This week we heard the sad news that Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack passed away at the age of 27.

This evening, both teams will play in black armbands and observe a period of silence ahead of kick-off in her memory.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

In addition, both sets of players have decided to show their support and solidarity for the Spanish team ahead of kick-off. At their request they will wear white wristbands with the #SeAcabo - translating to 'it's over' - on them and come together for a group photo.

Sarah Dawkins
BBC Sport in Sunderland

Fans have been able to buy scarves with their favourite players’ faces on this evening. The one player who sold out? Mary Earps of course.

Image source, BBC Sport

Jen Beattie
Former Scotland defender on ITV 4

You look around the changing rooms and see players like Caroline Weir and Claire Emslie and think, "they deserve to be playing at major tournaments."

The manager Pedro Martinez Losa has gotten this Scotland side to that point, he has achieved more than many other people in the role.

I believe this current side has the quality to qualify for and play in those major tournament finals now.

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Stadium of Light

It's a pretty straight-forward line-up from England manager Sarina Wiegman as she goes for the usual 4-2-3-1 formation.

Rachel Daly was always likely to start up front with Alessia Russo absent, and Katie Zelem is an obvious replacement for Keira Walsh having proven herself worthy at the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Scotland are boosted by the return of key centre-back Rachel Corsie, who will provide leadership and experience against a strong England forward line.

Scotland also have the dangerous weapon of Real Madrid midfielder Caroline Weir, who will be keen to impress Sarina Wiegman as a potential Team GB candidate.

However, the Scots are without Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert, who will be a big loss to the engine of their midfield.

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England captain Millie Bright confirmed in the side's pre-match press conference on Thursday that the squad and the Football Association had "come to an agreement" regarding performance-related bonuses.

Players for some rival nations including Australia, Spain and the United States were set to receive bonuses after last month's Women's World Cup, but the Lionesses, who reached the final, were not.

She explained, "It [the agreement] covered a variety of things. It's the whole package that comes with the women's game. It's more than finances. It's everything to do with the next generation."

"We're very lucky and privileged we have amazing facilities and set the tone in many areas. We're building a new structure where we can have more of that open dialogue so everything stays the way it should be," said Bright.

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Real Madrid star Caroline Weir says she is keen for Scotland to show the progress that they have made since their last meeting with England - a 2-1 defeat at the 2019 Women's World Cup.

"This is where we want to be. We know it's going to be tough but this is where we can learn and improve from, and challenge ourselves."

She added, "I really believe we've made progress over the last six months, but this is where it shows and these are the kind of games we need to be playing in."

But what did she make of the prospect of coming up against the reigning European champions and last month's World Cup finalists?

"We have a lot of respect for what England have done in the last 12 months, but I think they know they're in for a tough test - we're on a good run ourselves. We think it's a great time to play them."

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After a superb last 12 months for England, in which she saved penalties in the Women's Finalissima and the Women's World Cup final, and claimed the Women's World Cup Golden Glove award, goalkeeper Mary Earps was named Lionesses Player of the Year this week.

In a vote by Lionesses' fans, the shot-stopper was awarded top spot ahead of defenders Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood.

The Manchester United keeper is also up for the Fifa Best Goalkeeper award- which she won in 2022.

Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland at Stadium of Light

It doesn't get more daunting than this.

World Cup finalists, European champions and a sell-out crowd of 40,000 - 39,000 of which are backing Sarina Wiegman's side... No pressure, Scotland.

Despite all that, though, there is a quiet confidence among the Scotland ranks that they can create a bit of noise tonight.

Where will that happen? The midfield. Catching up with some of the 1,000 strong Tartan Army supporters pre-match are hoping Weir, Kerr - and tonight - Grimshaw, can do some damage.

It's worth mentioning that there is a pretty strange dynamic to this match.

Of course, both sides will want to win but England are representing Team GB's hopes of qualifying for the Olympics. To do that they pretty much have to win their group and Scotland could get in the way of that.

Should they qualify for the Olympics, some of these Scotland players would of course expect to be in that Team GB line-up.

I'll let you decide how that dynamic is going to play out this evening.

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Wales are also in Nations League action this evening against Iceland and midfielder Hayley Ladd is looking forward to being back in action for her country.

That is, after the team had worked out the format of the new Nations League competition.

Read more from the Manchester United player in her column with BBC Sport.

A lot has happened since that night just over a month ago in Sydney. A LOT.

A heartbroken England watched on as Spain lifted the World Cup. But when then-Spanish Federation president Luis Rubiales kissed Spanish player Jenni Hermoso, a frenzy around Spanish women's football began and in turn has overshadowed Spain's magnificent achievement.

This week, Spain ended their boycott of the national team and are currently facing Sweden in their first Nations League match.

Before the match, the players of both teams stood in solidarity with a banner which read "se acabo" which translates to English as "it's over", a phrase used on social media amid the scandal.

