What was all of the fuss about? On Saturday evening England had been staring into the abyss after a largely flat, listless defeat towards France. Now their Euro 2025 marketing campaign is up and operating, a dominant dispatching of the Netherlands giving them a foot within the quarter-finals.
This was a warning shot to the remainder; a transparent message that the reigning champions won't fade into the evening. Initially billed as a knife-edge contest between shut rivals, the tie was a 4-0 rout beneath an azure Zurich sky.
It was some strategy to banish the clouds that had begun to type over England and their supervisor, Sarina Wiegman. She has gained the European Championship with each of the nations on present on this fixture, however questions had been requested of her choices after England's opening-night flop.
Of their evolving iterations, the Lionesses have barely missed a beat at main tournaments prior to now decade. For the primary time throughout this sport's increase years, misgivings had been rising in quantity. They knew that dropping once more might imply an early flight residence, a primary group-stage exit of any form since 2013 and an unprecedented barrage of criticism.
Switzerland's largest metropolis was, as soon as once more, an amenable host. The solar shone once more after taking an extended weekend off; the travelling Dutch contingent, an excellent orange mass of hundreds, marched two miles from the designated fan zone to Stadion Letzigrund. England's staff bus was trumpeted into the venue by the followers' travelling band when it arrived at 4.15pm. Crowds over the previous eight days have hit report ranges; the atmospheres have been heat and beneficiant however the stakes right here had been misplaced on no one.
Wiegman's gamers embraced the event absolutely. They swarmed over the Netherlands instantly and nerves had been settled when Lauren James, the lavishly gifted Chelsea ahead, scored a gap aim that justified a few of Wiegman's largest choice calls. There had been loads of scrutiny on the goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton, who has taken the place of the Euro 2022 winner Mary Earps. One of many causes for Hampton's presence is her skill on the ball: she possesses the composure and vary anticipated of a keeper within the trendy recreation.
Within the twenty second minute she break up the Dutch defence with a raking 60-yard move that despatched the striker Alessia Russo away. Russo discovered James, who minimize inside and blasted an exhilarating end contained in the close to publish. Query marks had hovered round James's presence within the staff that confronted France; she has been recovering from a hamstring drawback however ran amok from her place on the precise wing.
England refused to let up. Their second aim, lashed in by Georgia Stanway simply earlier than half-time, was equally passable. Stanway is getting back from harm troubles of her personal and, like James, seems to be discovering type and health on the proper time.
Prince William, who took his place within the stand earlier than kick-off, was definitely discovering his journey to be worthwhile. He had travelled to Switzerland the day after welcoming Emmanuel Macron and his spouse, Brigitte, to Windsor Citadel for his or her state go to. That had been a vital second for the UK's standing on the European stage; he might have the benefit of the very fact England bolstered their very own continental repute right here.
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In reality England didn't show any uncertainties all night. The match was made protected on the hour when James, capturing in the direction of that vivid and now becalmed Dutch help, coolly swept her second aim previous Daphne van Domselaar. The groups had traded victories final yr within the Nations League and most pundits had anticipated the sport to be shut. However these brass gamers among the many crowd might merrily run via renditions of Candy Caroline and their new favorite, a model of the Champs' music Tequila utilizing Wiegman's first identify.
Ella Toone, restored to the beginning lineup, added a fourth and ensured volumes remained excessive. England had been vociferously backed all through, the noise clearly a notch or two larger than throughout their opener. It was the sound of a fanbase who haven't any intention of chopping the get together quick simply but. “I might not count on 4-0, completely not,” Wiegman stated after navigating a probably decisive second in her tenure. She is 4 extra wins from rendering these issues a distant, eccentric reminiscence.
The job shouldn't be full. England should nonetheless keep away from a shock towards Wales, the match's rank outsiders, in St Gallen on Sunday. They may progress to the final eight with a win however can't afford to be complacent in a keenly contested “derby” match. Ought to they escape unscathed, the dream can be firmly alive as soon as extra.
“That is about displaying who we're,” Stanway stated as her teammates soaked within the combination of adulation and reduction. “We wish to return to correct England.” They've completed that with probably the most emphatic of statements.
