England ran riot against Wales in their final Euro 2025 group stage match to ensure the Lionesses cruised into the quarter-finals with a 6-1 win.
The holders will play Sweden in a tough quarter-final next, but have landed on the kinder side of the draw by finishing the group stage as runners-up and they will avoid playing Spain until at least the final.
England were prepared for a “derby” against the tournament debutants Wales, who are the lowest-ranked team at the Euros, but Sarina Wiegman’s produced a professional performance to ease past their opponents with all of Beth Mead, Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp, Ella Toone, Georgia Stanway and Aggie Beever-Jones grabbing goals.
It capped an excellent recovery from the Lionesses after losing their opening game of the tournament to France, with a 4-0 win over the Netherlands and a 6-1 destruction of Wales setting up another push for the title.
“It probably was the best thing that could have happened to us as a team,” forward Mead said. “I think it motivated us. We're now in a position where we're building quite nicely and hopefully we can continue that momentum now into the quarterfinals.”
Follow all the reaction and analysis from England vs Wales at Women's Euro 2025 below:
England v Wales LIVE: Women's Euro 2025 latest updates
- England cruise into Euro 2025 quarter-finals with 6-1 win over Wales
- Lionesses will play Sweden in quarter-finals after finishing as runners-up
- But the holders will avoid Spain until at least the final if they advance
- United in grief, Ella Toone and Beth Mead form a special bond to shine at Euro 2025
Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson on England defeat
11:15
,
Jamie Braidwood
Rhian Wilkinson said Wales were “outplayed” by England and she was “outcoached” by Sarina Wiegman in the 6-1 defeat to the holders in St Gallen.
She told ITV: “It is a hard one. We know this was not our game and we were outplayed and I was outcoached. It's a moment when you know you will take a lot from it. I wouldn't want to stand with any other team. There is a gap between us and the top teams, and that's my job, to try and close that gap.
"Grow and learn, that is what we have got to do. I am glad we got the goal and we know we will put our heads down and continue working."
United in grief, Ella Toone and Beth Mead form a special bond to shine at Euro 2025
10:52
,
Jamie Braidwood
Ella Toone stopped and sent a kiss towards the sky. In moments such as scoring for your country at a major tournament, the most important people can become those who are not there. Toone is 25 and is already appearing at her third major tournament for England. But it’s also the first she has played in since the loss of her father Nick to prostate cancer last September. Another goal at Euro 2025 was dedicated to the memory of her most reliable supporter.
Her grief, though, has not disappeared. Every day is different and being away from home at a major tournament can present its own challenges. But when Toone is with England she can rely on the support and guidance of Beth Mead, who lost her mother June to ovarian cancer in January 2023 - just six months after winning the Euros. This is Mead’s first tournament since losing a parent, too, and the forward also pointed to the sky as she scored in England’s 6-1 win over Wales.
England look ahead to 'physical, direct' Sweden
10:30
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Jamie Braidwood
Georgia Stanway on England’s quarter-final against Sweden, who the Lionesses defeated 4-0 in the Euro 2022 semi-finals.
“We've got a lot of experience against them. Obviously they're tough, they're physical, they're more direct. I'm not sure we've faced that so far in our group, but we do have a lot of experience against them. We review this game and we've got a few days' rest and then we'll do what we can to put ourselves in the best possible position.
“It's tournament football. I think anything can happen in 90 minutes. I think we just need to continue where we've been. If we have the intensity that we had against the Netherlands, if we press the way that we pressed tonight, if we win the ball back as much as we did today. We can only control what we can do.”
Sarina Wiegman breaks record for Women's Euro victories
10:10
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Jamie Braidwood
Sarina Wiegman now has the most wins by any manager at the Women’s Euros. Victory over Wales was her 14th at the tournament as coach of Netherlands and England, overtaking ex-Germany boss Christina Theune-Meyer.
“First we recover from this and then we go again against Sweden in Zurich,” Wiegman said after the 6-1 win. “I’m very happy, as far as I know everyone came fit out of the game, now we have three days to recover.
