The European champions, England, dominated their neighbors Wales with a 6-1 victory, advancing to the women’s Euro 2025 quarterfinals on Sunday. This win solidified their second position in Group D and ensured a strong path toward the knockout stages.
Goals were scored by Georgia Sternway, Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp, Alesia Russo, Beth Mead, and Aggie Be Be Jones, showcasing England’s offensive prowess.
Next, Sarina Wiegman’s team will face Sweden, who secured victories in all three of their matches in Group C heading into Thursday’s quarter-finals.
“It’s going to be a tough match. We observed Sweden recently, and they performed excellently. We must bring our best game,” Toone remarked. “I believe they need to take us seriously.”
Finishing second in the group might actually help England avoid facing reigning world champions Spain in the semi-finals, provided they can overcome Sweden.
Sternway opened the scoring with a penalty after a foul in the box, placing the ball in the left corner past goalkeeper Olivia Clark’s outstretched hand.
Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Toone netted shortly after with a follow-up on a poor clearance from Rhiannon Roberts, extending England’s lead just eight minutes later.
Hemp added a third with a header after a clever pass from Lauren James, who set her up perfectly with a cross from the byline.
Russo scored her first-ever tournament goal just before halftime, following another impressive run from Toone. After cutting through the Welsh defense, Mead sealed England’s fifth with a neat finish in the 72nd minute.
Hannah Cain managed to score for Wales in the 76th minute, providing a brief moment of joy for Welsh supporters, but Jones responded in the 89th minute, scoring her first international tournament goal from a Mead cross.
“This marks the start of our journey,” stated Welsh midfielder Jess Fishlock. “We faced three of the world’s top teams in this tournament, and it’s clear how significant the gap is.”
The longstanding rivalry between England and Wales was palpable, with thousands of passionate Welsh fans maintaining their vocal support despite the scoreline.
However, Wiegman’s seasoned squad, who reached the finals of the 2023 World Cup and were last year’s European champions, demonstrated their experience against the Welsh team.
“We scored six goals and controlled much of the game,” Wiegman noted. “Playing well is what truly matters; the scoreline is secondary.”
England has won 10 of their last 11 meetings with Wales, the latter’s best result being a 0-0 draw in 2018.
“We played exceptionally well. It’s always challenging to face a team that sits back defensively,” said Toone. “Getting those early goals in the first half really helped us enjoy the game.”
This match reinforces England’s status as a formidable force in women’s soccer, offering a thrilling preview of the competition ahead. For fans, such dominant performances not only elevate the excitement of the tournament but also underscore the growing competitiveness and skill in women’s football.
