England v China live: ‘Ruthless’ Lionesses threaten Wembley record in thumping friendly win
England 8-0 China: Georgia Stanway scored a hat-trick as the Lionesses marked their return to Wembley with a big win
The Lionesses came close to equalling England’s biggest-ever win at Wembley as they thrashed China 8-0 in their first match back at the national stadium since winning Euro 2025.
Georgia Stanway scored a hat-trick for the European champions, Beth Mead netted twice and there were also goals for Lauren Hemp, Ella Toone and Alessia Russo.
Sarina Wiegman’s team were rampant from the start and scored three goals in just four first-half minutes as Mead netted a quickfire brace and Hemp then made it three. Stanway scored twice before the interval and then completed her hat-trick after the break, as Toone and Russo got in on the act against the Asian champions.
There was also a debut for Anna Moorhouse, who was part of the Euro 2025 squad, with the goalkeeper finally making her England debut at the age of 30 and keeping a clean sheet. too.
"Really nice. We want to be more ruthless and that's what we did today,” Wiegman said. "I think we started really well and they played in a different shape so we had to adapt to that. They gave us too much time of the ball and then you see when we get that time we are really good. The connections are very good and there were some good goals in there."
Follow live reaction from Wembley below
Georgia Stanway treble helps England thrash China at Wembley
Georgia Stanway scored a hat-trick as England made a triumphant return to Wembley with a 8-0 thrashing of China.
Stanway’s treble, a quickfire double from Beth Mead and further goals from Lauren Hemp, Ella Toone and Alessia Russo secured a comfortable 50th win in charge for boss Sarina Wiegman.
England were playing their first match at the national stadium since they successfully defended their title at Euro 2025 in Switzerland earlier this year.
Georgia Stanway treble helps England thrash China at Wembley
Ian Wright calls for Alessia Russo to be ‘given a break’ despite scoring in big win
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has urged England manager Sarina Wiegman, as well as Gunners counterpart Renee Slegers, to rest Alessia Russo more often after the Lionesses striker played 85 minutes of the 8-0 friendly win over China.
With a congested fixture schedule and player workload issues a hot talking point in the game, Wright said on ITV: “I was expecting Alessia Russo to come off [earlier]. She doesn't get taken off, for Arsenal and for England. I would like to see her given a bit of a break from that.”
Ian Wright calls for Lionesses star to be ‘given a break’ despite scoring in big win
England's 2026
March 2026 brings the first World Cup qualifiers for England, with the Lionesses facing Ukraine on 3 March in the first game of their campaign.
The other teams in England’s group are world champions Spain and Iceland, with the campaign running until 9 June next year.
Next up
The Lionesses’ next match is their final one of a successful 2025, with Wiegman’s side taking on Ghana on 2 December.
That match kicks off at 7pm at St Mary’s, home of Championship side Southampton.
More from Bardsley
“I have enjoyed the ruthless nature of what I saw tonight.
“There was no drop in quality when the other players came on to the pitch. Sarina Wiegman has had eyes on Kendall.
“It's about seeing how these players deal with the environment and how they get on with their team-mates,” she added.
Bardsley reacts
Here’s what former Lionesses ‘keeper Karen Bardsley had to say about the game on BBC’s radio broadcast:
“I thought Georgia Stanway was very impressive. China capitulated and it became very flat and just a standard outing at the end of the day.There were lots of positives and lots to look forward to going into that game against Ghana.
“I was kind of hoping we would see Godfrey get on. But I think the purpose of these camps is to see players and see how they cope with the intensity and the way of working.
“You can get a feel for the sort of person they are within the group,” she added.
More from Wright
When quizzed on who will feature for England in World Cup qualifiers next year, Wright has this to say:
“I think the usual suspects will play those games.
“There will be the odd changes with the likes of Chloe Kelly or Grace Clinton but I think it will be the usual suspects who play those matches,” he added.
Wright not holding back on China
“There is no way China should be that underprepared,” says Ian Wright on ITV. “They should have been harder to beat.”
The former Arsenal striker also calls it one of the worst goalkeeping displays he’s seen.
Mead: 'We made them look very average'
England goalscorer Beth Mead says that the Lionesses were "very good” this evening.
“It's nice to see lots of different goalscorers and people getting minutes and come away with a good win,” she says.
"I thought we put together some really good goals tonight. I am happy to get those two.
“It's the perfect time and opportunity to give the girls exposure to international level. It is good to see them get the minutes."
On Sarina Wiegman, she adds: "She makes it look easy. She makes coaching look very easy. She is an amazing coach to work under.
"It wasn't our hardest game but you play the team that is in front of you. We made them look very average tonight. We regroup for Ghana on Tuesday."
Wiegman: 'We started really well'
England boss Sarina Wiegman is understandably pleased with the result and performance.
“Well, I think we started really well and they played in a differne shape, so we had to adapt to that, that was really good, but they gave us to much time on the ball,” she explains.
“We know how we want to play, what we want to do.
On Stanway, she says: “She was enjoying herself, was really sharp. We had some conversations and she relly wanted to show that, she was really calm.”
On her subs: “I think they came on a bit late, but we wanted to speed up the game, but Lucia [Kendall] I think really understands the game. She turns forward and picks up good positions.”
Finally, she added: “We know we have a good team, players are ready to play, there’s a lot of competition. The tempo dropped a little second half, they still pressed, we had to drop a little deeper, but you can tell that we can make changes and still keep levels up.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks