England thrashed the Netherlands to keep their Euro 2025 campaign alive as the holders responded to the threat of elimination with a superb performance in Zurich.
The Lionesses could have become the first European champions to be eliminated from the group stage of the Women’s Euros had they followed their hugely disappointing 2-1 loss to France with another defeat.
But Sarina Wiegman’s side appeared to thrive under the pressure of a knockout game and bounced back in style, with two goals from Lauren James firing England to a huge win over a strong Dutch team.
Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone scored the other goals in a much improved team performance from England, which puts the defending champions in a great position to reach the quarter-finals if they beat Wales on Sunday.
England will likely still need to beat Wales, are all-but out of the Euros after a 4-1 defeat to France later this evening. Follow all the reaction from England’s big win over the Netherlands, below
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England v Netherlands LIVE: Women's Euro 2025 latest updates
- FULL TIME! Lionesses roar to huge win to stay alive at Women’s Euro 2025
- 66' GOAL! Toone fires fourth to put England in dreamland [ENG 4-0 NED]
- 60' GOAL! James scores her second to put England on course for win [ENG 3-0 NED]
- 45' GOAL! Stanway cracker doubles England's lead just before HT [ENG 2-0 NED]
- 22' GOAL! James smashes shot into top corner to give England lead [ENG 1-0 NED]
- FULL TIME! Wales on the brink of Women’s Euro 2025 exit despite landmark goal
Wales on the brink of Women’s Euro 2025 exit despite landmark goal
23:13
,
Jamie Braidwood
Rhian Wilkinson’s side were put to the sword by Les Bleus in St Gallen, despite Jess Fishlock scoring her country’s first-ever goal at a major tournament.
Clara Mateo, Kadidiatou Diani, Amel Majri and Grace Geyoro bagged for France to leave Wales needing to beat England and manufacture a nine-goal swing in goal difference in Sunday’s final match.
Even if they can achieve that unlikely feat, they also need France to beat the Netherlands.
The key England switch that sparked a turning point at Women’s Euro 2025
21:42
,
Miguel Delaney
This was what Georgia Stanway meant by “proper England”. This is why the squad keep saying those two words, as even Sarina Wiegman revealed after the game.
It isn’t necessarily a description, or any kind of old-fashioned appeal to the past. It’s a mantra, a standard. It’s about high intensity, not letting levels drop, and making sure the opposition feel the burn right until the very end of a game.
That was certainly true of the Netherlands, in a 4-0 defeat that might indeed prove a proper turning point in this entire Euro 2025 campaign. The defending champions have finally arrived, securing the tournament’s biggest win in any match that doesn’t feature Spain. That it was against a team as fancied as the Dutch, and with all of the storylines that were supposed to give this fixture such an edge, makes it all the more admirable.
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.
21:21
,
Jamie Braidwood
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 felt tension before England's big win over Netherlands
21:06
,
Jamie Braidwood
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.”
Sarina Wiegman explains England's ability to 'bounce back'
20:51
,
Jamie Braidwood
“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.”
Alessia Russo praises Hannah Hamtpon for role in first goal
20:36
,
Jamie Braidwood
“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: Our defence today was the total opposite of France game
20:23
,
Jamie Braidwood
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."
Lauren James a 'special player', says Sarina Wiegman
20:10
,
Jamie Braidwood
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."
Watch: Stanway nets second
19:55
,
Chris Wilson
And here’s that second from Georgia Stanway!
Georgia Stanway, what a hit! #WEuro2025 pic.twitter.com/owBxMJ51n3
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 9, 2025
Watch: James' stunning opener
19:50
,
Chris Wilson
A replay of Lauren James’ brilliant first goal this evening!
Lauren James, what a goal! #BBCFootball #WEuro2025 pic.twitter.com/vTojbB882M
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 9, 2025
What do England need to qualify? Women’s Euro 2025 group permutations explained
19:40
,
Chris Wilson
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.
Holders England were one of those teams facing early jeopardy after the Lionesses fell to a 2-1 defeat to France in Group D and their clash against Netherlands on Wednesday was described as “must-win”.
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.
