England women 6-0 Russia women
- Published
Highlights: England thrash Russia 6-0 in World Cup qualifier
England began their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 6-0 thrashing of Russia at Prenton Park.
Russia played much of the game with 10 women as Ksenia Tsybutovich was shown a second yellow card for handball on the half-hour, when England led 2-0.
The hosts were 4-0 up at half-time, with Nikita Parris, Jodie Taylor, Jordan Nobbs and Lucy Bronze scoring.
Toni Duggan added two more as Mark Sampson's side won their first match since the Euro 2017 semi-finals.
England were 2-0 up inside 13 minutes, with Parris opening the scoring by poking home before running to celebrate with manager Sampson.
He had dominated the headlines in the build-up after Chelsea striker Eniola Aluko made allegations - which he denies - of bullying and harassment.
And Sampson looked relieved when Euro 2017 Golden Boot winner Taylor doubled England's lead in an impressive team performance.
Chelsea forward Fran Kirby missed a first-half penalty but had a hand in England's first three goals, laying the ball off for Nobbs to drill home.
Bronze shot home from the edge of the area just before the interval and Sampson - with games against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan and Wales to come - took the opportunity to rotate his squad in the second half.
But there was little let-up in the scoring.
Duggan, who signed for Barcelona in July, rounded off a fine team move with a curling shot before punishing some lax defending with a first-time side-foot finish.
The touchline dynamic
Mark Sampson pleased with England's excellent performance
With the result assured relatively early in the evening, plenty of attention rested on Sampson's interactions with his players.
Parris' pointed run to the bench to celebrate England's opener was followed by embraces for several of her team-mates as they came off the pitch.
Aluko, whose accusations have been supported by new evidence from Chelsea and England team-mate Drew Spence in recent weeks, was unimpressed.
Commenting on Twitter, she said England's celebration after the opener "only shows a level of disrespect that represents division and selfish action".
She suggested she felt let down having helped to negotiate the central contracts that the current squad benefit from.
Manchester City's Parris, making her third international appearance, explained her celebration was instinctive but a suitable symbol of the support she feels from Sampson.
"I think it's important that I get my point across, which is that I wasn't involved in it, I wasn't in the squad at the time," she said in reference to the alleged incidents of racism involving Sampson.
"In my experience of being in the squad, I feel valued and supported and the whole team feels that way, so our celebration was a fitting celebration."
Sampson said he "didn't foresee" being mobbed in the dugout, adding: "It's not something that is usual."
"We've really preached team togetherness and support for your team-mates since I've come through the door," he added.
Meanwhile, in qualifying Group Three, the Republic of Ireland began their campaign with a 2-0 win away to Northern Ireland.
Aluko, who scored 33 goals in 102 games, added that she was content to be out of the England set-up