How does World Cup qualifying work?

Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)

European qualifiers for the World Cup will run from February to December, starting with a league phase.

The league phase is played in the same format as the Nations League, with teams split into three leagues - League A, B and C.

England are in League A Group 3, alongside world champions Spain, Ukraine and Iceland.

The winners of each League A group qualify automatically for Brazil 2027. England have never won a group that has Spain in it.

The teams that finish in second and third will go into a play-off round against teams from League B and C.

Reward for impressive Blindkilde Brown

Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)

Emma Sanders

BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

It's a big opportunity for Laura Blindkilde Brown, who has been impressive for Manchester City this season and has been rewarded with a start in midfield.

Sarina Wiegman has been in the stands to watch her at recent games - along with several other Lionesses - and she's got her chance tonight.

It looks like Jess Park will be playing out wide, as she has done for Manchester United this season, rather than in the number 10 role.

And Maya Le Tissier is the replacement for Lucy Bronze, who is not fully fit enough to play back-to-back 90-minute matches.

There's a blow for Alex Greenwood, who has picked up a minor muscle injury and will need to be assessed before Saturday's game against Iceland.

That has occured in the past 24 hours with Wiegman telling media yesterday that the whole squad were training.

'The last trophy on the list is a World Cup'

Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)

Leah Williamson joined Kelly Sommers in the latest episode of The Football Interview and conversation turned to the World Cup, given it's the only trophy Williamson is yet to get her hands on.

Kelly: "You've achieved so much. What else do you want to achieve? If you could only achieve one more thing, what would it be?"

Leah: "The last thing on the list is obviously a World Cup. In the career that I've had, it's the last trophy."

Kelly: "It's no secret that all the other Lionesses that we've spoken to said exactly the same thing."

Leah: "The World Cup?"

Kelly: "Yeah. Lucy [Bronze]... I don't think I'd finished my sentence..."

Leah: .".she said World Cup?"

Kelly: "And then she said it. Which probably wouldn't surprise you, knowing Lucy either."

Leah: "No, no. I speak to my team-mates and I'm like, 'Mariona [Caldentey], you have one... do you want to do a swap... or how does this work?'"

Kelly: "Maybe they'll let you have the next one."

Leah: "Yeah. Everybody wants it and the stage of women's football now, it's just so unpredictable. There's so many good teams - it becomes so much harder, which I think only makes you want it more."

Williamson returns

Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)

England have got their captain back!

Leah Williamson missed England's friendly victories over China, Ghana and Australia as well as their defeat by Brazil at the end of 2025 due to a knee injury.

The Arsenal defender had surgery after lifting England's second successive European title in July and returned to action at the start of December.

So this will be the first time she has played in an England shirt since they beat Spain in the final in Switzerland.

England 'given reassurances' over safety in Turkey

Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)

Speaking yesterday, Sarina Wiegman said England have been given reassurances there are no safety concerns about their game being held in Turkey as the conflict in the Middle East widens.

On Saturday the US attacked Iran as part of a joint operation with Israel, sparking retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.

The Iranian regime has responded with attacks on US assets and countries in the region with a US military presence, including Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq.

Turkey borders Iran and Iraq and is close to Cyprus, where an Iranian drone crashed into a British RAF base on Sunday. Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have also exchanged strikes.

"Yes, we did have reassurances. We are in close contact with the government and the people here that are responsible," said Wiegman.

"Of course, you're concerned about what's happening in the world. When we think, or our government thinks it's unsafe, we will go back. At this moment, we don't have signals of that."

Why are England playing in Turkey?

Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)

Today's game is is taking place in Antalya because Ukraine are unable to play in their home country as a result of the war with Russia, which is in its fifth year.

The Lionesses have been in the country since last Wednesday for a training camp.

"We have great facilities here and the climate is really good so we can prepare really well. But the reason we're here is not nice," she added.

"You want Ukraine to be able to play in their home country. They had to travel a lot themselves to get here. The things they have in front of them in their country is really horrible."

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