Euro 2025: Lionesses swat Netherlands aside to get title defence back on track
The defending champions returned to the Stadion Letizgrund in Zurich after a 2-1 loss to Les Bleues on matchday one of their European Championships title defence, and players and manager alike bemoaned the Lionesses' performance.
Advertisement
Concerns and worries were high as they took on the in-form Dutch in their second Group D fixture, with Andries Jonker's side topping the table after an impressive 3-0 win over Wales.
However, England ripped up the form book, and decimated their opponents with a devastating display.
Wiegman made just the one change to the side that were beaten by France, with Beth Mead dropped for Ella Toone, who moved into the No10 hole, while Lauren James shifted to the right-wing berth.
The tactical tweak worked a treat. James was the two-goal hero, notching a superb left-footed effort on 22 minutes, before doubling her tally on the hour after the ball richocheted kindly into her path, with both Alessia Russo and Ella Toone having swipes from the Lauren Hemp delivery.
Advertisement
Georgia Stanway made it two on the stroke of half-time with a well-taken half-volley that nestled into the corner of Daphne van Domselaar's net, and Toone got in on the act on 67 minutes, as she worked a yard of space to snap off a left-footed effort that squeezed in.
It is a statement victory for England, who could so easily have been embarrassingly knocked out this evening had they lost and France beaten Wales.
However, that is not the case, and they take on their fellow Home Nation on matchday three in a far stronger position, knowing that their fate is well and truly in their own hands, supplemented by a much healthier goal difference.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Four of the best teams from Euro 2025 so far
Four of the best teams from Euro 2025 so far The group stage of Euro 2025 is over and we now at last have our final eight teams who will be facing off in the knock-out round. With the competition taking a brief break, Playmakerstats took the opportunity to look at the numbers of some of the best performing teams on display in Switzerland. Advertisement Spanish dominance The world champions came into this tournament as favourites and they've demonstrated why by winning all three of their group games, scoring 14 goals in the process. In total, the Spanish have had 75 shots, 14 more than anyone else, of which 40 of those were from inside the penalty area. Much of Spain's danger is their control of games with an average of 68.3% possession in total (way ahead of anyone else) and the best passing accuracy so far with 89.1%. So far, Spain have the player with the most goals in the tournament (Ester González, four) and most assists (Alexia Putellas, also four) without having to rely much on the best player in the world, Aitana Bonmatí. Spain are looking imperious. Advertisement English improvement After a false start that saw the Lionesses lose to France while looking way off the pace, they have since shown some of their best stuff – in particular during the big win over the Netherlands. Two players have been key to that: Alessia Russo and Ella Toone. The two best friends have always linked up well on the pitch for club (back when Russo was at Manchester United) and for country. Toone in particular didn't start against France but England have looked much more threatening with her on the pitch. Indeed, the 25-year-old has made five most goal-creating actions in the tournament so far – the same number as Putellas with only Clara Matéo managing more. Advertisement Both Russo and Toone are on a total of four direct goal contributions (only Putellas has more) – Toone with two goals and two assists while Russo has one goal and three assists. German wing play Bayern Munich's Klara Bühl was already regarded as one of the best wingers in the women's game before Euro 2025 and her stock is only rising after the group stages. The 24-year-old has some remarkable numbers from the first three games having made 38 crosses in total – 18 more than anyone else. Her speed and direct running has been crucial to Germany's attacking play with Bühl having the most progressive carries (37), carries into the penalty area (20), and successful take-ons (17) so far. Advertisement The only surprise is that despite having the second-highest expected assists (1.8xA), Bühl is yet to make an assist at the tournament – that could change soon. Swedish solidity We've focused on attacking numbers and now it's time to highlight good defending. Sweden have conceded just one goal in the group stage while winning all of their games. Goalkeeper Jennifer Falk is the only shot-stopper to keep more than one clean sheet and not because she's had fewer shots to face. Falk has an impressive save percentage of 88.9%, far more than anyone else with Norway's Cecilie Fiskerstran the next closest (77.8%). Advertisement Of course, Sweden have plenty of talent in the top third of the pitch. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd has the most crosses into the penalty area (six) and the second most number of key passes (13) behind only Putellas. Stina Blackstenius (17 shots total, the most), Filippa Angeldahl (36 progressive passes, the most), and Kosovare Asllani (three assists, second most) explain why Sweden's total goal difference of +7 is the third highest in the tournament. The Swedes are definitely in contention for the title but they have the holders England to face next...
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Jofra Archer's triumphant return helps England defeat India at Lord's
LONDON (AP) — It was July 14. Of course Jofra Archer was going to open the bowling for England against India on the final day of the Lord's test on Monday. 'Yeah, part of the reason I went with Jof this morning ... six years ago now to the day,' England captain Ben Stokes said. Advertisement On July 14, 2019, Archer helped England won its first Cricket World Cup trophy in the most dramatic final against New Zealand, also at Lord's. 'He played a major role,' Stokes said, 'and I had a feeling he'd do something special (on Monday) and crack the game open.' In the fourth over of the day, Archer sent Rishabh Pant's off stump cartwheeling. Then in the day's eighth over, he got Washington Sundar with a fantastic one-hand caught-and-bowled. Archer and Stokes combined to take 3-11 in the first 40 minutes and hastened India's demise from 58-4 overnight to 82-7. India, chasing 193, was eventually dismissed for 170 and England won by 22 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Advertisement Archer's first test in 4 1/2 years produced an impressive match haul of five wickets, his most in a test since December 2019. 'I had a gut feeling that Jof's going to do something in his first game back,' Stokes said. 'Every time he's announced on the tannoy, the ground erupts, and when the speeds go up on the screen, the feeling changes.' Archer regularly worried India by bowling at speeds of up to 90 mph (145 kph). But he was managed by Stokes, never doing more than five-over spells and spaced well apart. It frustrated Archer but he also understood after years of being sidelined by elbow and back injuries. Advertisement 'It was pretty hectic, for the first game back,' he told broadcaster Sky Sports. "I probably bowled a few more overs than I thought I would've (39.2 in the match) but every single one mattered today so I'm not too fussed about it. 'Only played one test at Lord's (on debut in 2019) and that one was just as special as this one. It's been a long time coming, a lot of rehab, a lot of training. But moments like this make it worth it.' 'Managing the workload is still very hard, being told you can bowl some days and not others.' Archer never thought he would not return to test cricket. His previous test was in February 2021 in Ahmedabad, and his previous home test was in August 2020. Advertisement 'I'm not totally out of the woods yet but it's a good start,' he said. 'The style of cricket that this team plays, it means I'm going to bowl a lot of overs!' Archer didn't hold back either when he verbally sprayed Pant and Sundar after dismissing them. It was all part of the passions brought on by earlier incidents between the teams. "We came together as a group yesterday and said, you know, sometimes we're too nice. We go to other places and some teams are not as nice to us as we are to them so I guess we just tried to shift it. I don't know if it gave us a bit more of a buzz in the field or not but we will keep it in the bank for the future! 'It wasn't a proud moment (to Pant). I just told him to cherish that moment. He came down the track and that annoyed me a little bit so when the ball nipped down the slope (and bowled him), I was so grateful.' ___ AP cricket: Foster Niumata, The Associated Press
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Jofra Archer's triumphant return helps England defeat India at Lord's
LONDON — It was July 14. Of course Jofra Archer was going to open the bowling for England against India on the final day of the Lord's test on Monday. 'Yeah, part of the reason I went with Jof this morning ... six years ago now to the day,' England captain Ben Stokes said.
