Thank you for joining me for this record breaking Lionesses win. China were far off the level they should be and they will take the heavy defeat and learn from it for their future matches. However, tonight belongs to England who were dominant throughout. Recap all of the action in the report below. We will be bringing you live updates from England’s next game against Ghana on Tuesday, see you then.
England forward Beth Mead told ITV: “Nice to see lots of different goalscorers and different people getting minutes. I like being in front of goal and getting goals but we put together a lot of good goals tonight.
“It’s perfect time and opportunity to give them exposure at international level.”
England manager Sarina Wiegman told ITV: “Really nice. We want to be more ruthless in the final third and I think that is what we did today. I think we started well and they played in a different shape that they didn’t before so we had to adapt to that which was really good.
“She was enjoying herself, she was really sharp. I think she very calm and played well.”
Stanway is the first Lionesses midfielder to score a hat-trick at Wembley.
England midfielder Georgia Stanway told ITV: “We are very happy, I think the most important thing was starting fast today. I am not known for scoring goals at the moment so I will take that, I am happy with that.”
The win is a record victory for a Lionesses team at Wembley Stadium. They break the record they set just before the Euros with their 6-0 win over Portugal.
That is Sarina Wiegman’s 50th win as England manager. Not a bad way to record it.
Full time: England 8-0 China
A commanding performance at HQ for England with the scores including a hat-trick for Georgia Stanway. A good outing in front of a sold-out Wembley but China have a lot to improve on.
90 + 3 min: Sweet Caroline rings around Wembley once again as England cruise to a dominant win. They have been battling for more but I think they will have to settle with eight.
90 + 1 min: China make a great move and it comes to Jiali but the effort is straight at Moorhouse. There will be three minutes added.
89 min: England win a corner and Kelly is stood over it again. The delivery isn’t great but the hosts get it into the box with a Hinds cross. However, Pan comes out and collects.
87 min: Charles loses possession and can’t quite win it back, Linyan takes a punt and Moorhouse almost loses control but eventually collects. The England goalkeeper’s only real need to make a save all evening.
86 min: England almost have a ninth as Charles makes a great run and she finds Russo but her chance is wide. That is the Arsenal player’s last action as she is replaced by Beever-Jones.
84 min: Hinds lifts a perfectly weighted cross into the box but it doesn’t find a teammate.
82 min: Now a fun fact for you the record win for any England senior team at Wembley stands at 9-0 when England’s men beat Luxembourg. The Lionesses are looking to equal or beat that now. But China are not letting England have it all their own way with Wei popping a great attempt which goes over the bar.
80 min: The goal is given but I do not know why, that looked offside. But the technology will know more than me.
Toone feeds Russo and her cross is touched by Pan but it’s in. However, VAR will be checking if she is offside.
Updated
GOAL! England 8-0 China (Russo, 78)
Oh my.
77 min: England really toying with China now, it really has exposed just how much the visitors need to develop before the World Cup in two years time.
75 min: Stanway falls asleep at the back with a rogue pass which almost sees China pounce but Kun can’t turn the ball goalward. England now make another change with Hinds on for Bronze.
74 min: The visitors must just want to hear the full time whistle, 7-0 down and more than 15 minutes left to play. This would be a record win for the Lionesses at Wembley if it remains as things stand.
Kelly crosses in a beauty and Pan again punches clear instead of collecting. It comes to Bronze, who should have taken it herself, squares it to Park who hits the bar. A poor pass to Pan comes next but her clearances falls to Toone who taps home.
Updated
GOAL! England 7-0 China (Toone, 72)
Another goalkeeper error.
70 min: China has such a positive spell earlier in this half but their spark has been put out and England are continuing their knocks on the door. Kendall has a shot blocked before Park’s is also deflected.
68 min: China make a triple change including Kun and Jiali, while Kendall is on for Walsh for England.
67 min: England win a free kick as they continue to knock on the scoring door. Kelly is over this one but it’s headed out for a corner. Kelly is on the corner and she goes short, it eventually comes into the box from Le Tissier but Pan collects.
65 min: I am surprised Sarina Wiegman has not made more changes with the scoreline what it is. It feels like the perfect opportunity to bring the likes of Godfrey on. But at the moment China are their own worst enemies as Pan fluffs a pass and almost gifts Russo a goal but Chen clears.
63 min: England eventually find Russo down the right and she makes an incredible run once again. Her cross isn’t met by any teammate and the chance is gone. Another is almost created by some sloppy defensive passes from the visitors but Pan mops up the mess.
61 min: Le Tissier wins a free kick from Linyan, who has been a really bright spark for China since coming on, in England’s half so they will build from deep here.
