England Ladies 6 – 1 Wales Ladies

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 realm, with the referee initially awarding a free-kick.

And as Alex Greenwood loomed over it, a VAR examine regarded for a doable penalty, ultimately awarding England a spot kick with Jones’ foul deemed to have occurred inside the realm – 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 best means.

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 slicing the ball again for her teammate. Toone’s first effort was cleared off the road, however she hammered residence the second from shut vary.

Toone then turned supplier for the Lionesses’ third. She labored with Lauren James down the best, earlier than standing up a cross to the again submit. Lauren Hemp was ready to nod residence the move, with the ball taking a deflection off Clarke on the best way.

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 residence.

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.

Wales’ lone purpose was an excellent effort. Jess Fishlock reminded everybody of her evergreen high quality with an excellent move to seek out Hannah Cain, with the Leicester ahead rocketing her effort previous Hannah Hampton.

England had a last purpose up their sleeves within the last minute of regular time. It was a lofted move 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 a degree, however acquitted themselves nicely in Switzerland.

Toone: Sweden needs to be scared

England midfielder Ella Toone talking on ITV Sport: “We have been actually good. It is all the time tough to play in opposition to a staff that sits in a low block; there is not plenty of area for us, however I believe we drained them out. It was good that we obtained early targets within the first half.

“We watched Sweden the opposite night time, they regarded actually good, a extremely good counter-attacking staff. However we’re feeling assured, they need to be scared.”

England boss Sarina Wiegman talking on ITV Sport: “We scored six targets and an enormous a part of the sport we dominated, an excellent sport. Taking part in nicely is an important, who scores isn’t that necessary, however I am happy Alessia [Russo] obtained one.

“I am very blissful. We knew forward of this event how laborious this group was going to be, then while you lose the primary sport there’s large urgency to win the opposite two. It gave plenty of learnings with the staff and it introduced us collectively – I believe that is fairly good.”

England midfielder Georgia Stanway to Sky Sports activities Information: “Very blissful to be out of the group. There have been many moments on this event the place we thought we may have an opportunity of going residence but it surely’s good to be right here for one more few weeks.

“The final sport was reduction and delight. This sport was about us executing precisely what we wished to do.

“We knew we have been going to be the higher staff but it surely was ensuring we may get the ball over the road. Us getting the early purpose allowed us to chill out and settle in and allowed individuals to make their European debuts.”

Fishlock: That is only the start

Wales midfielder Jess Fishlock talking on ITV Sport: “That is the start of a journey for us. We have performed three of the most effective groups on the planet at this event and we have discovered how massive that bounce is.

“We now have to work collectively as a bunch, as an affiliation, to maintain on investing and hold constructing. We want to verify this is not a one-off.

“We will nonetheless have a good time what it meant to be right here, and what it meant for our nation. However then we have got to regroup, be taught and get higher.

“For me, I do not know proper now. It is robust while you work so laborious and concede issues. We have got to get again to the drafting board and stick collectively. I am nonetheless actually pleased with this group.”

Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson talking on ITV Sport: “This was not our sport. We have been outplayed and I used to be out-coached. We all know we’ll take loads from it, however I really feel for the gamers. I would not wish to stand with every other staff. There is a hole between us and the highest groups and we all know that. My job is to proceed to push and shut that hole.

“I wish to thank all of our assist. It was a tricky sport to remain loud they usually did for us. Again residence we have got work to do. This is not a staff that’s prepared for event play when it comes to three, 4, 5 video games again to again. That’s an space of enchancment. This was a painful one.”

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)