The three changes Sarina Wiegman made to rescue England’s Women’s Euro 2025 campaign
19:30
,
Chris Wilson
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.
Next up
19:20
,
Chris Wilson
England’s next game – the final match of the group stages – comes against Wales on Sunday, 13 July.
That one takes place at the Kybunpark in St Gallen, with kick-off at 8pm BST.
The Netherlands will face France in their final game of the groups. That takes place at the same time, at the St. Jakob-Park in Basel.
Wiegman reacts
19:15
,
Chris Wilson
Sarina Wiegman says she is happiest with “the response of the team after the France game”.
“How we came together, how we played, and of course I’m very happy with the score, because goal difference can make the difference. But how we came together, and execution of the gameplan, that really helped.
“I’m really proud of the team, this is an incredible response.
“I wouldn’t expect 4-0. First of all you want to win and you have to, and if you can win by more than two goals then you’re almost in the best positon going into the Wales game.
“It did look like a more balanced team but also you play a different opponent. I think the France game and this are hard to compare, but today it looked like a balanced team.
Stanway & James react
19:10
,
Chris Wilson
Speaking to BBC, Lauren James says she enjoyed the game a lot
“The goals say it all. We bounced back, today we showed that we’re more than capaable of showing the world what we can do,” she said.
Stanway says she is “happy to have made it 2-0”.
“Once we got to three that’s when we could settle. This is about showing who we are, we fought from the very first minute to the very last. LJ [James] set the tone and we followed.
“If LJ is confident then that is what we want, but evetybody else has to do their job in order for LJ to be able to do her’s,” she adds.
James adds that she’s happy “as long as I’m helping the team in any way, whether providing or scoring”.
“I keep doing my best each game. Hopefully as the games go on I get more involved,” she adds as she finishes.
How the table looks
19:06
,
Chris Wilson
That result puts England top of Group D, with three points and a goal difference of +3.
The Netherlands are now in third, having sat top at kick-off, with three points and a goal difference of -1.
France could well go top tonight of course, with their game against Wales to come at 8pm BST.
1. England – 3pts, GD +3
2. France – 3pts, GD +1
3. Netherlands – 3pts, GD -1
4. Wales – 0pts, GD -3
FULL-TIME! England 4-0 Netherlands
19:01
,
Chris Wilson
FULL-TIME! England 4-0 Netherlands
18:56
,
Chris Wilson
England will indeed go through to the knockouts if they can secure a win against Wales on Sunday.
FULL-TIME! England 4-0 Netherlands
18:53
,
Chris Wilson
The referee blows the final whistle and England have a dominant win in Zurich!
A superb performance all-round from the Lionesses, and a win in their final group game should see them through.
England 4-0 Netherlands
18:52
,
Chris Wilson
90 +2 mins: Lots of back-and-forth in possession as England seem determined to keep this clean sheet now rather than go for a fifth.
Jess Carter is down after a solid challenge, but she’s okay to carry on.
England 4-0 Netherlands
18:50
,
Chris Wilson
90 mins: It’s all petering out now as England close in on a superb win.
There’ll be three minutes of added time in Zurich.
England 4-0 Netherlands
18:47
,
Chris Wilson
88 mins: It’s England creating the openings despite their lead, with Beever-Jones the latest to get into the box, but the Chelsea striker overhits the cross.
England 4-0 Netherlands
18:45
,
Chris Wilson
86 mins: A sub for the Dutch now, with Egurrola replacing Groenen.
England 4-0 Netherlands
18:43
,
Chris Wilson
83 mins: Subs coming, and no goal for Alessia Russo today.
Aggie Beever-Jones and Niamh Charles replace Russo and Bronze.
England 4-0 Netherlands
18:42
,
Chris Wilson
81 mins: CLOSE!
Another intricate move as Mead lays it back to Bronze, who sees Walsh making the overlapping run.
She slides it in and Walsh fires the ball in, but Russo can only direct her snap shot straight at van Domselaar.
England 4-0 Netherlands
18:39
78 mins: The Dutch are still trying to make something happen in attack, though England are fairly content just to sit back and let them have the ball at the moment.
Spitse fires in the corner but it’s headed away, before she forces Hampton into a straightforward save.
