England have been tagged as just one of the favourites to win the Euros and they sent a sturdy concept to their rivals with an outstanding victory in excess of defending champions the Netherlands on Friday.

It was one more large tick in the box for this England facet who proceed to dwell up to anticipations less than supervisor Sarina Wiegman.

The Netherlands posed one of the hardest exams they have confronted, but at the time once more England ended up far more than a match for a bigger-ranked aspect – this was their fourth unbeaten activity against these kinds of opposition beneath Wiegman, which has provided both of those the reigning European and Olympic champions.

“I think England will be favourites in the Euros with exactly where they are at, the high quality of players, the residence crowd and the resources the WSL has been putting in,” the Netherlands manager Mark Parsons claimed after the match in Leeds.

“When you include that all up, it is really really hard to see them not as favourites.”

When Wiegman took around in September, the initial queries she confronted ended up “can this staff get the Euros?”

She experienced just led her former state, the Netherlands, to the ultimate of the 2019 Globe Cup, having guided them to European glory on house soil in 2017.

The Dutchwoman did not shy absent from the process – she experienced appear to England to produce silverware on the most significant phase.

But she is not complacent. England experience rigid opposition from the likes of Spain, Germany, Sweden and France, as effectively as the Netherlands in the summer season.

“I consider there are several favourites for this match and we are a single of them. We know exactly where we want to go to and we will adhere to our plans,” stated Wiegman on Friday.

“We will not sit and believe on a pink cloud. We remain grounded. The expectation of class will go better but we stay grounded. We are in a superior area but we even now have to have to make improvements to a few of factors and we know that.”

England’s preparations could not have absent a lot more smoothly.

They have scored 80 targets underneath Wiegman, sit best of their Planet Cup qualifying group, received the Arnold Clark Cup competition in February and remain unbeaten in 13 video games.

Friday’s victory above the Netherlands also confirmed England experienced the toughness to occur from behind – something they experienced not experienced to do formerly less than Wiegman.

“It was a fantastic mastering second that we came from driving and conceded a objective,” she claimed.

“It was superior to see that response from the team and that we were in a position to carry it up to the degree we did.”

Parsons, an Englishman who still left to manage abroad 11 many years back, described the Lionesses as “very, very good” and said opponents observing the past 30 minutes of Friday’s activity “will be incredibly worried”.

“This is a rout. This is a hammering. England are all above the Dutch,” previous Scotland worldwide Pat Nevin mentioned on BBC Radio 5 Dwell as Beth Mead scored the fifth intention at Elland Road.

“It just isn’t just scoring 5 objectives. They have tortured the Dutch. The physicality, the energy and the willingness of the England workforce – they you should not know how to offer with it.”

It is really worth pointing out that the Netherlands experienced players returning to total health and fitness who were being managing minutes and they have had a lot less time in camp to get ready.

However, the ruthlessness of England’s second 50 percent effectiveness was anything that pleased Wiegman immediately after she experienced demanded her players be more clinical in front of intention.

“I am pretty satisfied. We spoke about being far more ruthless and we scored people plans. We have been seriously on it. That is wonderful to see,” she additional.

There was also a perception of momentum designed by England which was evident at comprehensive-time when enthusiasts rose to their feet to sing ‘Sweet Caroline’ whilst waving flags, as the gamers huddled in a circle on the pitch.

When Wiegman and the workforce experienced exchanged words, gamers broke off to celebrate with the group, jumping up and down, dancing to new music and hugging a person a further.

It was a sign of scenes that could appear this summer months – a united house crowd, a packed stadium, a perception of excitement and a successful emotion.

“It was amazing. When men and women arrive to the stadium you want them to have a good evening and to delight in them selves. That is element of soccer at this level,” reported Wiegman.

“That transpired and it was actually pleasant. When individuals see us, hopefully they are so energized that they come and watch a game [at the Euros].”

England have a person closing video game to perform – from Switzerland on 30 June – in advance of they open the Euros in entrance of a offered-out Outdated Trafford crowd versus Austria on 6 July.