“When you lose the first game there’s massive urgency to win the other two. [There’s been] a lot of learning with this team, and it brought us together.”
Beth Mead lauds ‘unbelievable’ Ella Toone as England progress at Euro 2025
09:30
,
Jamie Braidwood
England forward Beth Mead heaped praise on “unbelievable” team-mate Ella Toone after she helped propel the defending champions into the Euro 2025 quarter-finals with a goal and two assists in their 6-1 victory over Wales in St Gallen.
“I think Tooney is really coming into her own and sometimes in, you know, situations where you feel a little bit low, it brings you to the top of your game and I have completely felt that and done that before, been in a tough place and come back and I think you can see that she’s given that kind of aura, that type of energy and she deserves everything she’s getting right now because she has worked really hard for it.”
History-maker Jess Fishlock in no rush to make decision on Wales future
09:10
,
Jamie Braidwood
Wales’ most-capped player Jess Fishlock is not ready to make any decisions about her future after the major tournament debutants bowed out of Euro 2025 with a 6-1 loss to England in their final group stage encounter in St Gallen.
The 38-year-old stalwart became the first Welsh woman to score a goal at a major tournament in Wednesday night’s loss to France, and made more history in St Gallen on Sunday night with the nation’s first major-tournament assist, providing the excellent threaded pass for substitute Hannah Cain’s late consolation.
Fishlock has come full circle, having made her senior debut for Wales in host country Switzerland as a teenager in 2006 and arriving back here as her side’s all-time top goalscorer.
“I don’t know right now,” said Fishlock, asked about her future with Wales. “I think that’s a tough one. I need to take a little seat and have a little think, but no decisions are to be made.
“As of right now, I’m still a Welsh player.”
Beth Mead explains England’s ‘snapping’ celebration at Women’s Euro 2025
08:50
,
Jamie Braidwood
England’s Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones celebrated their goals against Wales by snapping their fingers in a show of appreciation towards those players who were left on the substitutes bench.
Mead and Beever-Jones came off the bench in the second half to score England’s fifth and sixth of the night against Wales and both celebrated by running towards the sidelines and clicking their fingers.
Afterwards Mead revealed that those left out of Sarina Wiegman’s starting line-up were “snapping” in an attempt to motivate each other before promising to celebrate that way if they came off the bench to score.
Ella Toone 'buzzing' for Alessia Russo after first goal
08:30
,
Jamie Braidwood
Ella Toone said she was buzzing for Alessia Russo after the England striker got off the mark at Euro 2025 in the 6-1 win against Wales.
Russo had goals disallowed against France and Netherlands, where she set up three in the 4-0, but she scored her first of the tournament last night.
“She really deserves that. She's been really good for us and probably not got the goals that she's wanted to,” Toone said.
“Her hard work doesn't go unnoticed for us as a team. She starts to press from the from the front. She holds the play up.
“She's created so many chances for us and it was nice to finally assist her and for her to get on the scoresheet and hopefully she can continue with the goals.”
'France defeat the best thing that could have happened'
08:18
,
Jamie Braidwood
England forward Beth Mead said the opening defeat to France at Euro 2025 was the best thing that could have happened to England in their title defence after recovering from that result to reach the quarter-finals.
Mead said the poor performance against France gave England motivation to improve and the Lionesses have built some momentum after going back to basics and winning impressively against the Netherlands and Wales.
“It didn’t seem it at the time, it probably was the best thing that could have happened to us as a team,” Mead said. “I think it motivated us. We had conversations, we figured things out that we maybe needed to.
“You don't win or lose a tournament in the first game, I think it's cliche to say it, but you don't, and we're now in a position where we're building quite nicely and hopefully we can continue that momentum now into the quarterfinals.”
Who and when do England play next? Route to Women’s Euro 2025 final
08:11
,
Jamie Braidwood
England have successfully reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2025 after recovering from their opening defeat to France to finish as runners-up in Group D.
The Lionesses faced the danger of an early elimination after their 2-1 defeat to France but bounced back to impressively defeat the Netherlands 4-0 a few days later.
