England Lionesses batter Dutch to reignite Euro defence

England Lionesses show champion’s response

England Lionesses roared back from their opening-day slip with a 4-0 demolition of the Netherlands in Zurich, keeping their Euro 2025 title defence alive and silencing early doubters. Ruthless from the off, Sarina Wiegman’s side swept aside the group’s toughest rival with pace, precision and a point to prove.

Tactical tweaks pay off

Wiegman sprung several bold changes. Jess Carter shifted inside and, alongside the ever-composed Alex Greenwood, locked down the middle. Ella Toone’s inclusion stiffened midfield, while Lauren James thrived wider on the right, drifting infield to score twice and terrorise full-backs. Up front, Alessia Russo traded goals for creativity, laying on three assists in a selfless masterclass. Behind them, Hannah Hampton justified her promotion with razor-sharp distribution that launched wave after wave of attacks.

Momentum restored, work still to do

The emphatic scoreline catapulted England into pole position to escape Group D, yet the job is far from finished. A fired-up Wales await on Sunday, desperate for their first tournament point and keen to spoil the narrative. Victory will guarantee progression; anything less drags calculators into play.

Unity amid off-field questions

Pre-tournament tension—most notably Mary Earps’ shock retirement and Millie Bright’s withdrawal—sparked whispers of unrest. Wednesday’s collective hunger dismissed those fears. From first whistle to last, communication and intensity were sky-high, underlining a harmonious camp driven by a shared objective: retaining the crown.

Opinion

Wiegman’s tweaks reminded everyone why she is regarded as the women’s game’s shrewdest operator. If this performance becomes the standard, backing against England retaining their European throne feels foolish.