England, France notch big wins to reach Euro q-finals
The Lionesses had bounced back from losing to France in their opener by routing the Netherlands 4-0 and they raced into a 4-0 halftime lead against Wales in Switzerland on Sunday following goals from Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo.
Substitutes Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones added more in the second half either side of Hannah Cain's stylish consolation for Wales.
The result saw Sarina Wiegman's team advance as runner-ups in Group D, ensuring England a potentially easier path to the final, after France beat the Netherlands 5-2 to win the group. Wales and the Netherlands are eliminated.
England will play Sweden in the quarter-finals and could then face either Norway or Italy.
Had they won the group, the Lionesses would have encountered Germany before a possible semi-final against World Cup winners and tournament favourites Spain, who plays host nation Switzerland in the last eight.
It was always going to be a tall order for Wales, on their tournament debut, to beat the reigning champions. They had lost nine of their 10 previous matches against England, only managing one draw against their neighbors and historic rivals.
In Basel, Delphine Cascarino's stunning six-minute spell in the second half helped France surged past the Netherlands for a third straight win to advance as group winners.
The French would have been eliminated by a three-goal loss and, when the Netherlands led 2-1 at one stage, rued a bad miss by Cascarino shooting over an unguarded goal.
But the San Diego Wave winger responded with a devastating burst of running and shooting to settle the game.
First, Cascarino stole the ball from the Dutch at halfway and ran directly at the defense to set up Marie-Antoinette Katoto for a neat finish in the 61st.
Cascarino was even better three minutes later, taking a high ball 50 metres (yards) from goal and dribbling directly at goal to unleash a rising shot from outside the penalty area.
In the 67th, Cascarino scored with a well-placed shot when the ball came to her after Katoto's shot struck the inside of both posts. Sakina Karchaoui added a penalty in stoppage time.
France will return to Basel to face Germany on Saturday, with the winner on a path to play Spain in the semi-finals.
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