England vs Netherlands LIVE: Result, final score and reaction from Euro 2022 warm-up as Lionesses run rampant
England 5-1 Netherlands: Follow reaction from Elland Road as the Lionesses continue Euro 2022 preparations in style
A dominant second-half display from England secured a thumping 5-1 victory over the Netherlands in their latest Euro 2022 warm-up match at Elland Road.
England coach Sarina Wiegman led the Dutch to the European title in 2017 and watched as her former side took the lead through prolific midfielder Lieke Martens.
Lucy Bronze, soon to be a teammate of Martens at Barcelona, equalised for the Lionesses, before they pulled away after the break with further goals from Beth Mead (two), Ella Toone and Lauren Hemp providing an emphatic win.
It might have been different had Dutch midfielder Sherida Spitse, winning her 200th cap, not missed a penalty when she struck the post with the scores level. England went up the other end of the pitch and Mead gave them the lead 54 seconds later and they never looked back.
Follow all the reaction from Elland Road as England thump the Netherlands:
Wiegman on Ellen White
Sarina Wiegman gave an update on Ellen White after the striker tested positive for Covid-19. She said: “Ellen isn’t available but everyone else is. We are still to train today but hopefully everyone will still be available.” She continued: “Ellen is doing ok. Of course, she wants to be here and we want her here too but she needs time and hopefully she will get her negative result again soon. “Yes, it is always the case [that other players have an opportunity when someone is out] so we had our plans and we are trying to move forward with our plans and strategies. “Now, we don’t have the opportunity to play Ellen and that will give chances to other players, so we will see tomorrow.”
England to wear new away kit
Rather bizarrely England will wear their new Euro 2022 away kit tonight which is orange - the same colour as the Netherlands’ home kit.
The visitors meanwhile will wear white - the same colour of England’s home kit.
Adding to the parallels is the fact that England are coached by a Dutchwoman and the Netherlands coached by an Englishman.
Netherlands ‘not ready’ to win Euros
Netherlands head coach, Mark Parsons - who hails from England originally - says that his team are not yet ready to win the Euros but that tonight’s fixture will give him a good idea where his team are at ahead of the tournament starting in July.
“The England game is going to be key because you don’t really know where you are until you play top teams,” he adds.
“We will not be ready at the beginning of this tournament to win it. But the idea is we don’t have to be ready to win it at the beginning, we just have to be good enough to beat Sweden and Portugal and Switzerland.
“Now is that possible? Absolutely. We need to be ready by the last game. We have got to get there and we are going to need to grow through the tournament, need to win games we should win and win games maybe we shouldn’t, and that is what top teams do.”
England’s Fran Kirby relieved to prove her fitness in time for Euro 2022
Fran Kirby admits she had to block out any fear of missing out on the Euros – after winning her fitness race for England.
The Chelsea forward has been included in the Lionesses squad for next month’s home tournament despite not playing for the Blues since February.
She struggled with extreme fatigue and had an oxygen tent installed at her home to aid her recovery to ultimately seal a place in Sarina Wiegman’s squad.
England’s Fran Kirby relieved to prove her fitness in time for Euro 2022
The Chelsea forward struggles with a fatigue issue which left her place in doubt
Miedema starts on the bench
Vivianne Miedema has netted 21 goals in her last 13 games for the Netherlands, including seven in her last two – largely courtesy of a double hat-trick against Cyprus in April.
But, she’s picked up a knock before the match and will start from the bench this evening.
White misses tonight’s game
Ellen White has scored 14 goals in her last 13 starts for England in all competitions, netting a brace on four different occasions within this run (three vs Northern Ireland, two vs North Macedonia, two vs Luxembourg and three vs Latvia).
But, the striker has tested positive for Covid-19 and will play no part in tonight’s fixture.
‘Many countries are favourites:’ England manager Sarina Wiegman believes Euro 2022 is wide open
England head coach Sarina Wiegman insists next month’s Euro 2022 is wide open with no clear tournament favourites.
The Lionesses take on Wiegman’s home nation the Netherlands in the second of three warm-up matches at Elland Road on Friday night.
Wiegman led the Dutch to Euro glory on home soil in 2017 and also to the runners-up spot at the 2019 World Cup.
The former Netherlands midfielder, unbeaten in 12 matches in charge of the Lionesses, said: “I consider them [England and the Netherlands] as two very good teams and of course we play a home tournament and the Netherlands have the trophy right now.”
‘Many countries are favourites:’ Sarina Wiegman believes Euro 2022 is wide open
England face the Netherlands in a warm-up match at Elland Road on Friday night
Sarina Wiegman wants ‘more ruthlessness’ from England Women despite victory
England boss Sarina Wiegman acknowledged the positives from her side’s victory over Belgium, but also stressed that “more ruthlessness” would be required at this summer’s European Championship.
The Lionesses won 3-0 at Molineux in the first of three warm-up games ahead of hosting the Euros next month.
They took the lead in the 62nd minute as Chloe Kelly’s shot went in via a deflection off Amber Tysiak, fellow substitute Rachel Daly doubled the lead four minutes later, and the win was wrapped up with seven minutes of normal time remaining when skipper Leah Williamson hit the bar and the ball went in off goalkeeper Nicky Evrard.
That was after a first half that had seen the hosts fail to make a breakthrough despite creating a flurry of chances.
Sarina Wiegman wants ‘more ruthlessness’ from England Women despite victory
The Lionesses won 3-0 at Molineux in the first of three warm-up games ahead of hosting the Euros
Wiegman on ‘very special game’ against the Netherlands
England boss, Sarina Wiegman says that tonight’s match against the Netherlands will be ‘very special’ as she takes charge against her old team.
"It’s a very special game obviously because I’m from the Netherlands and I worked with that team for many years but now I work with England," said Wiegman.
"It’s really nice to see the [Netherlands’] team again. It is just a game in the end though but yes, it is special.
"I think the Netherlands are the strongest opponent we play [in these friendlies]. The others are going to the Euros so good opponents too but I think what the Netherlands have shown over the years, they are really good."
Wiegman added: “We want to win every game but we also want to see an improvement in our style of play,”
“That is what we focus on and hopefully that brings us the win. But yes, it helps when you do win as it gives you an extra boost of confidence.”
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