By Jamie Spencer
Since a humbling defeat to France at Euro 2025, England have upped the depth, made certain to get the fundamentals proper and performed with an admirable directness that has been tough for subsequent opponents – Netherlands and Wales – to deal with.
“It wasn’t the way in which we needed to begin the match but it surely’s a little bit of a rocket and we’ve proven in these final couple of video games that that is how we play,” Ella Toone instructed BBC Sport following Sunday night time’s one-sided score-line in opposition to the Welsh.
Beth Mead echoed these feedback, additionally telling the BBC, “We mentioned that you just don’t win or lose a match within the first sport. We’re a really motivated crew and we take pleasure in being below strain, you’ll be able to inform that within the final two video games once we’ve wanted to win.”
Now that they’ve hit their stride, the Lionesses will anticipate that customary to stay all through. General, England scored 11 group stage targets, bettered solely by Spain (14), and conceded simply three, with solely Sweden (1) placing up a meaner defence within the opening spherical.
Sarina Wiegman’s crew choice in opposition to the Dutch on matchday two of the group stage had been motivated by a need to play direct. Toone’s skill to interrupt ahead from midfield and Alessia Russo’s willingness to run behind defences had been each decisive components in that essential win.
As soon as Wiegman finds a successful components, she hardly ever strays from it – the identical XI famously began all six video games at Euro 2022, whereas there was the same sample on the World Cup in 2023 after switching to a 3-5-2 through the group stage. And though right here had been doubts about her selections originally of this match, the loyalty proven to sure gamers has now been rewarded, the tweaks between dealing with France and the Netherlands labored, and the Lionesses are correctly up and working.
England ought to by no means have had an issue dealing with Wales. The consequence, with a win essential to achieve the quarter-finals and maintain their future in their very own palms, was the necessary bit and it was a walkover.
Wales had conceded seven targets throughout their opening two video games and had been the bottom ranked crew within the competitors. Even a bit of additional struggle due to the geographic rivalry was by no means going to be sufficient, particularly after conceding the early penalty.
The 13th minute spot-kick, transformed by Georgia Stanway – who had herself been tripped simply contained in the penalty space, was a present. But it surely got here from constructing play on the precise and Lauren James firing a cross into the field. The second began with a raking ball from deep in direction of the left flank from Leah Williamson, nodded into the realm and inflicting chaos that Wales did not take care of – Toone was there for the tap-in. A cross from Toone created Lauren Hemp’s third, a header on the far put up, easy however efficient. The fourth for Russo, her first aim of the match after racking up three assists, was extra intricate play, however simplicity returned when Mead made it 5 as England shortly transitioned. And, once more, an extended diagonal cross out from defence, this time by Alex Greenwood, began the transfer that led to Aggie Beever-Jones getting the sixth, a knockdown, a cross and a free header.
England performed on the entrance foot, with 58% of passes made in Wales territory. Favouring directness, 53 lengthy balls discovered their supposed goal from 68 makes an attempt – in contrast, Wales accomplished solely 4 lengthy passes. Additionally they peppered the Welsh field with crosses, 25 of them, with 44% discovering a fellow Lioness, and dominated the aerial sport by successful 13 such duels in opposition to Wales’ eight.
“The crew simply confirmed up as we speak,” was how Wiegman, talking to BBC Radio 5 Dwell, described the efficiency. England are already very gifted crew, however ‘displaying up’ most likely issues extra trying ahead when there can be more and more much less to separate groups on a technical stage.
Consistency is the following check for the reigning champions. Victory over Wales made it two consecutive wins for less than the second time in 15 outings since final July, whereas England haven’t put collectively a run of three successive aggressive wins for the reason that 2023 World Cup.
The backwards and forwards nature of the France-Netherlands consequence within the group’s different last fixture stored altering the standings and due to this fact who England will face within the final eight. France had been forward, then behind, and finally victorious to complete high. They may go on to play Germany within the quarter-finals due to that, with England handed a gathering with a formidable Sweden that received Group C, however on the kinder facet of the knockout bracket, away from the Germans and Spain.
‘Exhibiting up’ in opposition to the Swedes, with the momentum constructed thus far, and both Norway or Italy to face within the semi-finals in the event that they get by way of, presents England an enormous probability to go very far in defence of their title.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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