Spain players also showed wrist bands with the same words written on.

Read Guillem Balague's column on the events here.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Long-serving national captain Rachel Corsie believes the recent agreement between the Scotland women's squad and the Scottish Football Association can be a "great precedent" for others to follow.

She said, "I think there is an understanding when you have an organisation that is looking to get the best out of its men's national teams, women's national teams, youth national teams, resources and everything that goes into what is involved in the set up plays a part."

"The association now have set a great precedent with this. They have become a nation that's going to be considered one that can be a leader for others in the fact the resources that go into the preparation for the men and women is going to be at a very high level."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Stadium of Light

Image source, BBC Sport

It's a big rivalry of two home nations but even that cannot deter the 'half n half' scarves.

England and Scotland fans were mingling around local pubs and food stalls to keep shelter from the rain which has started pouring down outside Stadium of Light in the build-up to tonight's match.

It's a new occasion in the sense it's the first ever Women's Nations League match for these teams.

But they are so familiar with each other because plenty of the players play in the Women's Super League so it will feel like a domestic game, featuring the league's elite.

I saw plenty of families and friends mixing Scotland shirts with England shirts on the way over to the stadium but when we get into the ground, I'm sure we will feel the rivalry.

Image source, Getty Images

Since an agonising defeat in the World Cup play-off final to the Republic of Ireland last October, Scotland have been in fine form, playing eight games, winning six and drawing once.

Boss Pedro Martinez Losa, who recently signed a contract extension until 2027, believes that the side can use that painful loss to spur them on to qualify for future major tournaments.

"While we were all disappointed not to be at the World Cup, we now have a blend of experienced players approaching their peak and younger players who have gained invaluable international experience during the recent Pinatar Cup and friendly programme."

He added, "The Nations League will be a good test for our squad and I am confident we will continue the progression we have made this year and ultimately achieve our objective of returning to major tournament finals."

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As we've seen England are without Arsenal forward Alessia Russo this evening.

Despite featuring in her club's Women's Champions League qualifying matches earlier this month, the striker joined the Lionesses' camp later than the rest of the squad after a 'period of recuperation'.

England boss Sarina Wiegman explained, "She's fine, she's good, but before camp I had a conversation with her and I decided that she needed a little more rest."

Wiegman added, "She's a human being, and that's physical and mental - you can't see it separately."

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland are currently on a run of six consecutive games unbeaten, and head coach Pedro Martinez Losa has credited a "change in mindset" of his players as the catalyst for this strong run.

"We've had the feeling we were doing a lot of very good things on the pitch, but we were lacking that latter step. That comes with time, consistency and the mentality of the team."

He added, "There's been a change in the mindset of the players to believe in themselves. We insisted to the players we needed to do that, but sometimes acts are more powerful than words."

Sarah Dawkins
BBC Sport at the Stadium of Light

Fans have been braving the rain and waiting for the teams outside the Stadium of Light.

A few cheers and a round of applause for Scotland – they have around 1,000 fans here tonight. But it’s the Lionesses who most people are here to see with huge cheers and horns blaring as they stepped off the bus.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Stadium of Light

Image source, BBC Sport

The FA vowed to host more Lionesses games around the country a few years ago to bring women's football to new audiences.

Sunderland, which has been the home, or close to the home, of some of England's best female players over the years (including Jordan Nobbs, featured in the match programme above) has now hosted a few internationals.

The last time England played up here there was a storm so let's hope it's not the case tonight!

However, the excitement for football up in the north east is palpable and there were England fans walking around Newcastle, just a short metro ride from the Stadium of Light, wearing Georgia Stanway shirts this morning.

I went past the Scotland squad doing a pre-match walk around the city before they headed over to Sunderland. They are expected to travel straight back up to Scotland tonight, while England are staying in the north east.

Both sets of fans were able to congregate at a fan zone in Keel square in Sunderland's city centre this afternoon too.

Image source, Getty Images

So you don't have to read all that waffle, here we go. A very helpful explainer video...

The four group winners in League A meet in the semi-finals, with the two finalists joining hosts France as the European representatives in the 2024 Olympic Games.

If France are among the finalists, the third-placed team fills the remaining slot for the 12-team tournament in Paris.

England are the nominated nation to secure qualification for the Olympics on behalf of Team GB, but they could be held back in their group by Scotland, who have a chance to take points off their rivals and spoil their Paris dream.

The Nations League will also affect qualification for Euro 2025, which will be held in Switzerland.

The teams that finish in the top two in each group will remain in League A for the European qualifiers, which start in spring 2024 and follow the same format as the Nations League.

The four third-placed teams in League A face a play-off against the second-placed teams in League B in February, with the winner playing in League A for the Euro 2025 qualifiers.

The fourth-placed teams are relegated to League B, replaced by the group winners from that league.

Image source, Getty Images