Lionesses advance to the knockout stages in historic win over Norway

Beth Mead put on a magnificent display in England’s record-breaking 8-0 victory over Norway to advance to the knockout stages.

The rout started when Ellen White went down after slight contact from Maria Thorisdóttir and was awarded a penalty which new Bayern Munich signing Georgia Stanway smashed past Guro Pettersen.

The Lionesses’ ferocious start continued as Lauren Hemp bundled home a pinpoint Beth Mead cross to double England’s lead at the 16-minute mark.

White made it three when she stole the ball from Thorisdóttir and slotted it into the bottom corner for her 51^st England goal.

It was Mead’s turn to get on the scoresheet when she headed in Hemp’s sublime cross.

The Arsenal forward then had the pick of the bunch when she dribbled into the box, evading two defenders and slid her shot under an onrushing Pettersen.

White latched on to the end of Fran Kirby’s cross for a sixth, leaving Norway utterly defeated heading into halftime.

It was a scintillating display of the fast, flowing, attacking brand of football that Serina Weigman has instilled in the Lionesses since her appointment.

The second half was just as impressive, although in a different way, as England showed their maturity as they held the ball hostage and refused to give Norway any opportunities.

Then after patient play, substitute Alessia Russo headed in a powerful seventh before Mead capped off her magical night with a tap-in to complete her hat-trick and sink the two-time European champions.

The result is the biggest winning margin in European Championship history and means that hosts England have booked their spot in the knockout stages.

For Norway, it is a big blow in confidence to lose by such a significant margin, but they can’t dwell on the result for long with a crucial match against Austria that will decide whether they will join England in the knockouts.