France and England secure places in the quarter-finals of the European Championship

France and England finished first and second, respectively, in Group D of the European Women's Football Championship in Switzerland on Monday, with victories against the Netherlands (5-2) and Wales (6-1).

The French team, which crushed the Netherlands' hopes of reaching the quarter-finals, won all three of its games and will play for a place in the semi-finals on Saturday against runner-up Germany.

Defending champions England maintained their second place in the group with a comfortable 6-1 win over Wales, who are bottom of the table and have no points, and will play the quarter-finals on Thursday against Sweden.

France scored first through captain Sandie Toletti in the 22nd minute, but the Dutch team responded quickly and equalized through Victoria Pelova in the 26th, after a rebound from a first shot by Chasity Grant saved by the French goalkeeper.

The turnaround in the score in Basel, justified by the Dutch ascendancy in the game, was completed through an own goal by Selma Bacha, in the 41st minute, with a poor clearance against her own leg, after a cross from Victoria Pelova into the area.

France equalized at 2-2 through Katoto in the 61st minute, following a ball recovery in midfield, and completed the comeback with a great goal from Delphine Cascarino in the 64th minute, which completely “sank” the Dutch women's hopes.

With the Netherlands' performance dropping and France's morale rising, Delphine Cascarino took the lead in the 67th minute, rebounding from a Katoto shot that hit both posts, and Sakina Karchaoui sealed the result in the 90+2nd minute, converting a penalty.

In St. Gallen, European champions England crushed Wales 6-1, with four goals scored in the first half, by Georgia Stanway, from a penalty, in the 13th minute, Ella Toone, in the 21st, Lauren Hemp, in the 30th, and Alessia Russo, in the 44th.

In the second half, the English team increased to 5-0, through Beth Mead, in the 72nd minute, before Wales reduced, through Hannah Caim, in the 76th, and Agnes Beever-Jones, in the 89th, securing the "half dozen" of the "lionesses".

With the group stage over, in which Portugal was eliminated after finishing last in pool B, the quarter-final matches have been decided: Norway-Italy (Wednesday), Sweden-England (Thursday), Spain-Switzerland (Friday) and France-Germany (Saturday).

The women's European Championship takes place in Switzerland until July 27.