It would have been easy for doubt to creep in, the set-up eviscerated following an opening defeat that left them on the brink of going home with their tails between their legs.
Toone splayed out on the pitch in a quasi-Klinsmann dive after her goal was not necessarily the highlight of her performance. The Manchester United midfielder’s discipline is criminally underrated – she is so well known for her moments of inspiration that it can often be overlooked how capable she is of sitting tight and protecting Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway.
Toone celebrates England’s fourth (Photo: Getty)Greenwood at left-back
Jess Carter had a much more settled evening at centre-back after what she herself described as a “mare” against France.
After seeing his side obliterated by her pace, Netherlands boss Andries Jonker said James’ move from No 10 to the right-hand side did not decide the game because “she’s dangerous wherever she plays”.
“The moment she gets the ball and starts her dribble, it’s very difficult for women to get her off the ball, so wherever she plays but obviously she did well.”
In just five starts at major tournaments, she now has a record of five goals and three assists.
… And taking her off again
Nursing James will be essential to the rest of the tournament if England are to go as far as they believe they can. She only made nine WSL starts last season and did not play between April and the end of June.
James put in a dazzling performance (Photo: Getty)It is the ultimate compliment that Hannah Hampton’s clean sheet felt almost irrelevant, her distribution once again vindicating the decision to make her England No 1 even if it cost the national side Mary Earps, who refused to be a back-up and retired.
Sticking with Stanway – and Hemp
One of the biggest criticisms of Wiegman after the France game was that she remained loyal to four players whose seasons were decimated by injury – Greenwood, Hemp, Stanway and James.
Wiegman admitted she felt “tense” before the game knowing England’s Euros was on the line. It was her decisions that saved them.
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