England thrash Jamaica to get perfect send-off ahead of Euros title defence

England were given a rousing reception by a lively Leicester crowd as they signed off ahead of their Euro 2025 campaign with an Ella Toone-inspired victory against Jamaica. There were nervy moments in between first-half goals from Toone and Lucy Bronze, but the Lionesses grew into the game and were never in trouble after that second went in.

Sarina Wiegman's team won 6-0 against Portugal in their last Wembley game, and once again peppered the opposition goal with shots. It could have been 3-0 long before Toone got her second and England’s third in first-half stoppage-time, with two players denied by the woodwork.

Georgia Stanway added a fourth for England just before the hour mark, rifling the ball home from inside the box. And Alessia Russo, one of England's better performers at the King Power Stadium, got the goal her performance deserved 20 minutes from time.

Fans stayed behind to give the players a send-off before they head to Switzerland to defend the title they won on home soil in 2022. They will have to do so without Mary Earps, Fran Kirby and Millie Bright - three influential figures from that triumph - but Wiegman still has a squad packed with talent from the upper reaches of the WSL and beyond.

One of those experienced players is Toone, and it was the Manchester United midfielder who curled in England’s opener with just 10 minutes on the clock. The 25-year-old was backed ahead of Jess Park as the furthest-advanced midfielder and justified her selection by beating Liya Brooks from the edge of the box.

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England dominated the early proceedings but got a let-off when a Jamaica equaliser was ruled out for offside. Kayla McKenna ran away celebrating after her effort deflected past the unsighted Hannah Hampton, but referee Franziska Wildfeuer consulted the VAR monitor and ruled that Kiki Van Zanten - standing in an offside position in front of Hampton - had prevented the England keeper from making the save.

Jamaica continued to threaten, and a crunching Jess Carter tackle prevented Van Zanten getting a clear sight of goal herself. And the Gotham FC full- back then made a vital contribution at the other end, sending in a devilish cross for fellow defender Lucy Bronze to calmly nod home.

Lauren Hemp came close to a third before the break, sending a shot crashing against the post after a neat flick from Bronze. Russo fired against the crossbar not long after, but Toone ensured it was third time lucky with shots off the woodwork as she dug out a shot which clipped the inside of the post on the way in.

Wiegman was able to get a good look at some other squad members during the second half, with the game out of sight. She said before the game that she’d be managing Lauren James’ minutes after injury, but the Chelsea star got the best part of half an hour after replacing Toone as part of a triple change.

Beever-Jones got even less time, but both women had a part to play in late England goals. James' teasing cross set up Russo for the fifth before Beever-Jones - after coming close with a couple of sighters - slid home a sixth after combining with fellow sub Niamh Charles.

There was a scary moment when Beth Mead went down in stoppage-time, but the forward was ok and able to carry on. Not only that, but she added extra gloss to the scoreline right at the death as England made it seven.

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