Second-half goals from Alessia Russo, Georgia Stanway, Bethany England and Jill Scott saw England beat Switzerland 4-0 in Zurich in a friendly.
After a scrappy first-half, Alessia Russo headed England in front in the 56th minute from Rachel Daly’s deep cross.
Georgia Stanway then doubled their lead from the penalty spot 18 minutes later following a scrappy unclear foul just inside the box involving several players from both teams.
Substitute, Bethany England added their third goal from 76th minute header from a corner before Jill Scott then glanced in a 94th minute header from a deep cross to complete victory.
Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses now head into 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro on home soil unbeaten in their last 14 matches, which have all come in the last nine months since Wiegman arrived as manager from the Netherlands.
Wiegman opted to make three changes from England’s comeback win over Netherlands last time out as Beth Mead, Georgia Stanway and Alessia Russo were named in the starting eleven, as Chloe Kelly and England dropped to the bench.
Lucy Bronze meanwhile was absent due to illness as Ellen White returned to the squad after recovering from Coronavirus, albeit only on the bench.
Those changes didn’t seem to have much impact as England dominated the opening 10 minutes but Fran Kirby and Lauren Hemp saw shots denied by Seraina Friedli, with Hemp only managing a soft pokey touch from Beth Mead’s sixth minute cross which found Friedli’s arms.
Switzerland meanwhile settled for a hard-pressing counter-attack style with their first proper chance coming in the 16th minute, as Ana-Maria Crnogorčević’s header was deflected wide of goal by Leah Williamson.
Neither team ultimately managed to produce any real chances of note until Crnogorčević cleared Daly’s 31st minute header off the line, with Daly’s effort having narrowly evaded Friedli’s grasp as it flew through onto goal.
Crnogorčević then flicked a 39th minute cross from Sandy Maendly wide of the bottom right corner for the hosts as she failed to control her outstretched right leg, just as the ball made contact with her right foot.
Three minutes later, England won another corner which Daly headed down onto goal towards left corner but the attempt was blocked and cleared swiftly by Switzerland, as both teams eventually headed into half-time still goalless.
After half-time, Switzerland came out of the traps which nearly paid off in the 48th minute as Geraldine Reuteler flicked a cross just wide of the right corner.
England then had a concern as Lauren Hemp went down injured with a left wrist injury moments later but she was able to continue.
Wiegman’s Lionesses eventually found a breakthrough in the 56th minute as Daly curled in a deep cross which Russo nodded in at the left post.
Mead one minute later tried to shoot from long range but her shot evaded the top right corner beyond Friedli’s reach.
Hemp and substitute, Bethany England then both wasted chances as Friedli denied both players with strong saves.
Hemp then volleyed Chloe Kelly’s 72nd minute cross towards the left corner from a tight angle but the shot was blocked by Friedli, just seconds before referee – Ainara Andrea Acevedo Dudley awarded England a penalty for a foul inside the box.
Stanway stepped up and calmly slotted the spot-kick beyond Friedli into the bottom left corner to double the visitors’ lead.
England added their third goal as she headed in from a 76th minute corner before Scott wrapped up victory with a glancing header from Kelly’s deep cross in the final minute of injury-time.
Wiegman now faces a tough selection headache ahead of next Wednesday’s (6 July) Euro opener against Austria at Old Trafford, Manchester.
The Dutch 52 year-old manager spoke to ITV4 post-match and praised the depth of her squad for proving vital to the win, as she said: ” It’s a very good result. I think we showed again we are a very fit team. They got tired, we brought on substitutes and we showed again we don’t play with just 11 players.
“We have so many more players in our squad who can make a change.”
What’s Next?
Switzerland will feature in Group C of 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro next month in England, with their opening match taking place on Saturday 9 July against Portugal, ahead of fixtures against Sweden then Netherlands on 13 and 17 July with all three matches kicking off at 5pm BST UK Time.
England meanwhile will kick off their home tournament at Old Trafford against Austria on Wednesday 6 July at 8pm BST, with fixtures against Norway and Northern Ireland on 11 and 15 July (both 8pm BST) completing their Group Stage matches
Teams
Switzerland: Seraina Friedli, Noelle Maritz, Luana Buhler, Viola Calligaris, Eseosa Aigbogun (Rinast 79′), Ana-Maria Crnogorčević (Marti 45′), Coumba Sow, Sandy Maendly (Xhemaili 79′), Lia Walti (Mauron 45′), Geraldine Reuteler (Terchoun 87′), Ramona Bachmann (Humm 65′)
Substitutes: Julia Stierli, Lara Marti, Rachel Rinast, Riola Xhemaili, Livia Peng, Sandrine Mauron, Svenja Folmli, Fabienne Humm, Nadine Riesen, Meriame Terchoun
England: Mary Earps, Alessia Russo (England 61′), Millie Bright, Alex Greenwood (Carter 62′), Rachel Daly, Leah Williamson, Keira Walsh, Beth Mead (Kelly 62′), Fran Kirby (Toone 61′), Lauren Hemp (Parris 75′), Georgia Stanway (Scott 79′)
Substitutes: Ellen White, Jess Carter, Hannah Hampton, Demi Stokes, Jill Scott, Nikita Parris, Chloe Kelly, Bethany England, Ella Toone, Ellie Roebuck, Lotte Wubben-Moy
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