Ladies Euro 2025: James Double helps England bouncing back against the Netherlands, France Routs Wales

Lauren James in England scored twice, while Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone also felt that it just found the defensive ladies European champion firmly in the driver’s seat at Euro 2025 on Wednesday with a emphatic 4-0 win over the Netherlands on Wednesday.

Four days after a faint 2-1 loss for France made a must-win competition on Wednesday, England came to shoot out all the cylinders for a festive audience that included the British prince William.

James put England on the score sheet in the 22nd minute when goalkeeper Hannah Hampton Alessia chose Russo with a stunning long ball. Russo slid it to James on the edge of the box, who worked the ball on her left foot before he released a screamer in the upper corner.

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Stanway doubled England’s lead seconds before half -time when the Dutch struggled to free up the ball, and the midfielder was there to bubble a first shot beyond the wrong footman Daphne of Domselaar.

An unmarked James completed her double in the 60th with a simple shot from the box, and Toone added more misery for the Dutch seven minutes later. Russo held the ball up in the penalty area before sending him to a running tone, which quietly slid home.

England plays a tournament debut Wales in their last group D match on Sunday.

Dominant France Thrash Wales 4-1 to go top

France produced a dominant display to go Wales with 4-1 and the top of the Euro 2025 Group D on Wednesday, with the transition from his opponent, who scored his first goal at a big championship.

After England defeated 4-0 earlier in the day, France went the top of the group on six points, followed by England and the Dutch each on three points. Wales, which stands to England in his last group game, still has to register one point, but still has a mathematical chance to continue.

Clara Mateo hit France in an early lead with a volley in the eighth minute before the 38-year-old Jess Fishlock hit the first goal of Wales home at the final of the European Championship with an opportunistic close-range Finish five minutes later after a good attack on the left.

That was as good as it received for Wales, with Kadidiatou Diani who aroused a penalty before the break and Amel Majri and Grace Geyoro added the second half goals when they achieved a comfortable victory to place them on the steering chair in the group.