England bounce back to beat Netherlands, Sweden reach Euro quarters

Lauren James made sure England avoided a major scare at Women’s Euro 2025 with a brace in Wednesday’s 4-0 thumping of the Netherlands which kick-started the Lionesses' title defence.

- 

Chelsea star James opened the scoring with a rocket of a shot in the 22nd minute and added a third on the hour mark to cap a superb individual performance at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, where England started the game at risk of elimination.

Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone scored the other goals as England swept the Dutch aside in Zurich and moved level on three points with the Oranje and France, who face bottom team Wales later, in Group D.

France will go top as long as they don't suffer a shock defeat to Wales but qualification for the last eight will now go to the final round of fixtures on Sunday.

That will suit England as Sarina Wiegman’s team face Wales with the wind in their sails while France and the Netherlands face off in Basel with their tournament lives on the line.

James' hugely impressive performance, this time on the right flank, against the meek Dutch came in just her second appearance in a competitive fixture since suffering a hamstring injury in April.