England 4-0 Netherlands
18:35
74 mins: The Netherlands get forward but it’s a wasteful ball into the box. Not troubling England, that.
Wiegman makes changes as Toone and Hemp making way for Grace Clinton and Beth Mead.
England 4-0 Netherlands
18:31
,
Chris Wilson
71 mins: The Dutch are really struggling out there at the moment, with England still keeping up the pressure.
England 4-0 Netherlands
18:28
,
Chris Wilson
69 mins: A change for England now, as James is replaced by Chloe Kelly.
GOAL! England 4-0 Netherlands
18:27
,
Chris Wilson
67 mins: GOAL! It’s turning into a rout!
Russo latches onto a long ball and holds it up in the box before laying it off to Toone.
The Man Utd midfielder works the space for a shot and squeezes a low effort past van Domselaar, who looks like she saw it late.
England 3-0 Netherlands
18:25
,
Chris Wilson
64 mins: Really seems like this game is over as a contest, as the Dutch make some changes.
Miedema comes off for Danielle van de Donk.
England 3-0 Netherlands
18:21
,
Chris Wilson
60 mins: GOAL! It’s a third!
Simple stuff again but perfectly executed.
Hampton’s long all forward finds Hemp, who skips past the challenge and cuts it back into the box. It comes to Toone, who looks certain to score but sees her effort blocked.
It’s deflected into the path of James though, and she makes no mistake, passing it low into the corner for 3-0!
England 2-0 Netherlands
18:19
,
Chris Wilson
58 mins: Maybe the best chance of the game so far for the Dutch, as the diagonal ball is played in to Grant at the far post, but she can only fire the cross right across the mouth of goal!
England 2-0 Netherlands
18:17
56 mins: Bronze concedes a cheap corner but Greenwood heads the cross away. Resolute defending from England still.
England 2-0 Netherlands
18:14
,
Chris Wilson
54 mins: Some superb dribbling from Lauren James there to keep England in possession.
The Lionesses have started the half just as well as they ended the first one.
The Dutch do win a corner though, as Carter blocks the shot from range.
OFFSIDE GOAL! England 2-0 Netherlands
18:11
,
Chris Wilson
51 mins: OFFSIDE!
Russo has the ball in the net but it’s ruled out!
Hemp wins a corner after Casperij blocks the cross. Greenwood swings it in and it’s cleared, but England keep possession and Toone sees a cross cleared before Greenwood plays a lovely diagonal ball that Russo bundles in.
However, Williamson had been offside when Toone’s cross came in earlier.
England 2-0 Netherlands
18:07
,
Chris Wilson
48 mins: An early free-kick for the Dutch after James is penalised.
The set-piece comes in from Kaptein on the left, but Hampton takes it well.
England 2-0 Netherlands
18:07
,
Jamie Braidwood
The Netherlands have completely changed it up at half-time, making a triple change. Lineth Beerensteyn has gone to play up front with Vivianne Miedema, it what appears to be a 4-2-4 from the Netherlands.
KICK-OFF! England 2-0 Netherlands
18:05
,
Chris Wilson
Back underway in Zurich!
The Netherlands make three changes, with Foord, Brugts and Buurman coming off for Beerensteyn, Dijkstra and Spitse.
HALF-TIME! England 2-0 Netherlands
18:03
,
Chris Wilson
Players back out onto the pitch, so the second half is imminent.
HALF-TIME! England 2-0 Netherlands
18:01
,
Chris Wilson
A brilliant half from England, so the question now is can they keep it up?
They’ve completely nullified the Dutch attacking threat while piling on plenty of attacking pressure and creating some promising openings, with both goals coming from brilliant finishes.
Jill Scott looks delighted on the sidelines, calling it a “really good performance”.
HALF-TIME! England 2-0 Netherlands
17:56
,
Chris Wilson
HALF TIME! England 2-0 Netherlands
17:52
,
Jamie Braidwood
England’s substitutes all lined up on the touchline to applaud that performance as the Lionesses made their way off the pitch at half-time.
When they needed a performance, they turned up. The holders have been so much sharper and hungrier in midfield than the Netherlands.
