England pick up opening win against Finland at Women's Euros

England Women got their European Championship campaign off to a winning start with a 26-1 victory against Finland.

Four of the squad scored hat-tricks and thirteen different players got on the scoresheet in total as England began the defence of their European crown.

Milly Home got two in the first two minutes including a lovely behind-the-back effort, as England came out firing early on, scoring nine in the first quarter.

Home completed her hat-trick while Lucy Devine, Anna Neville and Sofia Wise all got their first senior major tournament goals in an impressive first period.

Finland did get the first score of the second quarter, but that would prove to be their only goal of the game as England then managed the game well, adding four goals in the second and five in the third quarter to go 18-1 ahead, while Finland continued to fight.

In that run to the end of the third Jordan Carr got a goal on her debut in a run of seven different scorers until Georgie Southorn grabbed her second of the run.

As the game entered the final quarter, Finland’s defence began to tire slightly and England were able to pick out their cutters with ease, five of the last eight goals being assisted scores as Southorn, Claire Faram and Sofia Wise all completed their hat-tricks to close out the game, 26-1.

England’s next game is on Friday 12 July against Belgium at 4pm.

England 26-1 Finland (0-9; 1-4; 0-5; 0-8)

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