A ruthless England thumped Scotland in their final Women’s Nations League group match but it was not enough to top the table after the Netherlands thrashed Belgium.
That means the Dutch are through to the Nations League semi-finals and England’s hopes of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics on behalf of Team GB are over.
Alex Greenwood’s header opened the scoring before Lauren James netted twice in two minutes and Beth Mead marked her first England start since recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury with a stunning finish into the top right corner.
Fran Kirby poked home from Georgia Stanway’s cutback four minutes after the break to make it five before Lucy Bronze stabbed home in the final minute of added time.
But, the Netherlands scored a dramatic fourth goal in the 95th minute against Belgium to ensure they reached the semi-final ahead of England.
As the nominated home nation, England needed to reach the Nations League final, or finish third in if Olympic hosts France make the final, to secure Team GB’s place at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Lionesses did not even celebrate their goals, knowing they needed a significant margin to ensure that even if the Dutch won, they would top the group.
Bronze’s goal seemed to provide the moment of relief as the Lionesses thought they had done enough by scoring six, before word of a fourth goal in the Netherlands reached them after full-time and a dejected England team applauded their travelling supporters.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Scotland
Formation 3-4-1-2
1Gibson4Corsie15Clark3Mukandi14McLauchlan22Cuthbert8Kerr2Docherty11Evans10Hanson18Emslie
1Gibson
4Corsie
15ClarkSubstituted forHowardat 45′minutes
3MukandiSubstituted forBrownat 45′minutes
14McLauchlanSubstituted forNapierat 45′minutes
22Cuthbert
8Kerr
2DochertyBooked at 72mins
11Evans
10HansonSubstituted forHarrisonat 79′minutes
18EmslieSubstituted forThomasat 64′minutes
Substitutes
5Howard
6MacLean
7Brown
9Lauder
12Fife
13Hay
16Rodgers
17Harrison
19Davidson
20Thomas
21MacIver
23Napier
England
Formation 4-3-3
1Earps2Bronze6Morgan5Greenwood3Charles8Stanway4Walsh9Kirby7Mead11Hemp10James
1Earps
2Bronze
6Morgan
5Greenwood
3Charles
8Stanway
4Walsh
9KirbySubstituted forTooneat 65′minutes
7MeadSubstituted forRussoat 65′minutes
11Hemp
10James
Substitutes
12Carter
13Hampton
14Toone
15Wubben-Moy
16Zelem
17Kelly
18Clinton
19Daly
20Le Tissier
21Keating
22Turner
23Russo
Referee:
Ionela Alina Pesu
Match Stats
Home TeamScotlandAway TeamEngland
Possession
Home36%
Away64%
Shots
Home9
Away21
Shots on Target
Home2
Away9
Corners
Home1
Away4
Fouls
Home11
Away6