England dominate Netherlands 4-0 to rescue Euro title defence; Wales clash now key to quarter-final spot
England’s Euro 2025 campaign is alive, just. From staring down the barrel of an early exit to thumping the Netherlands 4-0, the Lionesses roared back to life in Switzerland on Wednesday night.
After a disjointed, error-strewn defeat to France in their opener, England found fluency, bite, and brilliance. With Lauren James bagging a brace, and Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone adding one each, it was a performance worthy of champions. But the real glue was Alessia Russo, who didn’t score but assisted three.
“We really looked at ourselves after the France game,” said Russo, the Arsenal striker who lifted the Champions League last season. “It wasn’t good enough. We had to raise our standards, on and off the ball. Tonight, we did.”
The turnaround wasn’t just about quality — it was about mentality. Manager Sarina Wiegman, facing her home nation in a high-stakes clash, admitted she’d felt “a little tension” pre-match. But her players responded in emphatic style.
James, mercurial and clinical, struck twice in quick succession to bury any nerves. Stanway rifled home a third to cap England’s dominance before halftime, and Toone sealed the deal late on, celebrating alongside Alex Greenwood and the unstoppable Russo.
Embed from Getty Images“There are always ups and downs,” Wiegman said post-match. “But we don’t turn a bad performance into a disaster. We learn and move forward — and tonight, we did just that.”
Still, the job isn’t done. England sit second in Group C and must now beat Wales on Sunday to secure a quarter-final place. A draw might not be enough, depending on other results. For their part, Wales — tournament debutants — need a 9-0 win over England and for France to beat the Netherlands to go through. In other words: near-impossible.
But Wales still showed spirit in their 4-1 defeat to France. Veteran Jess Fishlock scored a stirring equaliser — a flash of belief on a tough night. That fighting instinct is something England will need to respect.
“Wales is proud and determined,” said Russo. “We’ll work until we can’t run anymore. We stick together, and we’ll be ready.”
So far, this tournament has posed more questions than answers for England. But Wednesday night offered a reminder: when the Lionesses click, they’re still a force.
If they can carry that momentum into Sunday’s clash — and avoid complacency — Wiegman’s side might just be peaking at the right time.
