Match report as Alex Greenwood and Lauren James (2) saw England into a 3-0 lead; Beth Mead scored her first international goal since September 2022; Fran Kirby and Lucy Bronze added goals after the break; but the Netherlands' 4-0 win against Belgium sees England finish second in Group A1
Wednesday 6 December 2023 15:11, UK
England agonisingly missed out on the Nations League finals despite a 6-0 win against Scotland, ending Team GB's hopes of going to the Olympics.
It was a dramatic end to a thrilling Nations League campaign and the Lionesses could not have done any more. Sarina Wiegman had asked her players to 'go wild' with goals and they answered her call.
It was a strange paradox of a big win in one of their biggest rivalries while also missing out on not one, but two competitive tournaments.
Heading into the 90th minute, England were going through to the finals on goals scored, 5-0 ahead in Scotland while the Netherlands were 2-0 ahead against Belgium.
But just as the Netherlands scored a third to reclaim top spot in Group A1, Lucy Bronze slotted home England's sixth to see the Lionesses back into first.
But as the full-time whistle blew at Hampden Park, there were worried faces as they kept playing in Tilburg. Then Damaris Egurrola made it 4-0 to see the Netherlands into the finals at England - and Team GB's - expense.
England had a job to do and inside 12 minutes, they were in front. It was a gift of a goal too as Alex Greenwood was allowed a free header from Beth Mead's corner, nodding the ball too easily past the outstretched arms of Lee Gibson.
Scotland's best chance of the half came when Mary Earps was forced into a diving save as Rachel McLauchlan fired towards the near post. On the half-hour mark, Lauren Hemp lashed an effort onto the post from two yards out.
But soon, the England floodgates opened and it was sparked by the superb Lauren James. Her first came as she picked up a cleared ball at the top of the area, with her strike taking a huge deflection off Nicola Docherty on the way through.
The second was a sensational strike. James was fed by Chelsea team-mate Niamh Charles, before curling a stunning strike home.
But perhaps the moment of the half was a first England goal for Mead on her first start since September 2022. James turned provider, finding her team-mate at the near post as Mead turned home as the Lionesses celebrated properly for the first time in the game.
It took just four minutes for England to add their fifth after the break. It was some more lax defending from Scotland as Fran Kirby was left unmarked inside the area to find Georgia Stanway's pass before sidefooting past Gibson.
Both sides continued to trade blows as the half wore on. Gibson made brilliant stops to keep out Hemp, Mead and a Greenwood free-kick as Kirby hit the crossbar in a melee inside the area. At the other end, Earps needed to be alert as Kirsty Hanson latched onto a poor backpass, but the goalkeeper did enough to keep her from scoring.
The England captain was again called into action late on. Martha Thomas' header was expertly pushed away by Earps, ricocheting off Bronze's legs and onto the post before being cleared as the Lionesses made life difficult for themselves.
But as news filtered through of the Netherlands' third goal, England made sure they did all they could to reach the Nations League finals. Ella Toone's delivery was nodded home by an ecstatic Bronze - but there were anxious faces at full-time as they waited for the game to finish in Tilburg.
Despite all their efforts, it ended up not being enough for the Lionesses to sneak through, with the Netherlands joining Spain, France and Germany in February's finals.
England forward Fran Kirby speaking to Sky Sports:
"We were delighted to get a goal right at the end, because we knew the Netherlands had scored. Then it was a waiting game. We knew their game was behind.
"Obviously it wasn't meant to be. I'm super proud of the girls, from the first whistle we knew what the job was. I'm gutted for everyone and gutted for the girls who don't get a chance to go to the Olympics.
"It shows what we can do as a team and the character we have."
England manager Sarina Wiegman:
"Of course I am very very disappointed. That's the biggest emotion I have now.
"We delivered tonight [Tuesday] and we delivered this December camp, the team showed lots of character, in this game too and we started the game really well, scored four goals in the first half.
"When Lucy scored I said to the players that we are going to get this. Netherlands scored in the late seconds and that's how close it was. I actually don't know what to say.
"I am really proud of the performance and what we did this whole week but it was not enough and it is really disappointing and you don't really have to say anything more."
Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:
"It's incredible to think a 6-0 rout has ended in such bitter disappointment, but the Lionesses gave themselves a mountain to climb when they lost to Belgium back in October. The damage was done then, not now.
"Everything about this display in Scotland was magical. Six goals, via five different scorers, where Lauren James once again came to the fore and Beth Mead marked her first England start since returning from injury with a special strike.
"The night meandered, and appeared to favour England, especially when Lucy Bronze added a sixth goal at the death, but news of the fourth Dutch goal permeated camp not long after and hearts sank, then shattered. Efforts were going to be in vain.
"What is distinctive about this England group is they never know when they are beat. They toiled until the very last to give themselves the best possible chance and that will please Sarina Wiegman no end. Pride is the overriding emotion, she explained post-match.
"Team GB won't be at next summer's Olympic Games, but future England, as a collective, will be better for this experience."
England forward Beth Mead speaking on BBC One:
"Devastated. We did everything we possibly could on the pitch [on Tuesday].
"I thought the team were incredible. Unfortunately it wasn't in our hands; the Netherlands got the four goals, so fair play to them but obviously devastated to miss out by such small margins.
"We got the goals late on, we thought we had maybe gotten over the line but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be.
"That's football. Small margins. Extra time and late goals happened in both games."
Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa, whose side were 4-0 down at half-time, apologised to supporters. He told the BBC:
"Very disappointed and very frustrated. I want to apologise to the fans. This is not the level we expected.
"Especially in the first half, we totally lost concentration. I also give credit to England, I thought they were excellent. We had chances to get back in the game but it was very difficult.
"It was a tough night for our players. I want to take full responsibility because I know how hard the players work for us but today [Tuesday] it was not enough."