A 6-1 victory over Wales secured England’s place in the knockout stages - even if a strong France team go through as Group D winners after avoiding defeat to the Netherlands and winning 5-2.
England now know their path to the Euro 2025 final in Basel, and the Lionesses have actually landed on the opposite side of the draw as world champions Spain and cannot play the tournament favourites until the final.
Why England were right to show no mercy in ruthless destruction of Wales at Euro 2025
08:10
,
Jamie Braidwood
For a Wales team who have brought so much passion, colour and pride to Euro 2025, this was no way to go home. As one, Wales stood in front of their Red Wall in St Gallen, and there is certainly no disgrace in losing to England, France and the Netherlands in what was their major tournament debut.
But England had to be ruthless, and a 6-1 win to finish the group stage sends a message. “Sweden should be scared,” said Ella Toone, and this performance showed why as Sarina Wiegman’s side returned to their destructive best with the biggest win of Euro 2025 so far.
England thrash Wales before an unspoken boost ignites Euro 2025 hopes
08:09
,
Miguel Delaney
England claim the biggest win of Euro 2025 so far, at 6-1, and yet the victory that might have been most significant for them on the night was perhaps in Basel. France’s 5-2 comeback against the Netherlands ensured Sarina Wiegman’s team finished second, to go into what looks like the more forgiving side of the draw.
Sweden will, of course, offer a very tough quarter-final - especially after their own statement display against Germany - but there’s no Spain there. It’s much less open. The cheers that greeted the announcement of second place said enough.
Wiegman won’t allow any of that kind of thinking, as England more than displayed in this ruthless win over Wales.
Euro 2025 schedule in full
Sunday 13 July 2025 23:50
,
Chris Wilson
Semi-final 1: Winner of Match 26 vs Winner of Match 25
Semi-final 2: Winner of Match 28 vs Winner of Match 27
Final: Sunday, 27 July at 5pm BST - Basel
Quarter-finals in full
Sunday 13 July 2025 23:40
,
Chris Wilson
(all matches kick off at 8pm BST)
Norway vs Italy – 16 July, Geneva
Sweden vs England – 17 July, Zurich
Spain vs Switzerland – 18 July, Bern
France vs Germany – 19 July, Basel
Fishlock speaks
Sunday 13 July 2025 23:30
,
Chris Wilson
Wales captain Jess Fishlock also spoke to ITV.
“It's disappointing with that scoreline and we have to just keep learning and move on now and in the next campaigns keep moving forwards and keep getting to major tournaments,” she says.
"This is the beginning of a journey for us and we have been here and played three of the best teams in the world and found how big that jump is. We have to keep investing and keep building to make sure this isn't just a one-off.
"We can still celebrate being here and what it means for this nation and then we have to keep getting better. For me, I don't know right now. I don't know.
"It is tough when you work so hard and you concede things you know are going to happen. It is hard sometimes to understand that in the game, and we have to get back to the drawing board. I am still really proud of this group,” she adds as she finishes.
Wilkinson reacts
Sunday 13 July 2025 23:20
,
Chris Wilson
Wales's goal difference of minus-11 is the worst in the history of the Women's Euros group stages.
Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson says that the country have to continue to “grow and learn”.
"It is a hard one. We know this was not our game and we were outplayed and I was outcoached. It's a moment when you know you will take a lot from it. I wouldn't want to stand with any other team. There is a gap between us and the top teams, and that's my job, to try and close that gap,” she says.
"I just want to thank the support. It was a tough game to stay loud and they did. We know we have got some work to do and this is not a team that is ready for tournament football too. I have got to be sharper too.
"Grow and learn, that is what we have got to do. I am glad we got the goal and we know we will put our heads down and continue working,” she adds as she finishes.
Who and when do England play next? Route to Women’s Euro 2025 final
Sunday 13 July 2025 23:10
,
Chris Wilson
England have successfully reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2025 after recovering from their opening defeat to France to finish as runners-up in Group D.
