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Beth Mead rolled back the years with a standout performance on the right flank for England - Getty Images/Ryan Pierse
It has been a while since we have seen Beth Mead in the sort of form she showed in England’s 5-0 thrashing of Belgium but the timing of her resurgence could not be better for Sarina Wiegman.
With the European Championship fast approaching, this was a wonderful performance from the winger, whose delivery into the box, both in open play and from corners, helped the Lionesses produce their best attacking display in months against Belgium.
It was the most balanced the England attack had looked for a long time in the first half with Mead on the right, the power and skill of Alessia Russo through the middle and Lauren James on the left.
If all three can stay fit between now and July, England will have an attack that compares favourably with any of the other title contenders in Switzerland.
Mead has looked good for Arsenal in recent weeks, but with her club-mate Russo to aim for in the middle, this was a reminder of what she can bring to the international stage.
It was from two excellent Mead crosses that Russo hit the post in the first half, the intelligence and speed of her runs in behind slicing open the Belgium defence.
Mead was also unfortunate not to score herself – she was denied by an excellent save – but still produced another sumptuous cross from the right wing in the second half to leave Aggie Beever-Jones with a tap-in for her first England goal.
Patience has been needed but there is a reason Wiegman started Mead against Belgium. Back in that golden, red-hot summer of 2022 Mead was the tournament’s top goalscorer as she fired England to European Championship glory.
Mead was at the peak of her powers; a vital member of the England team and playing the best football of her career. It led to fame and stardom as she was named BBC Sports Personality later that year.
Sadness, though, haunted her. Her mother, June, died a few weeks after she had stood on stage to accept her BBC award following “a long and brave battle against ovarian cancer”. As the glitter rained down on her and the audience rose to their feet for a standing ovation, Mead felt a crushing sadness inside her even as she smiled.
A personal tragedy became intertwined with a professional one, after a serious knee injury in November 2022 meant months of gruelling rehabilitation and forced her out of England’s World Cup campaign in the summer of 2023.
It has taken a while for Mead to get back up to speed. She was not the first footballer to find it hard to regain her rhythm and form after a long injury lay-off.
She had experienced so many contrasting and powerful emotions in such a short period of time – euphoria, joy, sadness, loss and frustration. It was a draining period mentally and her body needed to regain strength and resilience.
Her mental fortitude has never been in question, but sometimes even the strongest need time to recover, recharge and refresh. This was the evidence we needed to know that England’s golden girl is back and the threat she brings out wide should benefit Russo too.
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Janice Cayman of Belgium turns to block a shot from Mead who terrorised the visitors all night - Getty Images/Dan Istiten
Mead scored her goals at the Euros four years ago, cutting inside from the right, drifting into space in the box created by Ellen White. She started her career as a centre-forward and has never lost those goalscoring instincts.
Russo has become an arguably far better all-round centre-forward than her predecessor in the No 9 shirt, but with Mead also occupying the minds of defenders, there should be more opportunities for England’s main striker too.
England’s attacking play has gained a new threat with the return of Mead and, after this thrashing of Belgium, they look like they are destined to peak again at the right time for another major tournament.
The Lionesses and their supporters had maybe forgotten just how good Mead can be. They will not make that mistake again. When you can attack down both flanks, you inevitably become a far trickier side to contain and England’s ability to penetrate the Belgium defence on the right, as well as the left before James went off at half-time, bodes well for the future.
England have had their difficulties since they returned from the World Cup as runners-up, but look like a team who have regained their mojo. It is not a coincidence that Mead has rediscovered hers too.
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