ELLA TOONE kept England on song as they ruthlessly crushed Jamaica’s attempt to spoil their Euros-send-off party at the King Power Stadium.
The midfielder’s double helped the hosts forget a minor set-piece wobble that almost had them caught cold on Sunday afternoon.
Home fans were left a stunned after seeing the Lionesses’ early lead seemingly wiped out just nine minutes after Toone broke the deadlock.
A combination of Jamaica’s smart low delivery from a corner, and the ball squirming under goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, saw the scoreline momentarily level at 1-1.
But after that equaliser was chalked off by VAR, Jamaica rarely troubled England, who were 3-0 up at half-time thanks to a Lucy Bronze header and Toone’s second.
And they were boosted by Lauren James’ return to Lioness action – and her first match since April – following her recovery from a hamstring injury.
However England will be eager to avoid getting caught out by set-piece trickery during their run at this year’s Euros with far tougher opponents awaiting them in the tournament.
In just five days’ time in Switzerland, Sarina Wiegman‘s side kick-off the difficult challenge of attempting to win the contest they triumphed in back in 2022.
The Lionesses are in a group of death with France first up for them in Zurich, followed by Holland and Euros debutants Wales.
At various points this year Wiegman spoke of the need for her team to find consistency with results in the Nations League being a little mixed.
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At home England have impressed with convincing wins against Portugal, Belgium and Spain.
But away the team have looked a little less consistent with losses to the latter two sides and a draw with Portugal.
While Wiegman has seven players making their major tournament debuts at the Euros, the coach stuck with much of the XI that slipped to a 2-1 loss to Spain in May.
The only difference was Jess Carter starting at left-back in place of Niamh Charles and Toone starting as No10 with Jess Park on the bench.
Both players laid down markers in this game with Carter impressing with her drives into the box and an assist for Toone.
The Man United vice-captain broke the deadlock just 10 minutes into the game thumping in a shot from distance with Jamaica initially pinned back.
And Jamaica thought they had bagged a leveller with Kayla McKenna’s coolly swept finish only for the goal to be disallowed after Amelia Van Santen was caught offside.
Bronze doubled England’s lead with a cushioned header after Carter’s smart cross into the box before Toone added a third with a left-footed strike before half-time.
And there was no let up in the second half with Georgia Stanway blasting the ball for a 4-0 lead in the 59th minute before Alessia Russo made it 5-0
Sub Aggie Beever-Jones added England’s sixth before the hosts suffered a momentary fitness scare with Beth Mead requiring treatment on her knee.
But the forward bounced back from that minor concern to slot in in England’s seventh with Jamaica drubbed without Manchester City star Khadija Shaw.