59 min: China have had a really positive few minutes on the ball but they seem to be rushing their plays, a little more patience and they might batter down England’s defence. The closest shot so far for China with Linyan’s attempt over the bar.
57 min: China win a corner after Toone sees the ball out to close down a chance. The delivery is a good one but Bronze heads it, it falls to Chen but her chance is wide. It comes off of an England player though and China have another corner but it’s dealt with well.
55 min: China were doing well to deal with England’s attacks in this half but it was silky football that unlocked their defence this time. The Lionesses are on their way to their biggest win at Wembley as they are currently tying their largest victory with their 6-0 win over Portugal earlier this year.
That was a lovely bit of football from England. A well worked, patient move sees Stanway control well and taps home. I believe she is just the third Lioness to score a hat-trick at Wembley, Aggie Beever-Jones and Beth Mead the other two players.
Updated
GOAL! England 6-0 China (Stanway, 52)
That’s her hat-trick.
51 min: England win a free kick and they take it quickly. They have some patient build-up before Toone pops it in but it’s well defended. The Lionesses come again but again it is scrambled clear and China counter. Linyan crosses it in but it’s headed clear.
49 min: Park finds Russo but she looked offside from the angle fans saw but it takes quite a while for the flag to be raised.
47 min: A similar start to the beginning of the game in the second half with China getting a chance but England scramble to clear.
Back underway: England 5-0 China
Can China manage to get on the board? Or will England continue to run away with this? All to come. The Lionesses are making a triple change with Mead, Morgan and Hemp off for Wubben-Moy, Park and Kelly. China make one change with Wuri off for Linyan.
Freya Godfrey might be one such player Sarina Wiegman chooses to give a debut to this evening. Have a read of this recent interview with the London City Lionesses star:
Half-time: England 5-0 China
Well I don’t think anyone would have predicted this scoreline before kick-off. An absolutely dominant display from the Lionesses at a sold-out Wembley with China falling apart defensively. Two goals from Beth Mead, two from Georgia Stanway and another from Lauren Hemp sees the Lionesses with a five-goal lead. Can they keep up this performance throughout? Or will Sarina Wiegman send on some less experienced players to get some international minutes in their legs? All to come.
45 + 1 min: There will be two minutes added on. I thought it would be longer given there was a hefty VAR check.
44 min: England so close again to another goal with Toone this time the one with the chance but Pan saves. The Manchester United player was also then judged to be offside.
42 min: Hemp has been excellent so far this evening and she finds Charles with a lovely short pass. China deal with the latest attack but it is clear the visitors just want to hear the half time whistle.
40 min: Toone loses the ball in the midfield and China eventually work it up the pitch but the offside flag is then risen.
This has just been an absolute nightmare for China. A horror show defensively capped off by that penalty being given. The team are in a huddle just trying to get some motivation to keep going.
PENALTY! England 5-0 China (Stanway, 38)
It is the Bayern Munich star who steps up and she has never missed a penalty outside of a shootout. She stands with her hands on her hips and strikes it sweetly.
Updated
37 min: A penalty is given, surely Stanway will take it.
36 min: It actually looks like it hits her chest and then her hand but the referee has been told to look at the monitor. Usually it goes to a penalty in this situations. Let’s wait and see.
35 min: VAR are now checking for handball. Russo controls the ball with her chest and then hits a shot. It looks like it hits Mengwen’s hand and the time it is taking it seems it could be given as a penalty.
34 min: England win a free kick with Hemp fouled. Mead is the take of the set piece and her delivery is a good one. China attempt to clear but Russo manages to get a shot away, England claim handball but nothing has been given. VAR is in operation this evening so if there is anything to check they will get to it.
31 min: Matt L has emailed and said:
Was the “Crackling atmosphere” comment next to the Sweet Caroline commentary a reference to Neil Diamonds other big hit Crackling Rosie perchance? If so, Bravo!
I would love to say it was intentional Matt but it’s a happy coincidence. Back on the pitch, it looks as though China are going to be making some very early substitutions, no player wants to be hooked this early but it would make sense with this shambolic start for the visitors.
30 min: China have their best chance since the opening minutes as Yanwen peels forward but Hemp wins it back to snuff out the chance. England immediately counter as Russo is found, her shot is saved from Pan and smacks the bar but then the offside flag is raised so it wouldn’t have stood anyway.
28 min: Russo does really well on the edge of the box to trigger England’s latest attack, it really has been all the hosts so far. Many phases later Bronze pops it into the box and Pan collects. The Chelsea defender wanted a corner but it isn’t given.
26 min: Have you seen a more competent England performance than this? The last time they played this well must have been against the Netherlands at the Euros. Get in touch and let me know your thoughts.
China wildly play is loosely back. Hemp dispossesses Mengwen and the Man City star crosses in. Stanway absolutely whacks it into the back of the net. This is quite a performance from Sarina Wiegman’s side.
