Ruthless England click into gear to secure quarter-final spot

With its 20,000 seater stadium, St. Gallen felt like the perfect venue for this Euros match between England and Wales. An opportunity for two enthusiastic groups of supporters with enough needle between each other to take over a town seemingly emptied of its inhabitants. There was even a joint human pyramid on the grass outside the abbey.

This match was billed before kick off as the opportunity for Wales to spoil England’s party. Given they were all but out of the tournament at this point, there was plenty to be said for having a chance at foiling England’s hopes of making the knock out stages of the tournament. Unfortunately for them however, their opponent dashed any dreams with ruthless efficiency.

A freekick given on the edge of the area was turned into a penalty by VAR after 12 minutes and once Georgia Stanway had converted that England were flying. Goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo meant they were 4-0 up by half time and eyes could turn to France’s match against the Netherlands which was taking place simultaneously in Basel.

Within two matches, England had gone from fearing going out in the group stages to being even more petrified of winning their group. Sweden’s victory over Germany the night before meant that they looked like they would be England’s quarter-final opponents, followed by a potential semi-final against Italy or Norway – but only if they finished second in the group. The other path would see them heading into the half of the draw that included Spain and Germany, which was far less appetising.

France were trailing 2-1 to a much changed and seemingly reinvigorated Netherlands side with sixty minutes gone, but fortunately for England’s hopes, three goals in six minutes from Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Delphine Cascarino meant they could breathe a sigh of relief. It would be Sweden in the quarter-finals for them, a rematch of the Euro 2022 semi-final which they won 4-0.

The arrangement of the group stage matches for England was always going to be a challenge given they were expected to go from toughest to easiest. Yet from their current vantage point, it appears to have played into their hands well. An early wake up call in the match against France was responded to in style against the Netherlands and Wales. The intensity that they played the first half with meant they could take Lauren Hemp and Ella Toone off at half-time. Lauren James and Alessia Russo followed them off the pitch soon after.

The substitutes who came on also got to make their mark with Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones both scoring to make it 6-1. Beever-Jones now has six goals in her ten England caps, and whilst she has been used sparingly by Wiegman so far, could still be a very effective option off the bench in the latter stages.

It has been reminiscent in some ways of Euro 2022, where there was a slow start before they blew the other teams in their group away. There are still question marks about this team, but not ones that are significantly bigger than any of the seven other quarter-finalists.

Perhaps the biggest fear from here will be that this draw once again ratchets up the pressure on them. Sweden have impressed so far but looked defensively disorganised until Carlotta Wamser was sent off when they played Germany. England will be favourites going into that quarter-final and favourites again if they make it to the semi-final. Losing to France has opened up a lot of the draw for them, and it is an opportunity they will know they should take.

Wales’s Euros did come to an official end but the loudest cheer of the night was reserved for Hannah Cain, who pulled a goal back, their second of the tournament. Following the final whistle, Jess Fishlock walked over to the Wales fans making a heart with her hands. Together the whole squad held hands and skipped towards the Red Wall. This whole experience was always about so much more than the actual games they played, and there is no doubt of the impact this group of players has had on women’s football in Wales.

But at the end of it all, it was Sweet Caroline that was ringing out around the stadium in St. Gallen. England will hope they get a few more moments like that this month.

Photograph by Nick Potts/PA Wire