England vs Portugal LIVE: Rampant Lionesses hit six in Women’s Nations League thrashing
England 6-0 Portugal: Aggie Beever-Jones scored a hat-trick with the Lionesses dominant at Wembley
England produced a vibrant display of attacking football as Aggie Beever-Jones hit a first-half hat-trick on the way to a 6-0 thrashing of Portugal.
Sarina Wiegman’s side were back to their best in the Nations League after a shock defeat to Belgium last month, with a returning Lauren Hemp outstanding down the left. Beever-Jones opened the scoring inside a matter of minutes and soon had three as she seized her chance up front, with Lucy Bronze and Beth Mead also on the scoresheet in a five-goal first 45 minutes.
The interval disrupted the Lionesses rhythm and there was little reason for further exertion, though substitute Chloe Kelly headed home a lovely goal to complete the rout. A welcome return for Georgia Stanway in midfield was another reason to smile for Wiegman, who resisted the urge to test out another keeper alongside Hannah Hampton despite the retirement of Mary Earps this week.
Re-live all the action from England vs Portugal at Wembley in our live blog below:
And here's Sarina Wiegman
“It’s what we wanted,” the England boss tells ITV. “You go back to business. We want to keep in the running that we can win the Nations League, and we needed a win. It was really good to see the team show up like this.
“There are always things to improve. But it is a good score. We started really well, we adapted really well. We wanted to defend on the front foot and we did that really well. In the second half, the spaces became smaller for us, but the goal we scored was really good even if it was harder to find the space.
On the returnees from injury, Wiegman adds: “I know how hard they have worked and how much they have done to come back. Of course, it’s a step up. It is the Nations League and we want to win, but at the same time we are preparing for the Euros. They need meaningful minutes. When you score so much, it is easier to make subs.
“When we played Spain here, we dropped a little deeper. We’ll review this and then make final decisions. We know they are so tight and smart on the ball. I’m really happy with how the team did today.”
How Aggie Beever-Jones took chance to lead breakout night for England’s next generation
After all the talk this week of who’s not going to the Euros, England made sure they moved the conversation onto those who will be travelling to Switzerland this summer.
Aggie Beever-Jones produced a performance, and scored a 33-minute minute hat-trick against Portugal on her first Wembley start, that meant the excitement around the Chelsea forward will go up to another level ahead of Euro 2025. The Women’s PFA Young Player of the Year seized her opportunity, with the type of display that comes from the sheer hunger of wanting to really make your case for going to a major tournament. She left nothing to chance and was not the only one.
How Aggie Beever-Jones took chance to lead England’s next generation
Up next for England
England will go to Spain on Tuesday for the final game of their Women’s Nations League campaign. The only way they can progress to the semi-finals is by beating the world champions, but they won the reverse fixture 1-0 at Wembley in February.
Sarina Wiegman: 'England played with fun and energy'
Sarina Wiegman on the importance of putting in a performance, given the talk surrounding Mary Earps’ retirement this week.
“I think we trained really well this week too so that was good to see. I hoped before the game we could show what we had been doing. Of course, we had a job to do.
“ It’s nice when you can do it with a lot of energy and fun. It’s more fun when you score lots of goals and don’t concede.”
'Sarina said to go out and destroy them'
Aggie Beever-Jones speaking after England’s 6-0 win over Portugal and the message from Sarina Wiegman.
"As cliche as it sounds, Sarina said, 'It's a new kit, new England today. Go out there and put a graft in.' I think her words were 'destroy them' in her Dutch accent.
“For us, it was just executing the game plan. We were really good at that in the first half.
“In the second half we struggled just because they obviously dropped down. For us, it's to get to the next level, it's about hurting teams when they're like that.
“But I think we can look back on today and be really proud of ourselves and ready to go again on Tuesday."
Sarina Wiegman on Aggie Beever-Jones
“I think she is a goalscorer. She scores goals very easily and very well. She has such quick feet and is keeping them on their weight all the time in good positions. She is really tight on the ball. The team did well coming into positions so the connections were really good. I think she played really relaxed.”
Sarina Wiegman on the returns of Lauren Hemp, Alex Greenwood and Georgia Stanway
“It’s really nice to see them back. They have worked so hard to get to where they are right now and that is what they showed. If you haven’t put all the work in to this point then you cannot put in a performance what they showed tonight. Of course we look to keep building. The Euros is really coming close at the same time we want to perform in the Nations League, so we we have to find that balance.”
Aggie Beever-Jones speaks to ITV after her hat trick
“I’m absolutely shattered! Coming into this today after a big season, to get told I was starting, I just wanted to help the team as much as I can.
“I’ve been trying to find my family. My friends are here as well - I’m delighted and can’t quite believe it, if I’m honest.
“For me, I’m just focussing on the current and the now and I believe everything will fall into place. As long as I’m giving the right people headaches, and making Sarina happy, that’s good. I think I’ll get the girls to sign the match ball because it’s such a special day.”
FULL TIME: England 6-0 Portugal
Very, very impressive from England, back to full force to set up a shot at group victory against Spain on Tuesday. After the misstep in Belgium, they were on it from the first whistle, striking early and often in the first half to thump their visitors 6-0.
A hat-trick for Aggie Beever-Jones, a star turn from Lauren Hemp, and no obvious injuries to fret about - job done for the Lionesses.
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