Arizona Tribune - Miedema completes century in Netherlands' thumping of Wales at Women's Euro 2025

Manchester City striker Miedema opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time in Lucerne with a beautiful curling strike, completing her century of goals for her country.

Victoria Pelova and Esmee Brugts netted the other goals after the break to give Wales a rude awakening in their major tournament debut.

Andries Jonker's team are provisionally top of Group D ahead of holders England's clash with France in Zurich, while Wales already have their work cut out to qualify from possibly the toughest group in the tournament.

Rhian Wilkinson's side could easily have been behind before Miedema, who was a doubt for the tournament after suffering a hamstring injury in April, struck, Jill Roord crashing a rocket of a shot off the post in the 35th minute.

Pelova doubled the Oranje's lead two minutes after the break when she rifled home from Danielle van de Donk's pass, and the Arsenal midfielder set up Brugts to make absolutely sure of the points in the 57th minute with a perfect deep cross.

Sarina Wiegman, who led the Dutch to European glory in 2017, has picked Lauren James to start against France despite the Chelsea star only making a substitute appearance against Jamaica last weekend since suffering a hamstring injury in April.

Wiegman had hinted that James could make England's starting XI when speaking to reporters on Friday.

R.Garcia--AT