England 8 Norway 0: White inches closer to Rooney’s record as Mead hits three to secure spot in the Euro quarter-finals
ELLEN WHITE opened her Euros account in style as the Lionesses mauled Norway and fired a deadly warning to their rivals.
Five goals in 40 minutes – including a brace for their record scorer – saw the hosts seal a place in the quarters in fearsome fashion following an 8-0 demolition.
And the result, cheered by more than 28,000 fans at the Amex, made it a miserable night for shellshocked Norway as they suffered their heaviest Euros group stage loss since a 4-0 drubbing dished out by Germany in 2009.
Any worries of the scoring threat posed by Ada Hegerberg and her team-mates were blown away in a blistering first half as England tore their rivals to shreds.
Before the match, Sarina Wiegman was asked if she was feeling the burden of England being contest hosts, and the expectation of repeating her Euros triumph achieved five years ago.
And Norway boss Martin Sjogren suggested the Lionesses were under ‘massive pressure’.
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But if this was an attempt to play mind games, it was one that backfired spectacularly as
England ran riot.
A fairly balanced encounter in the opening minutes ended when White was fouled in the box around the 12th minute.
And Georgia Stanway fired England in front from the spot smashing the ball beyond keeper Guro Pettersen.
The 1-0 lead became two just three minutes later, with Lauren Hemp bundling home her first European Championship goal.
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And White – who faced some tricky questions over her lack of goals in recent games -made it three near the half-hour mark.
The England legend robbed Maria Thorisdottir – who had a shocking night in defence before charging through on goal and rifling home.
And the striker wreaked havoc again, this time feeding Hemp who curled in a cross for Beth Mead to nod in England’s fourth.
Norway gaffer Sjogren, who looked visibly stunned, could do nothing to stem the England wave sweeping over his side.
The miserable night got worse as the hosts showed no signs of letting up with Mead dancing through a series of tackles before notching her brace close to half-time.
And then White made it 6-0 slotting the ball home following a drilled Fran Kirby cross – moving her to within one goal of Wayne Rooney’s record tally of 53 – with Hegerberg seen scolding her team-mates.
The second half saw Sarina Wiegman ring the changes with Ella Toone, Alex Greenwood and Alessia Russo coming on for Kirby, Rachel Daly and White.
And Wiegman’s warriors made it 7-0 with Russo joining Hemp in bagging a first-ever Euros goal.
England wrapped up the demolition with Mead nabbing a hat-trick with her fourth goal of the tournament.