The Lionesses faced the danger of an early elimination after their 2-1 defeat to France but bounced back to impressively defeat the Netherlands 4-0 a few days later.
A 6-1 victory over Wales secured England’s place in the knockout stages - even if a strong France team go through as Group D winners after avoiding defeat to the Netherlands and winning 5-2.
England now know their path to the Euro 2025 final in Basel, and the Lionesses have actually landed on the opposite side of the draw as world champions Spain and cannot play the tournament favourites until the final.
Why were England awarded a penalty against Wales at Women’s Euro 2025?
Sunday 13 July 2025 23:00
,
Chris Wilson
England were awarded a controversial penalty in their Euro 2025 match against Wales as a foul on Georgia Stanway was ruled to have taken place inside the box.
Danish referee Frida Klarlund initially awarded a free-kick when Carrie Jones was ruled to have clipped Stanway close to the 18-yard line, with the England midfielder falling outside the area.
However, after a long delay, the VAR decided that the foul on Stanway took place inside the box and referee Klarlund pointed to the spot. Stanway kept her cool to fire England in front.
Wiegman: 'We go again'
Sunday 13 July 2025 22:25
,
Chris Wilson
Sarina Wiegman says that the thing that pleased her most was “that we won, that we scored 6 goals”.
“Big parts of the game we dominated. A very good game,” she says.
“Again, playing well is the most important. Who scores is not the most improtant, but it’s nice when she [Russo] gets a goal.”
She calls Sweden “a good team, very powerful, [with] speed on the counter. A hard team to beat, they’ve done really well in the group.”
“First we recover from this and then we go again against Sweden in Zurich.
“I’m very happy, as far as I know everyone came fit out of the game, now we have three days to recover,” she adds.
“When you lose the first game there’s massive urgency to win the other two. [There’s been] a lot of learning with this team, and it brought us together.”
Russo: 'It was so nice' to finally score
Sunday 13 July 2025 22:20
,
Chris Wilson
Russo says it was “so nice” to finally score, adding that “as long as we're winning” everything is good.
“But as a striker it felt good to score. We love it, there's nothing like playing for your country, we want to be here right to the end.
“One game at a time, we're feeling very positive, our reaction to that [the loss to France] has been very impressive, so we want to keep that up now."
Toone & Russo react
Sunday 13 July 2025 22:15
,
Chris Wilson
Ella Toone and Alessia Russo are first to react to the result, with the former saying England “were really good”.
“It's hard to play against a team in a low block, we tired them out.
“I was buzzing for Alessia, she's not been scoring as much as she wants, it's nice for her to get on the scoresheet,” she adds.
On the quarter-final, she says: “It'll be a difficult game, very good counter-attacking team, but we played really well, they should be scared.”
Up next
Sunday 13 July 2025 22:10
,
Chris Wilson
England finish in second in Group D, so they will play Sweden in the quarter-finals.
That match kicks off at 8pm BST on Thursday, 17 July.
If England beat Sweden, they will play Norway or Italy in Geneva on 22 July in the semi-finals.
FULL-TIME! England 6-1 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 22:05
,
Chris Wilson
So, that loss against France feels a long time ago now. Some things to address in defence for England but overall a very encouraging performance.
Some lovely combinations in attack and some great goals scored. The Lionesses are now in the opposite side of the draw to Spain, as it happens!
FULL-TIME! England 6-1 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 22:00
FULL-TIME! England 6-1 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:55
,
Chris Wilson
The referee blows the final whistle and England make their way into the quarter-finals via a dominant display against Wales.
England 6-1 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:54
,
Chris Wilson
90 +1 mins
What a save this is! It comes to Walsh on the edger of the box and she wraps her foot around it well, but Clark dives across to tip it over.
England 6-1 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:53
,
Chris Wilson
90 mins
Just two minutes of added time here.
GOAL! England 6-1 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:52
,
Chris Wilson
89 mins
GOAL! Aggie Beever-Jones gets on the scoresheet!
It’s another good goal, with Williamson knocking it long before Charles slips it to Mead and she gives a pinpoint cross to the chelsea striker, who produces an accomplished header to make it six!
