The Lionesses struck five past Belgium in a dominant, thrilling display at Ashton Gate to stamp their spot at the top of their Nations League table.
England put on one of their most decisive displays in the post-2023 World Cup era with their 1-0 victory against the reigning world champions Spain in February.
The hope, then, was that they would be able to kick on from this. With less than three months to go until the Euros, it was becoming not just desired, but necessary.
Ranked 20th in the world, Belgium has proven no pushover for the Lionesses in the past, but tonight England played them out of the park, registering 20 shots in total to their four, and dominating 67 percent of the possession.
There was a carnival atmosphere leading up to kick-off. As is often the case when the sun comes out in the UK, people were making the absolute most of it.
Fans in England shirts were flooding Bristol’s Temple Meads station from the early afternoon, passing through the picturesque city streets and relaxing by the canals, enjoying the warmest day of the year so far.
Millie Bright scored England’s second with a perfect poacher’s goal at the back post
England ran Belgium out of the park, registering 20 shots in total to their four
England made sure to give their enthusiastic crowd at Bristol’s Ashton Gate a good show
The high spirits followed them into the ground, which had sold out for the game. If there was ever a case to be made for the Lionesses to leave Wembley behind and tour the country, then this was the perfect example.
And the Lionesses made sure to give their enthusiastic crowd a show in the first half, with Lucy Bronze putting Sarina Wiegman’s side in front in the 20th minute.
Lauren James and Alessia Russo had both come close moments prior, but it was the scrappier of the three that finally found the back of the net.
James put in a delightful, bending cross into the penalty area, and Bronze was the first to meet it, her header taking a nasty deflection off a Belgium player’s head, which took PSV’s goalkeeper Nicky Evrard by surprise, marking the right-back’s 17th goal in 130 appearances for the national team.
If ever there was a selection dilemma in Sarina Wiegman’s mind as to who to start between Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead, then her mind was made up for her, with it being announced before kick-off that Kelly – who has been looking increasingly like her old self since joining Arsenal on deadline day – would be ruled out for both fixtures.
A disappointing turn of events for a player whose England career had been looking back on track after a difficult start to the season.
But Mead more than made the most of the opportunity, looking characteristically lively on the right wing and coming close just before half-time. Her shot, saved by Evrard, went out for a corner, and Millie Bright was waiting at the back post for a perfect poacher’s goal, extending the Lionesses’ lead before the break.
Belgium had their best spell not long after the resumption, coming close with a strong cross-goal effort that was only lacking someone to meet it.
Aggie Beever-Jones came off the bench at half-time and scored England’s third
Keira Walsh netted the fifth in what was her first senior goal for England after 82 appearances
Lauren James, who is still fighting her way back to full fitness, was taken off for her Chelsea teammate Aggie Beever-Jones at half-time. The 21-year-old striker – who was playing to the left of Alessia Russo – took the game even further away from the visitors in the 67th minute after Mead put it on a plate for her.
Jess Park, who had only been on the pitch for seven minutes, made it four, with a confident finish after stealing the ball deep in the Belgium half, before Keira Walsh added her name to the goal sheet in the 88th minute for good measure.
After 82 caps, this was Walsh’s first senior goal for the Lionesses.
England travel to Leuven for the reverse fixture on Tuesday evening and it will be quickly back to the drawing board for the Belgians.
