As was the case last summer, the England national team is winning hearts and minds across the nation as they surge into the latter stages of a major tournament.
England began their hosting duties of UEFA Women's Euro 2022 with a nervy win over Austria last week at Old Trafford, but on Monday evening in Brighton they sent a clear signal of intent with an 8-0 thrashing of Norway - dark horses to win the tournament
Sarina Wiegman's side put on a sensational display to earn a record-breaking result; no side had ever scored eight goals in a women's or men's Euros. As has often been the case for both women's and men's England teams in recent years, Manchester City players played key roles.
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Striker Ellen White - England's all-time top goalscorer with 52 - scored a brace that showed why she has started both of England's games despite falling out of favour for the Blues last season.
Her first came after she pressed and robbed the ball from defender Maria Thorisdottir, while for the second she made a perfectly-timed back post run to stab home Fran Kirby's cross.
White was instrumental in England's opening goal of the night, going down - perhaps a little too easily - in the box after contact from Thorisdottir. Former City midfielder Georgia Stanway converted emphatically, reminding City fans of what they will miss when she turns out for Bayern Munich in the coming season.
City winger Lauren Hemp grabbed England's second a few minutes later, the four-time PFA Young Player of the Year winner adjusting her feet well to convert Beth Mead's cut-back on the goal-line.
Hemp repaid the favour for England's fourth, setting Mead up for a header and the first goal of the Arsenal star's hat-trick. After half-time there was time for Lucy Bronze - City's right-back until joining Barcelona last month - to assist Manchester United's Alessia Russo with a superb cross, before Mead scored her third to complete the 8-0 rout.
City's Alex Greenwood and Jill Scott made second-half appearances from the bench, meaning that six players that represented City last season featured with six of the eight goals involving their direct contributions.
Not every City player enjoyed the evening though - Norway left-back Julie Blakstad had a torrid time, unable to cope with the unrelenting attacks of Mead and Hemp.
England have now secured safe passage to the quarter-finals as Group A winners, where they will likely meet Spain or Germany in Brighton.
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