Georgia Stanway scored a hat-trick as England women's team secured a dominant 8-0 victory over China in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Beth Mead added a double, while Lauren Hemp, Ella Toone and Alessia Russo also found the net in a comprehensive display.
The win evoked memories of Sarina Wiegman's early tenure, when England regularly swept aside opponents by large margins. However, the manager noted that such results have become rarer due to improved competitiveness in international football. 'What I wanted was to come here, show who we are and put a good performance in,' Wiegman said. 'I hope everyone enjoyed that. We did.'
England were 5-0 up by half-time, with Mead opening the scoring in the 12th minute after a flick-on from Lucy Bronze. Hemp made it 3-0 in the 16th minute, and Stanway struck twice before the break, including a penalty. She completed her hat-trick early in the second half after a one-two with Toone.
Toone and Russo added further goals to round off the scoring. The attendance was 74,611, slightly below the stadium's capacity but still impressive for a friendly against the world's 16th-ranked team.
Wiegman handed a first start to goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, while Maya Le Tissier and Esme Morgan partnered in central defence due to injuries. The manager praised their performance: 'I think that went really well. They can show where they are at as individuals and also how they connect together.'
The result was a statement of intent from England, who will face tougher tests in upcoming tournaments. For now, the team and fans could enjoy a resounding victory that showcased their attacking prowess.
