England v Netherlands live: Lionesses roar to huge win to stay alive at Women’s Euro 2025

Alessia Russo feels “the sky’s the limit” for England after the Lionesses rediscovered their “DNA” in an emphatic 4-0 group-stage victory over the Netherlands which kept alive their Women’s European Championship title defence.

“After the France game, we looked at ourselves a lot as individuals and how we can all be better and obviously within the team,” said player-of-the-match Russo, who contributed three assists.

“I think that going into this game we wanted to start with that, setting our own standards high on and off the ball and we definitely did that.

“I think when that’s our standard as a team, then the sky’s the limit.”

Sarina Wiegman admitted she was aware of the scrutiny England were under ahead of their must-win game against the Netherlands but was pleased with the manner the Lionesses came through such a test.

“Well, I found it hard too of course,” Wiegman said. “I always knew ahead of this tournament that it was a very hard group. It can happen but then you need to win the other games. So yes, I was excited but at the same time I felt a little tense too.

“I think that’s completely normal and you really want to stay in the tournament so you want to win. We also know the Netherlands are a good team. I just had to focus on my job, review well and think about how we could bring people together.”

“I think the players reflect really well on themselves and then on the team. We always review games, even when games go really well, there is always things that don’t go well. We don’t make it a disaster. France was not nice but it’s one game and you want to do better the next game.

“I think it’s really important that you come together, you have conversations together because it’s a team sport and I think that’s what the team does really well and have done against over the last three days.”

“It was unreal. She did another one in the second half through to me which was great. That set the tone for that, obviously as soon as I saw that ball coming in I knew I didn’t even have to touch it and I could turn and obviously when LJ [Lauren James] is in that area, I’m going to give her the ball because she creates something out of nothing. The first finish, it definitely set the tone and showed we have different varieties of attack as well, so it was great to have that in the build-up.”

Jess Carter provides some insight into England’s defensive change against the Netherlands after being asked to swap with Alex Greenwood and play at centre-back.

“I don’t know why it came about, I turned up to training and that’s when Sarina [Wiegman] put me and swapped Alex [Greenwood].

“Obviously, we analyse in training and that’s what we worked on. I’m not one to question and ask for a reason, I just do the job I’m asked to do.

“Me and Alex didn’t feel connected in the France game and this game felt the total opposite with her and the whole team. Alex was phenomenal at left back.”

Sarina Wiegman called Lauren James a “special player” while speaking with the BBC after her two goals against the Netherlands tonight.

“You saw good, I think she can do even better. Of course, she has been out for a while but she is really back on it and that looked really good,” Wiegman said.

“She’s a special player and that’s what you see, and the team supports her and she supports the team and it’s really nice she plays to her strengths because she can change games.”

And here’s that second from Georgia Stanway!

A replay of Lauren James’ brilliant first goal this evening!

The business end of the Euro 2025 group stage has quickly rolled around with many teams already at the risk of elimination and others close to booking their place in the quarter-finals.

The Lionesses could have become the first European champions to be eliminated from the group stage of the Women’s Euro but they instead thrashed the Netherlands to keep their title defence alive.

It puts the defending champions in a great position to reach the quarter-finals if they beat Wales, who face France this evening.

England thrashed the Netherlands to keep their Euro 2025 campaign alive as the holders responded to the threat of elimination with a superb performance.

The Lionesses could have become the first European champions to be eliminated from the group stage had they followed their 2-1 loss to France with another defeat.

But Sarina Wiegman’s side thrived under the pressure of a knockout game, with two goals from Lauren James firing England to a huge win over a strong Dutch team.