England 4 Netherlands 0
July 9 – The European champions responded in style to the pressure that had been building after their opening 2-1 defeat against France. England comprehensively demolished the Netherlands 4-0 with Lauren James scoring a brace.
The number seven had been the main scapegoat for England’s opening defeat, but James (pictured) and her team turned things around against the feeble Dutch, so much so that the Chelsea player was given a standing ovation in the 68th minute when substituted. The England end of the stadium rose as one, the substitutes warming up applauded her and her father blew her a kiss from the stands.
What a contrast with the chastening loss last Saturday. In a fast start, James had led England from the front. With a 22nd-minute thunderbolt, she opened the score, casting the spectre of a first-round exit aside. She had her second in the 60th minute, with Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone scoring the other goals.
Manager Sarina Wiegman, taking on her native country which she led to glory at Euro 2017, reverted to the experience of Toone in the starting XI which meant James moved a line higher. England were all the better for it. They were snappier and more direct.
In truth, the European champions should have won by a bigger margin. England had a boatload of opportunities, hurting the Dutch backline with high crosses. Three times, Alessia Russo, the focal point in attack, was dangerous with headers while Lauren Hemp had a header deflected on to the roof of the net. To her credit, the number 23 assisted two goals.
This was a different England – a team that was in control, that sensed its moments and demonstrated resilience. The English had intensity and purpose. On the stroke of half-time, the Lionesses consolidated their dominance with a second brilliant strike. From the edge of the box, Stanway leathered the ball into the bottom left corner, 2-0.
That ended a half to forget for the Dutch, who had been on the back foot the entire time and reduced to bystanders. They were restricted to a single attempt off target in the first half. Perhaps, their 3-0 win against Wales had been a mirage.
The Dutch found no redemption after the break even if their headline manager Andries Jonker responded with a triple change, including the introduction of Line Beerensteyn. The Dutch were just not very good.
But that should take nothing away from England, who didn’t relent. They dominated every area of the pitch and kept their focus. At the hour mark, James scored her second converting an opportunity in the box with supreme cool. Toone added a fourth, firing her shot into the bottom-right corner.
Then James made way for Chloe Kelly. It was moment of joy and somewhat of redemption. England had delivered.
After the full-time, the English fans belted out ‘Sweet Caroline’. With 22,600 fans at a packed Letzigrund, Euro 2025 set a record of the highest combined attendance across the group stage. So far, 287,436 supporters have passed through the turnstiles in Switzerland. Those in Zurich saw a resounding, if not perfect, response from England. Their title defence goes on and, against Wales, in their final group game, they can clinch a spot in the last eight.
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