What an appearance of the defending champion: England has no problems in the sister duel at the women’s European Championships in Switzerland and literally plays Wales on the wall, especially in the first round. In the end there is a never endangered 6: 1 (4: 0) victory. England thus meets Sweden in the round of the top eight. For Wales, the European Championship premiere ends after a pointless preliminary round.
England appeared in the first round in front of 15,250 spectators in St. Gallen like an absolute top favorite – even if Wales is far from the quality of the other group opponents. The Sarina Wiegman team played highly concentrated, made hardly any mistakes and did not let the opponent develop at all.
Four of the numerous options in half one were converted into goals – four different goal scorers: Georgia Stanway (13./Fe), Ella Toone (21st), Lauren Hemp (30th) and Alessia Russo (44.) were successful. In the second section, Beth Mead added the fifth goal (72nd) before Wales was allowed to cheer again thanks to Hannah Cain (76.). Agnes Beever-Jones set the end of the regular season.
“It was a real death group. I am glad that after the first game we were able to implement what we had to do. Now it is going against Sweden. We know them well, they are a top team. They play physically and directly, that will be new challenges for us”said Bayern-München player Stanway in the Sportschau interview after the game.
First shot, first goal for England
It was clear to England: a victory and you could save all the computing games. Wales, on the other hand, only had a minimal chance of progressing, if England had to beat four or more goals, while the Netherlands had to lose against France. Accordingly, there were no major experiments on the English side. The eleven players, who also started 4: 0 against the Netherlands, again formed the starting line -up. At Wales, trainer Rhian Wilkinson exchanged two positions and let Rhiannon Roberts begin in central defense and Carrie Jones in central midfield.
England tried to spread the game in the initial phase. Again and again it went over the wings, flanks were the preferred means to get in front of the goal of the Welsh. But they were good and did not allow a degree. And so it was a little unhappy from the underdog that the first shot of the “Lionesses“After a foul from Jones to Georgia Stanway on the penalty area, referee Frida Klarlund from Denmark initially decided on free kick, but after the Var had had the objection, the foul was correct.
Despite the lead, the defending champion did not give up and used the next mistake from Wales ice cold again. The second new player in Wilkinson’s contingent also failed. Roberts shot Stanway, from the baseline, Russo put in the middle, where toone made the margin 2-0 after her first attempt could still be blocked (21).
England’s Ella Toone (m.) Stretches his hands towards the sky when cheers and thus commemorates her late father.
England doesn’t let go
Only briefly, the English women then let their opponents sniff off the offensive air. A shot from Jones after 27 minutes was the first chance for Wales. But for a long time, the hopes of more game shares for a moment did not last, because England made the third goal without humor. A flank from Toone headed Hemp on the long post on the box, Clark steered the ball unhappily into the goal (30th).
Anyone who believed that the Wiegman team would turn back a gear were deceived. England had over 70 percent possession of the ball in the first round, in the few bad passes (pass rate: 90 percent) was annoyed. As if you have to add more. And although they didn’t have to, they did it shortly before the break. After another strong combination on the right side, toone fits the five -meter space, where Russo could insert without resistance (44.).
England plays confidently
After a few minutes of the second half, England almost cheered again. Substitute Jessica Park tried it from five meters, but Clark was able to attempt the post (52nd). England remained decisive, although the team no longer developed as much pressure and also not created as many opportunities as in round one.
But after 72 minutes, the substitute Mead was still entering the list of goal scorers. In the penalty area, she let an opponent slide into the emptiness and sank from a central position right into the corner.
Four minutes later, the beaten outsider was also allowed to cheer with his fans. Jessica Fishlock, who had scored the first goal of her country against France at an EM finals, first showed a great solo run and then staged team player Cain, who hammered the ball into the mesh from full run. It was at least a conciliatory conclusion for Wales, even if England made half a dozen full thanks to a header hit by Beever-Jones.