ZURICH: England’s Lauren James scored twice, while Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone also found the net to put the women’s European champions back on track at Euro 2025 with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Netherlands.

Four days after a 2-1 loss to France, a ruthless England came out firing on all cylinders in front of a festive crowd that included Britain’s Prince William.

England and the Netherlands both have three points from their opening two games in Group D, level with France who can go three points clear at the summit if they beat Wales later on Wednesday.

England play tournament debutants Wales in their final group game on Sunday, when the Netherlands play France. Wales ae bottom of the group after losing 3-0 to France.

James put England on the scoresheet in the 22nd minute when goalkeeper Hannah Hampton picked out Alessia Russo with a stunning long ball. Russo, who had a hat-trick of assists to win the player of the match award, slipped it to James on the edge of the box who worked the ball onto her left foot before unleashing a screamer into the top corner.

Stanway doubled England’s lead seconds before halftime when the Dutch struggled to clear the ball and the midfielder was there to fizz a first-time shot past wrong-footed goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar.

An unmarked James, who recently returned after missing almost three months with a hamstring injury, completed her double in the 60th with an easy shot from inside the box.

James received a standing ovation — and a kiss blown from her proud dad — when coach Sarina Wiegman replaced her with Chloe Kelly midway through the second half.

She said: “I enjoyed it a lot. The goals say it all. We bounced back from our previous game and today we showed we’re more than capable of showing the world what we can do.”

Toone, who had replaced Beth Mead in the starting 11, added more misery for the Dutch in the 67th minute. Russo held up the ball in the penalty area before sending it to a running Toone, who slotted home.

Wiegman, who coached the Netherlands to the Euro 2017 title, was delighted with her team’s response after the defeat to France, as they thoroughly smothered the Dutch, taking 17 shots to the Netherlands’ four.

She said: “How we came together, how we played down the pitch and of course I’m very happy with the score because that’s a massive help because goal difference can make the difference.

“Also the days into this game, how we looked at each other’s eyes and said, ‘OK what do we do?’, and execution of the game plan. I think that really helped.”

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