England Ladies will face Sweden within the Euro 2025 quarter-finals after a 6-1 hammering of Wales Ladies to complete second in Group D.
The Lionesses wanted a win to be assured of their place within the quarter-finals, no matter what occurred within the different sport between the Netherlands and France. The French have been 5-2 winners, and undergo as group winners.
And it was one other slick efficiency in St Gallen, following on from a dominant 4-0 win in opposition to the Dutch final week. This time, 4 of their targets got here within the first half.
The sport started with controversy although. Georgia Stanway was tripped by Carrie Jones on the cusp of the world, with the referee initially awarding a free-kick.
And as Alex Greenwood loomed over it, a VAR test appeared for a doable penalty, finally awarding England a spot kick with Jones’ foul deemed to have occurred inside the world – a lot to the anger of the Welsh bench.
The felled Stanway then lined up the penalty and completed expertly previous Olivia Clarke, who did leap the appropriate method.
Quickly after, Ella Toone doubled England’s lead. It was a defensive mix-up from the Welsh that allowed Alessia Russo to around the goalkeeper, earlier than chopping the ball again for her teammate. Toone’s first effort was cleared off the road, however she hammered house the second from shut vary.
Toone then turned supplier for the Lionesses’ third. She labored with Lauren James down the appropriate, earlier than standing up a cross to the again publish. Lauren Hemp was ready to nod house the go, with the ball taking a deflection off Clarke on the way in which.
It was the Man Utd midfielder who then arrange Russo for England’s fourth on the stroke of half time, once more linking up with James within the build-up. She discovered the Arsenal striker centrally, who took one contact earlier than hammering house.
The second half was a quieter affair by all accounts, however nonetheless noticed three targets. It took till the 72nd minute for England to open up Wales once more as half-time substitute Beth Mead added the fifth. She sped previous Rhiannon Roberts earlier than planting her effort into the underside nook.
Hannah Cain celebrates her aim for Wales in opposition to England
However Wales had one final aim up their sleeves, and it was an excellent effort. Jess Fishlock reminded everybody of her evergreen high quality with an excellent go to search out Hannah Cain, with the Leicester ahead rocketing her effort previous Hannah Hampton.
England had a closing aim up their sleeves within the closing minute of regular time. It was a lofted go from Mead that discovered Aggie Beever-Jones, whose bullet header added the sixth.
It was an emphatic win for the Lionesses, who will now face Sweden within the quarter-finals in Zurich on Friday. Wales exit their first main event with out registering some extent, however acquitted themselves properly in Switzerland.
How the Euros quarter-finals stand
All kick-offs at 8pm BST
July 16
QF1: Norway vs Italy (Geneva)
July 17
QF3: Sweden vs England (Zurich)
July 18
QF2: Spain vs Switzerland (Bern)
July 19
QF4: France vs Germany (Basel)
