England have qualified for the women’s Euro quarter-finals after thrashing Norway 8-0.
The Lionesses’ impressive win set a new record for the highest margin of victory in women’s European Championship finals’ history, topping their own record set in 2017 when they beat Scotland 6-0.
England scored six of their eight goals in the first half of the match at Brighton’s Amex Stadium, with the final one coming in the 81st minute courtesy of Arsenal’s Beth Mead, securing her a hat-trick.
“I can’t put it into words… I’m loving being a part of this team and loving every minute of it,” Mead said after the game.
Asked about her hat-trick, she added: “I don’t think I even dreamt of this – I’m just so happy I could get the goals to help the team again.
“Unbelievable night. The girls need to enjoy this one, we need to enjoy the moments, and this is one of the best.”
Manchester United’s Alessia Russo also had a personal reason to celebrate after scoring her first goal at a major tournament.
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The moment came in the 66th minute of the game and gave England their seventh goal.
Georgia Stanway gave the Lionesses their first goal of the game after taking a penalty, with Lauren Hemp scoring a second just three minutes later.
Ellen White scored just before the half-hour mark, and Mead made it four in the 34th minute.
Five minutes later, she bagged her second goal of the evening as she dinked the ball past Norway’s Julia Blakstad and Maria Thorisdottir before coolly rolling the ball past a helpless Guro Pettersen.
White then managed to score again just before half-time.
The team is now unbeaten in all 16 matches under manager Sarina Wiegman, scoring 93 goals and conceding just three in that time.
While the Lionesses still have one more group game to play, which will be against Northern Ireland on Friday, the win gives them a free pass into the quarter-finals.
Norway had been predicted to be England’s toughest game of the group.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland are out of the tournament after losing 2-0 to Austria.
They conceded goals in each half during the game in Southampton.
