England concluded their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 100% record and without conceding a goal as they ran out 10-0 winners over Luxembourg on Tuesday evening.
The Lionesses’ qualification record reads played 10, won 10, goals for 80, goals against 0 following their convincing victory at the Bet365 Stadium.
England took the lead inside 11 minutes as Alessia Russo was tripped by Catherine Have on the spin. Georgia Stanway found the bottom corner from the resultant spot kick. Seven minutes later it was two, Russo nodding home Leah Williamson’s fizzing delivery.
Stanway added her second and England’s third before the hour mark, netting through the legs of goalkeeper Lucie Schlimé to apply the finishing touches to a flowing team move.
Rachel Daly got in on the act before the half was out, heading home following a short corner routine. England had a fifth just a minute later. Another terrific team move ended with Mead evading two Luxembourg challenges and slamming into the net.
The onslaught continued in the second half as Beth England got herself on the scoresheet within three minutes of entering the fray, converting Mead’s measured cross.
Parris added a seventh just before the hour mark, confidently finding the bottom corner after being fed by Toone. Toone deservedly got herself on the scoresheet to cap a superb performance 18 minutes from time after Parris was brought down in the area. The Manchester United midfielder calmly dispatched the subsequent spot kick.
Lauren Hemp stabbed home from a corner and England headed in Katie Zelem’s delivery on the stroked of half time as the Lionesses swaggered to a double-figure victory.
Attention now turns to Wembley and the hotly-anticipated visit of world champions the USA in October for Sarina Wiegman’s European Champions.
GK: Ellie Roebuck – 6/10 – One of three changes for England. Didn’t have a save to make but typically cool in possession – almost too cool in the second half as a pass back ran casually under her foot and goal-wards, but she recovered.
RB: Lucy Bronze – 9/10 – Combined well with Toone in the build up to England’s fourth. Frequently tore forward with purpose, seemed really in the mood and turned in a relentless performance.
CB: Leah Williamson – 7/10 – Picked out Russo with superb, fizzing cross for England’s second. Frequently showed off her exquisite passing range. Replaced at half time.
CB: Alex Greenwood – 7/10 – Cracked the post with a header from a corner, and broke the lines with a great pass to Toone in the build up to England’s third. Provided the set piece delivery for England’s ninth.
LB: Rachel Daly – 7/10 – Headed home England’s fourth before picking out Mead for the Lionesses’ fifth. Replaced in the second half.
CM: Keira Walsh – 8/10 – Pulled off a couple of outrageous passes in behind, simply oozing confidence right now. Moved to a more advanced midfield role after the introduction of Zelem.
CM: Georgia Stanway – 9/10 – Coolly found the bottom corner from the penalty spot, and doubled her tally by slotting the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs with a first-time finish having arrived late in the box. Replaced at half time.
CM: Ella Toone – 10/10 – In the very heart of the action and key to so many England goals with her superb passing and decision making; played Mead through in the buildup to England’s third, looped in the delivery for England’s fourth, fed Mead in the buildup to her side’s sixth and picked out Parris for the seventh. On the scoresheet herself from the spot.
RW: Nikita Parris – 8/10 – On the scoresheet for her side’s seventh with a really confident finish into the bottom corner and won the penalty for England’s eighth. A really energetic display.
ST: Alessia Russo – 7/10 – Won England’s penalty with fabulous turn. Timed her run to perfection to nod home England’s second, saw a couple of decent chances well saved by Schlimé. Replaced at half time.
LW: Beth Mead – 8/10 – Picked out Stanway for England’s third. Produced a great feint to evade two Luxembourg challenges and slot home her side’s fifth, and found England for the Lionesses’ sixth.
SUB: Millie Bright – 7/10
SUB: Beth England – 8/10 – On the scoresheet within three minutes of coming on with a poacher’s finish. Combined well with Toone in the buildup to the Lionesses seventh.
SUB: Katie Zelem – 7/10
SUB: Lauren Hemp – 7/10
SUB: Demi Stokes – 7/10