England U19s enjoyed the perfect start to their Euro 2025 with a comeback win over the Netherlands. A second half finish from Princess Ademiluyi and own goal helped the Young Lionesses to victory in Group B after a spectacular strike from Zoë Zuidberg had given the Dutch the lead.
England got their long-awaited U19 Euros underway in Tarnobrzeg on Sunday afternoon, their first under head coach Lauren Smith. The Young Lionesses are looking to mount a challenge to Spain’s dominance at this level – La Roja have won the last three – as well as secure a spot at next year’s U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Smith had named a 21-player squad that contains a fair amount of tournament experience for this age group. Seven players were part of the cohort that had reached the semi-finals in 2024 while a significant group of the U17s that finished fourth in last year’s World Cup have made the step up.
The Netherlands posed a potentially difficult opening opposition in a tough Group B. They had finished second last year and cruised through qualifying bar a narrow loss to Sweden in Round 1. Captain Jade van Hensebergen has been the main goal threat this season while there is plenty of excitement around the potential of Ajax forward Bo van Egmond.
In the heat of the Polish sun, England started the match on the front foot. Both full-backs – Rachel Maltby and Mari Ward – were finding space to exploit down the flanks and were at the heart of their early chances. Maltby’s effort from distance unluckily clipped the post having beaten Danae van der Vliet before she set up Ward with a pinpoint delivery only for the Dutch goalkeeper to make a point-blank save. She then set up Lola Brown but the shot was well blocked.
The Young Lionesses were in control but there were some warning signs with the Netherlands’ attacking press forcing errors at the back. Katie Reid lost possession to allow Eva Oude Elberink to break into the box but she recovered brilliantly to clear the danger.
It was, however, through a mistake that the Dutch opened the scoring against the run of play just before the break. When Lucy Newell failed to control a heavy pass out from Katie Cox, Zuidberg pounced. Spotting Cox off her line, the Dutch forward took aim, looping a superbly struck effort into the back of the net.
The goal had clearly shaken England and the trepidation continued into the early moments of the second half. They did, however, settle and it was not long before they were back in the contest. Ademiluyi reacted the quickest to turn the second ball home from a corner to level the score. The momentum had swung back in England’s favour and six minutes later they were ahead. Ademiluyi was it at the heart of the move once again, played into the box by Ava Baker. She took aim at goal and her shot was diverted into the back of the net by the unfortunate Olivia Rademaker.
Opportunities came to extend their lead – Ademiluyi had a header hooked off the line; Thompson saw a shot deflected narrowly wide; and Jessie Gale was denied one-on-one by van der Vliet. The Dutch had chances themselves down the other end with Ilse Kemper clipping the crossbar directly from a corner and Cox bravely keeping out the dangerous Mirte van Koppen but they could not find a way back into the game.
England held on to earn a deserved opening victory. They will head into their next game against Portugal, who suffered an opening day defeat to Spain, knowing that a win would secure them a spot at the 2026 U20 Women’s World Cup and almost certainly a spot in the semi-finals.
Stand Out Moment
England’s equaliser came as they began to re-exert their dominance in the second half. As more space was opening up in behind the Dutch defence, Baker and Ademiluyi began to put their stamp on the game.
In the 48th minute, Baker broke only to see her effort deflected vitally behind for a corner. The delivery in found Reid lurking unmarked at the back post. The defender nodded the ball back across the face of goal where Ademiluyi was alert enough to reach the ball first and bundle it home.
Stand Out Performance
Princess Ademiluyi marked her major tournament debut with England in memorable fashion. The West Ham forward made her first appearance in the youth pathway back in October and has cemented her spot ever since. The 18-year-old perhaps had a quieter first half but was a threat in the box as the Young Lionesses broke forward. She came into her own, however, after the break and was a constant thorn in the side of the Dutch defence. Her explosive speed caused plenty of problems on the break while her aerial ability is another key element to her game. Her first was the sign of her instinctiveness in front of goal while she can count herself unlucky that England’s second will go down as an own goal, having done the hard work in the build-up.
Quote of the Day
“We were the better team [in the first half]. We had the ball. We created three clear-cut chances. It’s just unfortunate that our error led to their goal. I think because that’s the way it happened we knew that we’d get more chances and we had that belief at half-time. I walked in the changing room and that was already there.”
Lauren Smith, U19s Head Coach
Teams
ENGLAND U19s
Katie Cox (c); Mari Ward, Katie Reid, Lucy Newell, Rachel Maltby; Laila Harbert, Lexi Potter; Lola Brown; Ava Baker, Princess Ademiluyi, Vivienne Lia
Subs: Eve Annets; Nelly Las; Erica Parkinson; Lauryn Thompson; Madison Earl; Araya Dennis; Chloe Sarwie; Jessie Gale; Cecily Wellesly-Smith
Manager: Lauren Smith
NETHERLANDS U19s
Danae van der Vliet; Olivia Rademaker, Anissa Chibani, Anissa Weerelts, Christina Cornelia Weiman; Jasmijn van Uden, Jade van Hensbergen, Ilse Kemper (c); Zoë Zuidberg, Eva Oude Elberink, Bo van Egmond
Subs: Trinette Booms; Rose Ivens; Pleun Madelief Groot; Lucy Heij; Sophie Proost; Kyra Koopman; Sophie van Vugt; Mirte van Koppen; Xanne Henrdrikje Paulina Kip
Manager: Roos Kwakkenbos
Photo credit: The FA | Getty
