England delivered a dominant show to maintain their Euro 2025 knockout hopes alive with a convincing 4-0 win over the Netherlands in Group D.
Targets from Lauren James, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone – together with a masterful efficiency from Alessia Russo – lifted the Lionesses to an important three factors after a patchy begin to the match.
The tone was set early at a packed stadium as England wasted no time asserting their attacking intent. Lauren James had already missed a headed likelihood within the opening minutes and Russo additionally nodded large from shut vary earlier than the breakthrough got here within the twenty second minute.
Alessia Russo, who was on the coronary heart of a lot of England’s ahead play, picked out James within the centre of the field. The Chelsea star made no mistake, rifling a left-footed shot into the highest nook for 1-0.
England’s confidence visibly grew after the opener, and it paid off simply earlier than half-time. After sustained strain, Stanway doubled the lead with a surprising long-range effort from outdoors the field.
The Bayern Munich midfielder was quickest to react following a set piece, curling her shot low into the underside left nook in first-half stoppage time.
The Dutch tried to regroup within the second half with a triple substitution on the break, together with the introduction of Sherida Spitse and Lineth Beerensteyn.
Nevertheless, England continued to dominate. Hannah Hampton was stable in aim and commanded her field nicely throughout the Netherlands’ transient moments of strain, together with saving an angled drive from Spitse within the 79th minute.
4 objectives and three massive factors at #WEURO2025! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/55sb1qo5hF
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 9, 2025
By the hour mark, England had successfully ended the competition. Lauren James grabbed her second and England’s third within the sixtieth minute, calmly slotting previous Daphne van Domselaar after a defensive lapse left her unmarked in the course of the world.
Simply seven minutes later, England added a fourth. Russo once more turned supplier, squaring the ball for Ella Toone who tucked away a low left-footed end from shut vary to cap off a commanding crew transfer.
The aim was Toone’s first of the match and underlined England’s attacking depth, as all three of their beginning midfielders acquired on the scoresheet.
Managerial substitutions adopted as England rotated with confidence. Aggie Beever-Jones, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, Grace Clinton, and Niamh Charles all got here off the bench as Sarina Wiegman regarded to handle minutes and protect power forward of the ultimate group match.
Regardless of a flurry of late fouls and some Dutch corners, England stayed disciplined and noticed the sport out comfortably.
The clear sheet – thanks partly to stable defensive performances from Jess Carter, Alex Greenwood, and Lucy Bronze – was a welcome bonus.
England now head into their ultimate group recreation in opposition to Wales realizing a win will nearly actually seal a spot within the knockout rounds, whereas the Netherlands should choose up a win in opposition to France.
