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Spain thump England to close in on World Cup qualification / Photo: JAIME REINA - AFP
Spain thump England to close in on World Cup qualification
Alexia Putellas scored a brace as world champions Spain leapfrogged European champions England in Women's World Cup qualifying with a 4-0 thrashing in Mallorca on Friday.
Spain dominated from start to finish and now top the UEFA qualifying group A3 on a better head-to-head record over their great rivals.
These two sides have met in the last World Cup and Euros finals, winning one apiece, and England won the reverse group stage fixture at Wembley in April 1-0.
But they were never at the races in the Spanish Balearic island as they were outplayed throughout.
Patri Guijarro opened the scoring for the world champions on 19 minutes and Putellas notched her first eight minutes before half-time.
A second from Putellas and one from Claudia Pina secured Spain's thumping victory and means that a win away to Iceland in their final group stage match on Tuesday will book their ticket to the finals in Brazil next year.
Germany wrapped up their qualification and top spot in Group A4 as goals from Marie Mueller and Carlotta Wamser gave them a 2-0 win over second-placed Norway.
France climbed to the top of group A2 as goals from Melvine Malard and Sandy Baltimore earned them a 2-0 win away to Poland.
The Netherlands dropped from first to third as they lost 3-2 away to the Republic of Ireland, who climbed to second in the group.
Amber Barrett scored the last minute winner for the Irish, who led three times in the match and held on despite Leanne Kiernan's dismissal deep into injury time.
B.Nagel--BlnAP