England 5-1 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:48
86 mins
England are still knocking it around but it’s pretty pedestrian as the game comes to an end.
England 5-1 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:45
,
Chris Wilson
81 mins
Wales have burst of energy now and they win another corner, but it’s headed away.
England 5-1 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:42
79 mins
Subs for both sides as Lucy Bronze comes off for Niamh Charles.
Hughes replaces Morgan for Wales.
GOAL! England 5-1 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:39
,
Chris Wilson
77 mins
GOAL! The Welsh have one to take home.
It’s well-worked too, with fish lock picking up the ball in the centre circle before driving forward and sliding in a perfect through ball to Cain, who produces a great first-time finish into the roof of the net.
England 5-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:37
,
Chris Wilson
75 mins
The subs did look like they’d disturbed the Lionesses’ rhythm, but it was a well-worked fifth for Wiegman’s side.
They clearly want a sixth too, as it’s laid off to Kelly and she fizzes a shot wide on the half-volley.
GOAL! England 5-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:35
,
Chris Wilson
72 mins
GOAL! Another lovely goal for the Lionesses.
It’s brilliantly taken by Beth Mead, who takes the pass from Beever-Jones before cutting back outside and rifling in from inside the box.
England 4-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:30
67 mins
It hasn’t quite clicked in attack for England in this half despite some promising chances.
Sarina Wiegman looks quite irritated on the sidelines, actually.
France are now 4-2 up against the Netherlands! England will be qualifying in second place.
England 4-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:27
,
Chris Wilson
65 mins
Subs for Wales as Ladd and Cain come on for Rowe and Holland.
France have equalised and now gone ahead against the Dutch, putting themselves back top of the group.
England 4-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:27
,
Jack Rathborn
England 4-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:25
,
Chris Wilson
63 mins
Wales win a free-kick in a dangerous area as Mead fouls Green.
Holland delivers but Bronze blocks the header at goal.
England 4-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:22
,
Chris Wilson
60 mins
Beever-Jones slips it through to Stanway, who’s clean through, but she hits it right at Clark.
From the corner, Bronze heads it on at the near post but there’s nobody there to convert.
England 4-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:20
,
Chris Wilson
58 mins
Kelly’s first action is to clip in a free-kick, but it’s headed away.
England come again, but they’re patiently building rather than rushing through attacking patterns.
England 4-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:19
,
Chris Wilson
56 mins
More subs for England. Chloe Kelly comes on for James, while Russo makes way for Aggie Beever-Jones.
England 4-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:14
,
Chris Wilson
52 mins
Englands want a penalty as Williamson sees a shot blocked from a corner.
Moments later, Walsh facts in a great ball that Park gets to the end of. Clark saves it brilliantly onto the post and England can’t tap in!
There replay shows that it was never a penalty either.
England 4-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:12
,
Chris Wilson
49 mins
England begin the second half how they ended the first, with plenty of pressure, but no chances so far.
KICK-OFF! England 4-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:07
,
Chris Wilson
We’re back underway.
England have made two changes, with Ella Toone and Lauren Hemp coming off for Jess Park and Beth Mead.
HALF-TIME! England 4-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:05
,
Chris Wilson
England are top of the group as it stands, with France losing to the Netherlands 2-1 at half-time there.
It’s been a brilliant performance from the Lionesses so far in St Gallen.
Why were England awarded a penalty against Wales at Women’s Euro 2025?
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:00
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Chris Wilson
England were awarded a controversial penalty in their Euro 2025 match against Wales as a foul on Georgia Stanway was ruled to have taken place inside the box.
Danish referee Frida Klarlund initially awarded a free-kick when Carrie Jones was ruled to have clipped Stanway close to the 18-yard line, with the England midfielder falling outside the area.
However, after a long delay, the VAR decided that the foul on Stanway took place inside the box and referee Klarlund pointed to the spot. Stanway kept her cool to fire England in front.
HALF-TIME! England 4-0 Wales
Sunday 13 July 2025 20:55
,
Chris Wilson
