England wrap up an impressive group stage at Euro 2022 as they comfortably beat Northern Ireland having already qualified for the quarter-finals.
The Lionesses, who finish top of Group A, will go into the last eight having not conceded a single goal and with three wins from three games.
Tournament top scorer Beth Mead extended her tally to five goals, while substitute Alessia Russo scored two goals in five minutes after the break.
Northern Ireland, who were competing in their first women’s major tournament, finish bottom of the group without a win.
It was not a home nations derby with much on the line but England were heavy favourites and were expected to demonstrate why in Southampton.
With manager Sarina Wiegman absent after testing positive for Covid on Friday, England were frustrated in the early stages at St Mary’s Stadium but soon imposed their quality.
Chelsea’s Fran Kirby produced a piece of magic to break the deadlock when she expertly curled the ball into the top corner, before Mead precisely drilled in a low strike to make it 2-0 before half-time.
Russo came off the bench to score for the second consecutive game, nodding in Mead’s chipped cross, before spinning away and slotting in a second goal in five minutes.
An own goal from Northern Ireland’s Kelsie Burrows, who flicked Mead’s cross over goalkeeper Jackie Burns, completed the rout.
Northern Ireland struggled to compete after the break but had shown glimpses of threat in the first half – Lauren Wade tested goalkeeper Mary Earps from close range, while Rebecca Holloway played some teasing through balls.
Kenny Shiels’ side leave the tournament with plenty of lessons to learn, but their fans were in celebratory mood as they chanted, banged drums and stood for almost the entirety of their final game at Euro 2022.
For England, a quarter-final against Spain or Denmark awaits next Wednesday, and they strengthened their status as a team few will want to face en route to the final.
England in perfect shape for quarter-finals
Wiegman said beforehand not to expect changes as she wanted England to continue their “rhythm” and build momentum for Wednesday’s quarter-final.
It was the same starting XI who ruthlessly thumped eight goals past Norway on Monday, and though they took time to settle they became more familiar as the game went on.
Those connections have been getting stronger each month under Wiegman and as England extend their unbeaten run to 16 matches, conceding just three goals in 11 months, they could not be in better shape for the knockout stages.
Mead and Russo could have bagged hat-tricks, while Lauren Hemp produced arguably her best performance at Euro 2022.
The introductions of the substitutes did not disrupt England’s intensity either, adding threats in other areas and emphasising the depth of quality available to Wiegman.
England were favourites to top Group A, and have done so very comfortably.
More to follow.
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Northern Ireland
Starting XI
Avg
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Squad number1Player nameBurns
Average rating6.03
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Squad number2Player nameMcKenna
Average rating5.69
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Squad number5Player nameNelson
Average rating5.61
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Squad number4Player nameRobson
Average rating5.56
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Squad number3Player nameVance
Average rating5.55
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Squad number15Player nameHolloway
Average rating5.67
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Squad number14Player nameWade
Average rating5.57
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Squad number17Player nameRafferty
Average rating5.96
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Squad number8Player nameCallaghan
Average rating5.61
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Squad number11Player nameMcGuinness
Average rating5.84
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Squad number10Player nameFurness
Average rating5.65
Substitutes
Avg
-
Squad number6Player nameHutton
Average rating5.32
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Squad number13Player nameBurrows
Average rating5.43
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Squad number16Player nameCaldwell
Average rating5.43
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Squad number19Player nameWilson
Average rating5.32
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Squad number22Player nameMagee
Average rating5.71
England
Starting XI
Avg
-
Squad number1Player nameEarpsAverage rating
5.45
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Squad number2Player nameBronzeAverage rating
5.59
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Squad number6Player nameBrightAverage rating
5.47
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Squad number8Player nameWilliamsonAverage rating
5.60
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Squad number3Player nameDalyAverage rating
5.51
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Squad number10Player nameStanwayAverage rating
5.60
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Squad number4Player nameWalshAverage rating
5.74
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Squad number7Player nameMeadAverage rating
6.42
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Squad number14Player nameKirbyAverage rating
7.40
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Squad number11Player nameHempAverage rating
5.76
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Squad number9Player nameWhiteAverage rating
5.65
Substitutes
Avg
-
Squad number5Player nameGreenwoodAverage rating
5.50
-
Squad number12Player nameCarterAverage rating
6.02
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Squad number18Player nameKellyAverage rating
5.70
-
Squad number20Player nameTooneAverage rating
5.93
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Squad number23Player nameRussoAverage rating
6.83
Line-ups
Northern Ireland
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Burns
- 2McKenna
- 5NelsonSubstituted forHuttonat 87’minutes
- 4Robson
- 3Vance
- 15HollowaySubstituted forMageeat 66’minutes
- 14Wade
- 17RaffertySubstituted forBurrowsat 66’minutes
- 8CallaghanSubstituted forWilsonat 87’minutes
- 11McGuinness
- 10FurnessSubstituted forCaldwellat 80’minutes
Substitutes
- 6Hutton
- 7McCarron
- 12Flaherty
- 13Burrows
- 16Caldwell
- 18McDaniel
- 19Wilson
- 20Andrews
- 21McGuinness
- 22Magee
- 23Turner
England
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Earps
- 2BronzeSubstituted forCarterat 74’minutes
- 6BrightSubstituted forGreenwoodat 45’minutes
- 8Williamson
- 3Daly
- 10StanwaySubstituted forTooneat 45’minutes
- 4Walsh
- 7Mead
- 14Kirby
- 11HempSubstituted forKellyat 60’minutes
- 9WhiteSubstituted forRussoat 45’minutes
Substitutes
- 5Greenwood
- 12Carter
- 13Hampton
- 16Scott
- 17Parris
- 18Kelly
- 19England
- 20Toone
- 21Roebuck
- 22Wubben-Moy
- 23Russo
- Referee:
- Esther Staubli
Live Text
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Match ends, Northern Ireland Women 0, England 5.
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Second Half ends, Northern Ireland Women 0, England 5.
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Attempt missed. Alessia Russo (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Beth Mead.
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Attempt missed. Alessia Russo (England) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jessica Carter with a cross.
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Substitution, Northern Ireland Women. Ashley Hutton replaces Julie Nelson.
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Substitution, Northern Ireland Women. Emily Wilson replaces Marissa Callaghan.
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Attempt missed. Beth Mead (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
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Beth Mead (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Rebecca McKenna (Northern Ireland Women).
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Foul by Chloe Kelly (England).
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Nadene Caldwell (Northern Ireland Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Northern Ireland Women. Nadene Caldwell replaces Rachel Furness.
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Foul by Jessica Carter (England).
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Kirsty McGuinness (Northern Ireland Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Own Goal by Kelsie Burrows, Northern Ireland Women. Northern Ireland Women 0, England 5.
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Offside, England. Fran Kirby tries a through ball, but Alessia Russo is caught offside.
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Substitution, England. Jessica Carter replaces Lucy Bronze.
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Attempt missed. Keira Walsh (England) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Fran Kirby.
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Substitution, Northern Ireland Women. Abbie Magee replaces Rebecca Holloway.
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Substitution, Northern Ireland Women. Kelsie Burrows replaces Laura Rafferty.