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The 10 biggest ever wins at the European Championships

The 10 biggest ever wins at the European Championships
© Reuters
Sports Mole looks back at the 10 biggest ever wins in the men's and women's Euros after England's ruthless 8-0 thumping of Norway.

Sarina Wiegman's England Women side are history makers. Battling heatwave conditions and a Norway Women side who are anything but pushovers, the Lionesses wrote themselves into European folklore on Monday night.

It only took England 45 minutes to equal the biggest-ever margin of victory at a European Championships with six goals in a merciless first-half display at the Amex Stadium in Euro 2022 Group B.

Wiegman's side may have taken their foot off the gas slightly in the second 45 minutes, but two further strikes would fall the way of those in white to see them set a new record for the most emphatic win ever at the continental championships.

Here, Sports Mole looks back at the 10 biggest-ever wins in the men's and women's Euros after England's ruthless 8-0 thumping of their Scandinavian counterparts on Monday evening.


England Women 8-0 Norway Women - Euro 2022 group stage

Beth Mead celebrates scoring for England Women on July 11, 2022© Reuters

Those in attendance at Old Trafford for the opening matchday of Euro 2022 against Austria were treated to an England victory, but the Lionesses only had the one goal to show for their efforts.

Wiegman's side displayed a lack of ruthlessness on the night, which can surely now be attributed to opening-day nerves after their goal-laden performance on the South Coast.

Beth Mead went home with the match ball, all-time women's record goalscorer Ellen White added another two to her column, while Georgia Stanway, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo also got in on the act.

The 8-0 thumping guaranteed England's place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2022, and expectations are now higher than ever as the Lionesses aim to get their hands on the trophy.


England Women 6-0 Scotland Women - Euro 2017 group stage

England are seeking Euro 2022 glory after being sent packing by eventual champions Netherlands in the 2017 semi-finals, but their quest for glory five years ago could hardly have started in better fashion.

Placed in Group D alongside Spain, Portugal and near neighbours Scotland, England began the tournament as record-breakers by putting six past the latter without reply on the opening matchday.

Granted, injuries to Jen Beattie and Kim Little made Scotland's task all the more difficult, but the Lionesses were in ruthless form and eased to a 6-0 win through Jodie Taylor (3), Jordan Nobbs, Toni Duggan and White.


Slovakia 0-5 Spain - Euro 2020 group stage

Aymeric Laporte celebrates scoring for Spain against Slovakia at Euro 2020 on June 23, 2021© Reuters

Luis Enrique has so far tried and failed to return Spain to their glory years, and La Roja were at risk of an early group-stage elimination from Euro 2020 after consecutive draws with Sweden and Poland in Group E.

However, La Roja would rediscover their golden streak on matchday three against Slovakia, who began the contest above Spain in the rankings before Enrique's side inflicted a 5-0 thrashing upon them.

Martin Dubravka's own goal would open the floodgates before Aymeric Laporte, Pablo Sarabia and Ferran Torres got their names on the scoresheet, and Juraj Kucka's own goal late on would end a 17-year drought without a 5-0 win at the men's Euros.


Finland Women 0-5 Sweden Women - Euro 2013 group stage

Sweden were under pressure to put on a show for the home crowd when they were awarded the hosting rights for the 2013 women's Euros, and the Scandinavian outfit ensured fans would get their money's worth on matchday two of the group stage.

Nordic neighbours Finland paid a visit to Gothenburg in Group A, but Sweden were a class above on the day, as centre-back Nilla Fischer scored an unlikely brace alongside Lotta Schelin's own pair of strikes.

The revered Kosovare Asllani would also make the net ripple versus Finland, who did not post their only shot on target until the 79th minute, and Sweden would progress as far as the semi-finals nine years ago before losing to Germany.


Sweden 5-0 Bulgaria - Euro 2004 group stage

Sweden celebrate beating Bulgaria 5-0 at Euro 2004 on June 14, 2004© Reuters

Nine years before Sweden Women would produce a five-star performance against Finland, it would be the turn of the men's team to teach Bulgaria a footballing lesson thanks to a number of celebrated stars.

Off the back of becoming an Invincibles Premier League winner with Arsenal, Freddie Ljungberg opened the scoring for the Swedes before Henrik Larsson struck two quickfire goals in the 57th and 58th minute.

A 22-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic would add a fourth from the penalty spot before Marcus Allback made it five, and Sweden would finish top of Group C before heading out on penalties to the Netherlands in the last eight.


Germany Women 5-0 Russia Women - Euro 2001 group stage

Only eight teams would partake in the 2001 edition of the Women's Euros, but goals were not in short supply whatsoever, and Germany laid down an early marker against Russia in Group A.

Five goals from four different scorers ensured that Germany would remain perfect in Group A, as Sandra Smisek bagged a brace alongside strikes from Bettina Wiegmann, Birgit Prinz and Maren Meinert.

Cruising through the group stage with nine points and 11 goals to their name, Germany were firm favourites to go all the way in the tournament and lifted the trophy with a 1-0 win in the final against Sweden during the days of the golden goal.


Netherlands 6-1 Yugoslavia - Euro 2000 quarter-final

During their first and only European Championships as FR Yugoslavia, Vujadin Boskov and his side were swiftly eliminated by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals and nearly set a new unwanted record for the biggest men's defeat at the tournament.

Oranje legend Patrick Kluivert took under an hour to complete his hat-trick, while Marc Overmars finished the game with two goals and Dejan Govedarica's own goal also contributed to Yugoslavia's downfall.

Yugoslavia were on the brink of a 6-0 loss before Savo Milosevic tapped home in the second minute of second-half injury time, but the striker would not even display a flicker of emotion as his side bowed out.


Denmark Women 0-5 Norway Women - Euro 1997 group stage

Norway fans who have scrolled right past the events of Monday's game can look forward to some joyful reading now, as their side humbled Denmark 5-0 in Euro 1997 Group B thanks to a magnificent performance from Marianne Pettersen.

The striker would make the net ripple a remarkable four times on the day to set Norway on their way to a 5-0 win, and Heidi Store would also get her name on the scoresheet in Lillestrom, although their side would still fail to make it out of the group.

To date, Pettersen still holds the record for the most goals ever in one game at a men's or women's Euros tournament, with plenty of other players bagging hat-tricks but unable to make it a quartet for themselves.


Denmark 5-0 Yugoslavia - Euro 1984 group stage

Euro 1984 marked the first time ever that the continental championships had witnessed a five-goal margin of victory, and Denmark were on the correct end of one of those 5-0 scorelines in Group 1.

It took just eight minutes for Frank Arnesen to draw first blood before adding a second from the penalty spot in the 69th minute, and Klaus Berggreen would chalk up one for himself either side of Arnesen's brace.

Preben Elkjaer and John Lauridsen netted with less than 10 minutes remaining, but the Danes would not hold the honour of being the first side to win 5-0 at a Euros finals following events a few hours before their crushing win.


France 5-0 Belgium - Euro 1984 group stage

Former UEFA president Michel Platini pictured in September 2016© Reuters

Three hours prior to Denmark's thumping of Yugoslavia, Euro 1984 hosts France - who had already beaten the Scandinavian side on matchday one - made history against a beleaguered Belgium at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

It came as little surprise to see Michel Platini at the heart of the action, as the three-time Ballon d'Or winner found the back of the net three times alongside efforts from Alain Giresse and Luis Fernandez.

France ended up going all the way to the crown in 1984, although Platini's off-field controversy has certainly now overshadowed his illustrious playing career.


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England's Bethany Mead celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates on October 23, 2021
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