Updated
GOAL! England 4-0 China (Stanway, 23)
Wow.
22 min: Walsh pops in a lovely ball to Mead, it is just too easy to crack open this China defence. The Arsenal star crosses it to Hemp, who rallies off a shot which is just wide.
20 min: The atmosphere at Wembley is crackling. The Sweet Caroline chorus and chants of England in full flow. China are managing to get more joy on the ball but the Lionesses’ defence is holding strong.
18 min: This is quickly turning into a crisis for the visitors. They need to stop England connecting and they need their own sustained possession.
China are playing with a back five but they are not adapting to this England attack at all. Far too much space given to the Lionesses and Hemp pounces, what a return from injury for the Manchester City star.
Updated
GOAL! England 3-0 China (Hemp, 16)
This is ludicrous.
16 min: I was just writing a post about how it would be interesting to see how China would respond to conceding. They allowed England far too much space and did not close down the attack with Mead taking full advantage. The Arsenal star is now on 39 goals for her country.
This time it is Toone who has some fabulous footwork to manoeuvre the ball to Mead who takes a one-touch finish.
Updated
GOAL! England 2-0 China (Mead, 14)
What is happening.
Bronze played Mead onside in the box and she took a fantastic touch to control it and take it away from defenders. She then taps it with her right foot. A lovely piece of skill.
Updated
GOAL! England 1-0 China (Mead, 12)
What a goal.
12 min: England are clicking on all fronts aside from the final attempt at goal. Bronze finds Mead who pops the ball into Russo and her header is well wide.
11 min: Wow, oh wow Russo is the spark to opening this China defence at the moment. Her forward runs are causing them nightmares as she gets into the box again but her pass is met by Qiaozhu.
9 min: So far England have been the brighter side with just one or two final touches just not coming off for the hosts.
7 min: Mead feeds the corner and Bronze is left with her arms wide as she was fouled. It goes out for another corner though so England have another crack at this. It’s another good delivery and Le Tissier gets her head to it but it’s saved.
5 min: A fabulous ball finds Russo but she snatches at her cross which blows the chance. England keep it alive and Hemp wins a corner.
4 min: The corner delivery is good but it bounces wide, China do feed it back in but Moorhouse collects to clear the danger.
3 min: China have the first real chance of the game with the ball pinballing around the box but England manage to eventually get it clear. The visitors continue to press and Bronze gives away a corner.
2 min: England start by winning a free kick with a challenge on Stanway. The Lionesses don’t rush any attack but they then lose possession. A fairly even opening exchange.
Kick-off: England 0-0 China
Here we go.
The lights show has happened, a concert by Self Esteem has been performed and the anthems are about to happen. This one is almost underway.
Former England star Fran Kirby, who won the Euros in 2022, has been celebrated on pitch before this clash. She walked out at Wembley and posed with a framed 77 shirt. One of the Lionesses greats.
I’d love to hear from you. I am always interested in snack chat so get in touch with that but also please hit me with your best puns. They can be football related or not, I’m just looking for the best one which I will award come the end of the game.
Earlier today the USA beat Italy in a friendly, catch up with the action here:
A great interview here with Karen Carney:
The first leg of the women’s Nations League final took place yesterday, catch up with all of the action:
Tonight’s game will be Anna Moorhouse’s debut for England. She was a part of the Euros team who won this past summer but she did not play any minutes with Hannah Hampton in the number one shirt.
Keira Walsh is captaining the Lionesses with Leah Williamson still injured. Here’s what she had to say before this clash:
The team news is in. Anna Moorhouse starts in goal for England in the absence of Hannah Hampton and Khiara Keating.
England: Moorhouse, Bronze, Charles, Walsh, Le Tissier, Morgan, Mead, Stanway, Russo, Toone, Hemp.
Bench: Hings, Baggaley, Kendall, Wubben-Moy, Beever-Jones, Kelly, Kearns, Park, Blindkilde Brown, Roebuck, Clinton, Denton, Fisk, Godfrey.
I am searching for China’s team news now, as soon as I have it I will share it.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the friendly between England and China at Wembley Stadium. The match is set to be a thriller with the European Championship holders taking on the reigning Asia Cup winners.
The home of English football is sold-out for the occasion which will see Fran Kirby celebrated pre-match after her international retirement before the Euros this past summer.
The team news will be announced shortly but there was a last minute squad update for England. On Friday Khiara Keating withdrew from the squad with a minor injury and so former number one Ellie Roebuck has been called up.
With Hannah Hampton out of action with injury it will be interesting to see who England manager Sarina Wiegman selects in goal. That news and all the other updates incoming before kick-off at 5.30pm GMT.