And they’ve carried threat.
HALF-TIME! England 2-0 Netherlands
17:49
,
Chris Wilson
45 +4 mins: HALF-TIME!
What an end to the half for the Lionesses!
It was a dominant perfjoamcne and it’s nothing less than they deserve, with Sarina Wingman’s side heading into the break with a two-goal cushion.
GOAL! England 2-0 Netherlands
17:48
,
Chris Wilson
45 +2 mins: GOAL! The Lionesses have another!
It’s so simple too, as a long ball forward is headed back to Russo. She can’t get it under control but does poke it to Stanway, who rifles a first shot time that takes a slight deflection before nestling in the bottom corner!
England 1-0 Netherlands
17:46
,
Chris Wilson
45 mins: A promising counter as Hemp feeds James, but she sees her shot blocked.
We’ll have three minutes of added time in Zurich.
England 1-0 Netherlands
17:44
,
Chris Wilson
43 mins: Toone does well to win a free-kick and Greenwood’s ball in is dangerous, though Stanway sees her shot deflected to van Domselaar.
England 1-0 Netherlands
17:43
,
Chris Wilson
41 mins: Chance after chance for England, but can they extend their lead before half-time?
James is at the centre of it again, clipping in a ball that Russo heads narrowly wide of the target.
England 1-0 Netherlands
17:42
,
Chris Wilson
40 mins: Greenwood swings in the corner but it comes back to her. She lays it off to James, who curls in another early cross, but Hemp can’t make anything of the header.
England 1-0 Netherlands
17:39
,
Chris Wilson
38 mins: Another half-chance for the Lionesses, with the cross coming in and Russo glancing a header goalwards, but van Domselaar gets down well to make the save.
England 1-0 Netherlands
17:37
36 mins: CLOSE!
Another great chance for England as James and Walsh put together a lovely combination on the edge of the box before the cross is fired in.
Hemp is there to try and head in, but she’s under pressure and can only direct her effort onto the top of the net.
England 1-0 Netherlands
17:36
,
Chris Wilson
34 mins: The Netherlands have settled somewhat in possession now but they’re still finding it difficult to create anything of note.
England’s defence has been impressive so far, with the move to put Jess Carter at centre-back and Alex Greenwood at left- back working well so far.
England 1-0 Netherlands
17:32
,
Chris Wilson
30 mins: Sarina Wiegman will be delighted with some of the attacking combinations that she’s seen so far, with the latest resulting in a throw near the Dutch area.
James gets the cross in but it doesn’t quite drop for Russo in a congested penalty box.
England 1-0 Netherlands
17:29
,
Chris Wilson
28 mins: Half a chance for the Lionesses after a lovely exchange on the edge of the box involving Walsh, but Russo can’t get the cross away in the area.
England 1-0 Netherlands
17:27
25 mins: Nothing less than England deserved, and it was a superb finish from James.
The Netherlands do mount an attack but there’s little space between England bodies in the box, and Roord eventually fires well over.
England 1-0 Netherlands
17:27
,
Jamie Braidwood
23 mins: That’s why Hannah Hampton is England No 1 ahead of Mary Earps. A brilliant pass from the goalkeeper, who played as an outfielder until she was 14 and grew up in Spain. A fantastic pass through to Alessia Russo. Sarina Wiegman did say there would be space behind the Netherlands defence...
GOAL! England 1-0 Netherlands
17:24
,
Chris Wilson
22 mins: GOAL! England are ahead!
It all comes from a superb drilled pass from Hampton, who finds Russo with a long ball. The Arsenal forward races onto the ball before laying it off to James near the edge of the box.
The Chelsea forward skips past a challenge and into the area, cutting outside before lashing in a brilliant finish high into the net for 1-0!
England 0-0 Netherlands
17:22
,
Chris Wilson
21 mins: Well played from Hampton, who is quick off her line to smother a long pass.
England 0-0 Netherlands
17:21
20 mins: A few crosses from the right have been collected too easily by van Domselaar, though there’s little to concern Wiegman now as England get into their groove in attack.
There’s a brief break in play as James is down, but she’s fine to carry on.
England 0-0 Netherlands
