THE LIONESSES have lift-off thanks to Lauren James.
produced a brilliant response to silence their critics and roar past 4-0 to finally get their European Championship defence going.
A brace from provided the perfect tonic to cure any potential hangover from the opening day defeat to France.
And Georgia Stanway and added the finishing touches as they sent out an ominous warning to Wales.
The pressure was on holders England and going into this one at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich.
Another loss could potentially have ended their hopes of retaining the crown and meant Sunday’s showdown with the Welsh could have been a dead rubber.
But England will secure a place in the knockouts if they triumph in the Battle of Britain clash in St. Gallen after downing the Dutch.
Wiegman, who led her home nation, the Netherlands, to Euro joy in 2017, demanded a reaction after the 2-1 setback against the French.
Rather than get caught up in any hysteria, the experienced coach instead called for her troops to do their talking on the pitch. And they did just that.
England, with Toone in for as their only change, flew out the traps.
Lauren Hemp’s trickery down the left led to her putting it on a plate for , but the forward could only head wide unmarked from six yards.
Holland survived that one, but they could do nothing to stop the genius of James moments later.
The move started with goalkeeper Hannah Hampton picking out Russo with a brilliant low pass into her feet.
The 26-year-old ace slipped it to James on the edge of the box and she cut in from the right, working it on to her left, and unleashed a piledriver straight into the top corner.
The Chelsea star, whose older brother Reece also plays for the Blues and England, is fast turning into THE key player for Wiegman.
She has eight goals and eight assists in her last 13 starts for her country and showed everybody why she is one of the first names on the team-sheet.
James nearly returned the favour for Russo, but the latter could only flick her floated strike wide.
The pressure was mounting and they got their reward when Stanway rifled low into the bottom right corner from 25 yards before the break.
The floodgates were open, and James could smell blood.
Pinball in the Dutch box led to Hemp’s shot deflecting out to her, and she coolly slotted home from six yards for her second.
The Lionesses were still on the hunt and hungry for more and they did not have to wait long to bite another chunk out of their completely outclassed opponents.
Russo made it a hat-trick of assists as she teed up best pal Toone to score the fourth.
Finally, and perhaps mercifully for them, Holland did have something to smile about when James made way to a huge ovation late on.
Her work was done here. Now both she and England know the job in hand – simply beat Wales and it’s off to the last-eight.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
