The England Women’s football team put on a beautiful performance against Portugal. They followed that up with a comprehensive 6-0 thrashing of their nearest rivals, putting down an early caveat to any pretenders at the upcoming European Championship this summer. The past game really showcased the amazing depth and talent of Sarina Wiegman’s army. They netted five against Portugal in the first 33 minutes of play, missing crucial contributors Alessia Russo, Ella Toone and Lauren James.
Aggie Beever-Jones emerged as the star of the match, scoring a first-half hat-trick that highlighted her potential as a crucial player for England. It was a follow-up win for their stunning 3-0 victory earlier this month against Scotland, which placed the American squad atop Nations League Group A3. They will now look to regroup ahead of an all-important battle against Spain on Tuesday night.
A Hat-Trick Hero
Aggie Beever-Jones had to step in for the suddenly-injured Alessia Russo — and she answered the call. She was quick to make her mark on the pitch, opening the scoring in the 7th minute with a cool finish inside the box.
Just after Beever-Jones’ opening goal, Six Nations winner Lucy Bronze doubled England’s lead. Bronze capitalized on Beth Mead’s well-saved shot, nodding the ball into the net to double England’s advantage. The onslaught didn’t stop there, as Beever-Jones finished off her hat-trick before the first half was even over.
“I’m absolutely shattered, coming into this today after a busy season.” – Aggie Beever-Jones
The forward’s energy and skill were evident throughout the match, and her performance not only delighted fans but provided a glimpse into the future of England’s attacking options.
Team Depth and Performance
Where Wiegman’s squad has been incredibly deep is in comparison to three years ago when they became the first English side to win an international tournament. The absence of established players like Russo and Toone did not hinder England’s performance. Instead, it demonstrated the team’s strength in depth.
England’s attacking unit featured several players performing at their best, including Lauren Hemp, who impressed with her play despite limited appearances since recovering from a knee injury. Newcomer Beth Mead was a key factor, producing a huge impact despite almost no recovery time after Arsenal’s recent Champions League victory.
“I could do 10! But I don’t think your squad is very balanced. You want options in every position and every position you want an extra player, some can play in two different positions, which helps.” – Sarina Wiegman
Wiegman has the luxury of a deep, versatile squad. This approach gives her the opportunity to rotate players in and out of the lineup without losing quality to her performance. The manager has underlined the need to manufacture competition for positions as key to the club’s fortunes.
Looking Ahead
With this sweeping win against Portugal, England have put themselves in a strong position for the Nations League finals scheduled later this year. They must now push for the likely decisive test against Spain, which will decide if they reach those finals.
Late in the match, Chloe Kelly tallied the sixth goal for England. This great goal capped off their convincing win! The squad should look to build on this momentum as they move into their next fixture vs. Spain. A victory is all that is needed to ensure their advancement.
“I’m just focusing on the current and I believe everything will fall into place. As long as I’m giving the right people headaches, making Sarina happy then so be it.” – Sarina Wiegman
England are raring to go ahead of this massive clash! They’ll be looking to build on this weekend’s performance against Portugal and proving that they’re heavy favorites for the European crown this summer.
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