When the half-time whistle blew in Brighton after 45 minutes, the eagerly awaited game between England and Norway had long been decided. The top game had degenerated into a completely one-sided affair, in which the Norwegians played only the pitiful role of extras.
Own record victory topped
The English team’s 8-0 victory is the highest ever at a women’s European Championship. The Lionesses also held the previous record. They beat Scotland 6-0 in the group stage at the 2017 finals in the Netherlands.
This time it was already 6:0 after the first half from the point of view of the hostesses. While the first goal was still controversial – Georgia Stanway converted a strictly whistled penalty – the English team then played themselves into a frenzy:
- 15 minutes, 2-0: Lauren Hemp only has to push in at the far post after a pass from Beth Mead. The goal is reviewed for offside but counts.
- 29 minutes, 3-0: Maria Thorisdottir dribbles as the last defender, loses the ball to Ellen White, who can go for goal on her own and scores.
- 34 minutes, 4: 0: At 2-0 it was Mead on Hemp, this time it’s the other way around: Mead heads a perfect cross from Hemp into the goal. Again, the left-back of the Norwegians is completely overwhelmed.
- 38 minutes, 5: 0: Mead again. This time, the Arsenal striker shines with a beautiful individual action, coming from the right again, circling three Norwegians like slalom poles and scoring her second goal of the evening.
- 41st minute, 6: 0: White also scores for the second time. Francesca Kirby crosses and shoots, but the City striker lurks at the far post and slides the ball in half a dozen into the net.
Quarter-final ticket in your pocket
After the break, the English took their foot off the gas a bit, but continued to dominate the action as they pleased. The Norwegians around star player Ana Hegerberg could hardly ever break free of the embrace. If the EM hosts had been as efficient as they were before the break, the win could well have been in double digits.
Alessia Russo (66th) and Mead (81st) with their 3rd goal of the evening ensured the record win – and that of all things at the home European Championship in front of 28,500 spectators in the sold-out Brighton & Hove Community Stadium. England is already in the quarter-finals before the last group game.
This is how it goes
At the end of Group A on Monday evening, the hosts meet the still pointless Northern Ireland, who already have no chance of the knockout phase. At the same time, Austria and Norway, both on 3 points, will play in a direct duel for the second quarter-final ticket in Group A.