England’s Lionesses have emphatically secured their spot in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 quarter-finals, delivering a dominant 6-1 thrashing to rivals Wales in their final Group D match. The reigning champions put on a scintillating display, particularly in the first half, to ensure their progression in the tournament.
A First-Half Barrage Sets the Tone
Sarina Wiegman’s side, who had bounced back strongly from an opening-day defeat to France with a 4-0 victory over the Netherlands, showed no signs of slowing down against their Welsh counterparts. England raced into a commanding 4-0 lead by halftime, effectively ending the contest early.
The scoring began in the 13th minute when Georgia Stanway calmly converted a penalty after being tripped in the box. Just eight minutes later, Ella Toone doubled England’s lead, pouncing on a rebound to fire home. The Lionesses continued to press, and Lauren Hemp added a third with a powerful header in the 30th minute. Before the break, Alessia Russo notched her first goal of the tournament, slotting home from close range after a sublime pass.
Second-Half Control and a Welsh Consolation
With a comfortable lead, England maintained their control in the second half, though Wales showed resilience to grab a consolation goal. Substitutes made an immediate impact for the Lionesses, with Beth Mead, the Euro 2022 Player of the Tournament, finding the back of the net in the 72nd minute with a superb individual effort.
Wales, making their major tournament debut, finally got on the scoreboard in the 76th minute through Hannah Cain, who finished brilliantly after a storming run and assist from Jess Fishlock. However, England had the final say, as Aggie Beever-Jones headed home in the 89th minute to complete the 6-1 rout.
Qualification Secured and Eyes on Sweden
The comprehensive victory sees England finish second in Group D, behind France, who also secured qualification after beating the Netherlands 5-2. Wales, unfortunately, exit the tournament having finished bottom of the group.
The Lionesses will now face Sweden in the quarter-finals in Zurich on Thursday, July 17. The two sides have a recent history of closely contested matches, including two draws in the Euro qualifying stages, and a memorable 4-0 semi-final victory for England in Euro 2022. England will be looking to continue their momentum and make a strong push towards defending their European title.