England Women 8 (EIGHT), Norway 0 (Women’s European Championships 2022)
Beth Mead scored a hat trick as England won Group A with a game to spare by a record score of 8-0 against tournament dark horses Norway at the Amex Stadium in Brighton.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn doing so, England became the first side to score six goals in the first half in the European Championships, smashing the record set by France only yesterday – and went on to set a new record for total number of goals scored in a Euros game (men or women) as they hammered the Norwegians.
After a slow start against Austria at Old Trafford, England needed a bit of luck to get started against a Norway side who dominated the first few minutes of their Group A game.
But once the unchanged England side got going there was no stopping them as they made it 16 games unbeaten under boss Sarina Weigman – scoring 93 goals and conceding just three.
Georgia Stanway rifled in a 12th minute spot kick into the top corner after a soft penalty awarded for a foul by Manchester United’s Maria Thorisdottir on Ellen White went unchallenged by VAR.
VAR came to England’s aid again after Lauren Hemp doubled the lead three minutes later but was ruled out for offside after Beth Mead had wrongfooted Julie Blakstad – the Manchester City midfielder was a makeshift left back for Norway and went on to have a torrid time as England relentlessly targeted the Norwegian defence.
Under pressure Ellen White, who missed two early great chances to score in the first half, got on the scoresheet after 29 minutes when she robbed Thorisdottir and unleashed a fierce shot before Norway could react.
Norway were stunned but there was more to come from England and White won the ball off Maren Mjelde and laid it off to Mead whose cross was converted from close range by Lauren Hemp to make it 4-0 after just 34 minutes.
And Mead skipped through the hapless Norway defence, rounding Blakstad before drilling England’s fifth goal past Norway after 38 minutes.
The game was long since up but White doubled her tally on the night and made it six from a yard out, meeting Fran Kirby’s cross into the box after she was released by Stanway with four minutes to go till half time.
And White spurned a hat trick after failing to get on the end of a Mead cross to match Wayne Rooney’s goalscoring record for England before the break.
There was a triple substitution after 57 minutes as Ella Toone, Alessia Russo, and Alex Greenwood came on to replace White, Kirby, and Rachel Daly.
Russo headed home England’s seventh from a Lucy Bronze cross after 66 minutes, Greenwood hit the crossbar as England continued to turn the screw before Mead completed her hat trick with 9 minutes to go – tapping in the loose ball after Pettersen couldn’t control Keira Walsh’s shot.
It was Mead’s fourth goal of the tournament and the England juggernaut kick-started their campaign in style.
MATCH STATS – England 8, Norway 0
England Women: Earps, Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Daly (Greenwood 57), Stanway (Scott 80), Walsh, Mead, Kirby (Toone 58), Hemp (Kelly 70), White (Russo 57)
England Women Subs not used: Hampton, Roebuck, Carter, Stokes, Parris, England
Goals: Stanway pen 12; Hemp 15; White 29, 41; Mead 34, 38, 81; Russo 66
Norway Women: Pettersen, Hansen, Mjelde, Thorisdottir, Blakstad, Risa (Maanum 59), Engen, Sævik (Bergsvand 46), Hansen (Eikeland 76), Reiten (Terland 84), Hegerberg (Ildhusoy 75)
Norway Women subs not used: Skoglund, Mikalsen, Sonstevold, Bjelde, Skinnes Hansen, Josendal, Haug
Referee: Riem Hussein
Attendance: 28.847