Six of the best England women thrash Scotland as Taylor bags a hat-trick
This was the floor that was slippery when wet, the trip wire concealed in the undergrowth, the pot hole in the road, but England’s Lionesses did not slip, or stumble, they skipped serenely through a tricky looking test against Scotland to launch their European Championship campaign in ominous style.
This performance will have been noted by all their rivals, most notably Germany and France, who were far less impressive in their opening games.
England were the last of the pretournament favourites to play, but whereas the other matches have been tight, cagey affairs, this was a powerful display from Mark Sampson’s side, with Arsenal’s Jodie Taylor becoming the first English woman to score a European Championship hat-trick.
There were superb performances all over the pitch, though, and another Arsenal player, Jordan Nobbs, who scored England’s fifth goal with an exquisitely controlled long-range volley, could well become the star of the tournament. Technically superb, she is also quick and tormented Scotland with her imaginative passing.
By the end of the rout, it was easy to forget that Scotland were potentially dangerous opponents, desperate, as ever, to deflate English egos.
They were ruthlessly and relentlessly outclassed, conceding three goals in each half. The grimace on the face of Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, in the stands, summed up their night perfectly. It was a humbling, bruising experience.
For England, though, this was the perfect start that will send a shudder through the rest of the teams in Holland. Taylor’s hat-trick was a masterclass in clinical finishing, with the other goals coming from Birmingham City’s Ellen White and a late header from substitute Toni Duggan.
“I have to congratulate Jodie who has joined an elite club,” said Sampson, about a player who was overlooked under former manager Hope Powell. “I’ve not seen a better striker in the game, anticipating a pass, she is world class.
“I’m also really pleased with the overall performance. You could see the work the girls have put in preparing for this. We found a way to enjoy and thrive in a pressure situation and that is so important for the rest of the tournament.”
Taylor will always remember this night in Utrecht fondly, but she will want to forget the scuffed volley early on after Lucy Bronze had picked her out with an excellent first-time cross. It did not knock her self-belief, though, and she opened the scoring minutes later.
Fran Kirby sprung the offside trap with a clever dummy to allow Bronze’s pass to find its way behind the defence. Taylor’s eyes sent Scotland goalkeeper Gemma Fay one way before rolling the ball another.
Scotland were being torn apart and they conceded a second when they failed to deal with a set piece after some lovely skill from Kirby drew a foul.
The delivery from Nobbs was sublime and although Scotland blocked an initial header from Jill Scott and cleared a second shot off the line, Taylor sniffed out a chance, reacting faster than anyone to hook the loose ball home.
Scotland were all over the place and when Scott’s long-range effort was tipped on to the bar by Fay, her defence was caught completely flatfooted, allowing White to stab the rebound into the bottom corner. The game looked done as a meaningful contest before half-time.
Scotland tried to rally, but Taylor punished some poor defending again, running on to a header before delicately lifting the ball over the head of Fay.
It was difficult not to start feeling a little sorry for Scotland, but the best teams are utterly ruthless and, having been criticised in the past for not killing teams off when they are on top, this was an important box ticked for Sampson’s side.
England did not ease off, although Taylor was allowed to put her feet up after an hour with Barcelona-bound Duggan coming on. Nobbs’ volley made it five, before Duggan scored a sixth with a close range header.
“It was a really tough debut for us and we played against a very good side that is a contender to win this tournament,” said Scotland coach Anna Signeul, who revealed striker Jane Ross could miss the rest of the competition. “They were very good in all areas. We are really disappointed, but it’s not over for us.”