England thrash Scotland but cannot avoid Team GB Olympic heartbreak
An anxious wait, then complete heartbreak. No one could question the effort, the heart or the drive of Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses, six goals against Scotland not enough to close the goal difference gap on the Netherlands with the Dutch winning 4-0 deep in added time to secure top spot and progress from their Nations League group ahead of England.
It wasn’t an extraordinary mountain, a back and forth of goals scored by England against Scotland and the Netherlands in their win over Belgium and then a slower restart after half time for the Dutch, leaving England waiting for news of the score in the other game before pain etched across the faces stood in a circle.
There will be questions about Scotland’s efforts, defensive collapse at Hampden Park almost helping England towards earning a place for Team GB at the Paris Olympics, but that would be unfair. The gulf in class between the European champions, ranked fourth in the world, and their neighbours to the north, ranked 23rd, is clear and manager Pedro Martínez Losa has been unconvincing in charge.
There were two changes to the England side that came from two goals down to earn the late 3-2 win against the Netherlands that would keep hopes of progression alive on Friday night. Beth Mead was returned to the starting line-up for the first time since suffering an ACL injury just over a year ago, having proved her worth coming off the bench at half-time against the Dutch to insert some directness into England’s play. Chloe Kelly dropped to the bench in her stead, with Esme Morgan, who replaced Jess Carter in the second half of the game against the Netherlands, partnering Manchester City teammate Alex Greenwood at the back.
Martínez Losa swapped four players from the side that earned a 1-1 draw with Belgium on Friday with Lee Alexander replacing former England international Sandy MacIver in goal and Kirsty Hanson, Emma Murkandi and Rachel McLauchlan all in the starting XI.
Wiegman had urged her players to “go wild from the first minute” against Scotland, cautioning “but you don’t want to get erratic” and England came out of the blocks searching for an early goal that would assert their authority on the tie. If there was any doubt about Scotland’s intentions against England, with Lucy Bronze calling accusations that Scotland players might feel conflicted with the possibility of Olympic qualification on the line for them as much as for England “the rudest thing I’ve ever heard” and Scotland captain Rachel Corsie calling it “disrespectful” and “outrageous” those were put to bed, temporarily at least, in the opening three minutes, with Bronze clattered into late twice as Scotland looked to make an early impression.
If England had played well for the opening 10 minutes against the Dutch only to be sucker punched on the counter in the 12th minute, against Scotland there was no risk of that. Instead, the visiting team would take the lead to swing the pressure on to the Dutch, Mead’s corner sent in by an unmarked Greenwood.
Moments later Lisa Evans was down in the box under pressure from Bronze but appeals for a penalty were waved away with the right-back having not caught the forwards legs.
That rare foray forward was urged on by a vocal Scotland crowd, in which interesting conversations could be heard. After Lauren Hemp raced free on the right a hopeful “come on Lauren” was met with a thick cheery Scottish “shut up!” behind the press box.
If it was friendly in the stands it was far less friendly on the pitch. England went close to a second, with the Dutch having taken the lead against Belgium, when Chelsea forward James weaved into the box before delivering to Hemp at the far post who lashed her effort off the base of the post from close range.
Eight minutes later they doubled their lead. Mead’s corner cleared and sent back in by the Arsenal forward only to be cleared again and, while England players appealed for handball, James sent the ball goalward but it took a heavy deflection that wrongfooted Alexander and flew in.
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It wasn’t pretty, but England were clawing away at the goal difference gap with the Netherlands. A minute later James delivered in more characteristic style, curling a wonderful effort into the top corner from the edge of the area.
In added time at the end of the half, James would turn provider of the goal that would put England top of the group once more, sweeping a cross to Mead at the far post for the forward to bring down and fire past a helpless Alexander.
The goal that gave England a cushion came shortly after the restart, Georgia Stanway beating Corsie to the byline before sending into the middle for Fran Kirby to turn in from close range.
The breathing room didn’t last long though, with the Netherlands scoring once more. Wiegman flung Friday’s matchwinner Ella Toone and Alessia Russo on for Kirby and Mead.
There was almost disaster for England when Earps failed to collect from the feet of Kirsty Hanson, but the Scotland forward sent her effort wide of the empty net with the angle closing.
An extra time save of a header from substitute Martha Thomas at full stretch by Mary Earps would keep England in it, and, with the Dutch having scored in the 91st minute, Bronze’s powering header meant England were in for two minutes, until they were out, the Dutch scoring in the 95th minute to crush the Lionesses.