Defending champions England reignited their UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 campaign in emphatic style with a commanding 4-0 victory over the Netherlands in Zurich, with Georgia Stanway declaring: “We’re back to being proper England.”
The Lionesses, under pressure following a disappointing 2-1 defeat to France in their Group D opener, responded with a ruthless performance. Stanway opened the scoring, before Lauren James netted twice and Ella Toone added a fourth to cap a dominant display.
“It feels like we’re back to being ourselves,” said Stanway, who described the France loss as “a bad night out.” Her goal—England’s second—deflected in, but she was just relieved to help settle the nerves: “Once we got to 3-0, we could relax a little. If they got one back, you never know what might happen.”
James: “We Showed What We Can Do”
Lauren James, who was electric throughout, said the team were determined to respond: “We bounced back from our previous game and today we showed we’re more than capable. The goals say it all.”
James now has three goals in two games at the tournament so far and is relishing her role in the squad. “Whether I’m scoring or providing, I just want to help the team.”
Wiegman: “An Incredible Response”
Head coach Sarina Wiegman praised her side’s unity and execution. “The response after the France game was fantastic—how we regrouped, looked each other in the eye, and executed the game plan. I’m proud of the team.”
While admitting she hadn’t expected such a comprehensive scoreline, Wiegman acknowledged the significance of the result: “Goal difference could be crucial in this group. This puts us in a great position heading into the Wales game.”
Bronze: “That Performance Can Beat Any Team”
England defender Lucy Bronze also hit back at criticism following the France defeat. “There was a lot of noise—some of it overly negative. We knew we didn’t play well, but France are a great side.”
She added: “When everything clicks, we can beat any team. Today showed what we’re capable of when we stick together.”
Williamson: “One of the Highest Pressure Games We’ve Played”
Captain Leah Williamson said the match was one of the toughest emotional tests the squad has faced. “This was probably one of the highest-pressure games we’ve played. Our place in the tournament was on the line, and we played like it.”
She emphasised the importance of unity within the group: “We’re a tight-knit team. The other night, we felt a bit alone, but today we came together. That made all the difference.”