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England produced a sensational, record-breaking performance to stun rivals Norway as they progressed to the knockout stages of the European Women's Championship as group winners.
Brighton was treated to a memorable night as England broke their own tournament record to win 8-0 in what was perceived to be their biggest test of the group stages.
Norway, ranked 11th in the world, were outplayed, outclassed and completed stunned by an England team oozing confidence.
After an underwhelming opening victory over Austria, England started in cagey fashion but, after Georgia Stanway slotted in a 12-minute penalty, there was only one winner.
Within half an hour, Lauren Hemp and Ellen White had extended England's lead and excitement was rippling around the Amex Stadium.
What followed was a ruthless onslaught on Norway's goal - Beth Mead netted a hat-trick, Alessia Russo came off the bench to score and White got a second on the night to move to within one goal off Wayne Rooney's all-time England goalscoring record.
It was a statement performance to the rest of Europe as England fly into the knockout stages having comfortably confirmed their status as one of the tournament favourites.
Sensational half stuns electric crowd
Sarina Wiegman said she wanted her side to "entertain" in Brighton and, boy, did they do that.
Their sensational first-half performance stunned everybody inside the stadium, with friends and family next to the media box gasping and on their feet for almost the entirety of it.
Every attack threatened to add to England's tally and the supporters inside the Amex knew it, cheering and getting to their feet in anticipation.
As one supporter said while walking down the steps at half time - "what is going on?".
That was surely the question running through Norway's minds as their players looked shell-shocked when they sprinted down the tunnel with their heads bowed.
England's players were given a version of a guard of honour by the substitutes, who clasped hands with each one with defender Millie Bright roaring "let's go!".
The Lionesses' 6-0 victory over Scotland in 2017 was the biggest winning margin in the competition's history and they had equalled that by half time. It was only a matter of time in the second half before that was beaten.
More to follow.
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England
Squad number1Player nameEarps
Squad number2Player nameBronze
Squad number6Player nameBright
Squad number8Player nameWilliamson
Squad number3Player nameDaly
Squad number10Player nameStanway
Squad number4Player nameWalsh
Squad number7Player nameMead
Squad number14Player nameKirby
Squad number11Player nameHemp
Squad number9Player nameWhite
Squad number5Player nameGreenwood
Squad number16Player nameScott
Squad number18Player nameKelly
Squad number20Player nameToone
Squad number23Player nameRusso
Norway
Squad number1Player namePettersen
Squad number4Player nameHansen
Squad number6Player nameMjelde
Squad number3Player nameThorisdóttir
Squad number17Player nameBlakstad
Squad number8Player nameRisa
Squad number7Player nameEngen
Squad number9Player nameSævik
Squad number10Player nameHansen
Squad number11Player nameReiten
Squad number14Player nameHegerberg
Squad number5Player nameBergsvand
Squad number13Player nameIldhusøy
Squad number15Player nameEikeland
Squad number18Player nameMaanum
Squad number19Player nameTerland
Line-ups
England
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Earps
- 2Bronze
- 6Bright
- 8Williamson
- 3DalySubstituted forGreenwoodat 57'minutes
- 10StanwaySubstituted forScottat 80'minutes
- 4Walsh
- 7Mead
- 14KirbySubstituted forTooneat 58'minutes
- 11HempSubstituted forKellyat 70'minutes
- 9WhiteSubstituted forRussoat 57'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Greenwood
- 12Carter
- 13Hampton
- 15Stokes
- 16Scott
- 17Parris
- 18Kelly
- 19England
- 20Toone
- 21Roebuck
- 23Russo
Norway
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Pettersen
- 4Hansen
- 6Mjelde
- 3Thorisdóttir
- 17BlakstadBooked at 56mins
- 8RisaSubstituted forMaanumat 59'minutesBooked at 87mins
- 7Engen
- 9SævikSubstituted forBergsvandat 45'minutes
- 10HansenSubstituted forEikelandat 76'minutes
- 11ReitenSubstituted forTerlandat 84'minutes
- 14HegerbergSubstituted forIldhusøyat 75'minutesBooked at 77mins
Substitutes
- 2Sønstevold
- 5Bergsvand
- 12Skoglund
- 13Ildhusøy
- 15Eikeland
- 16Bjelde
- 18Maanum
- 19Terland
- 20Skinnes Hansen
- 21Jøsendal
- 22Haug
- 23Mikalsen
Referee:Riem Hussein
Attendance:28,847
Live Text
Match ends, England 8, Norway 0.
Second Half ends, England 8, Norway 0.
Attempt missed. Jill Scott (England) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lucy Bronze.
Foul by Keira Walsh (England).
Amalie Eikeland (Norway) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Alex Greenwood (England) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Frida Maanum (Norway) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ella Toone (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Frida Maanum (Norway).
Attempt missed. Frida Maanum (Norway) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Maren Mjelde.
Substitution, Norway. Elisabeth Terland replaces Guro Reiten.
Attempt missed. Ella Toone (England) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Alessia Russo.
Goal! England 8, Norway 0. Beth Mead (England) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Keira Walsh (England) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Alex Greenwood.
Substitution, England. Jill Scott replaces Georgia Stanway.
Foul by Beth Mead (England).
Julie Blakstad (Norway) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Celin Ildhusøy (Norway) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Leah Williamson (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Celin Ildhusøy (Norway).