Kazakhstan women 0-6 England women: Phil Neville's side end qualifying with victory
- Published
England scored three second-half goals to defeat Wales on Friday and top Group 1
A much-changed England side concluded an unbeaten Women's World Cup qualifying campaign with a thrashing of Kazakhstan in Pavlodar.
Phil Neville's team had already secured their place at France 2019 with a clinical second-half performance against Wales on Friday.
The Lionesses travelled to face Group 1's bottom side with a reduced squad of 19, as Neville took the opportunity to change his starting 11.
Arsenal's Beth Mead - one of seven players making their full England debuts - opened the scoring from the penalty spot after she had been chopped down in the area.
England, who beat Kazakhstan 5-0 in November, extended their advantage 10 minutes before half-time as Houston Dash forward Rachel Daly finished neatly from defender Hannah Blundell's cross.
Mead went close to her second early in the second half before Izzy Christiansen added a third on 54 minutes and debutant Lucy Staniforth a fourth 12 minutes later.
Mead hit the post with another penalty but did complete her double on 82 minutes before substitute Lucy Bronze added the gloss with a sixth as England made it 29 goals in eight qualifying games.
Group 1 runners-up Wales had hoped to claim a play-off place as one of the four best second-placed sides but needed both Iceland and Belgium to lose - and neither did.
However, Scotland earned a first World Cup qualification with a 2-1 victory over Albania to join England, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Italy and Spain in France.
England, World Cup semi-finalists in 2015, contest friendlies against Brazil and Australia in October as part of their preparations for next summer's tournament.
Neville looks to future with youth
Friday's group-deciding victory over Wales ensured England's place in France with a game to spare, allowing Neville to make wholesale changes.
But the absence of key names, including Chelsea's Fran Kirby, did not slow England's momentum as they eased to a seventh victory from eight in qualifying.
As well as Mead's brace, fellow full debutants Williamson and Blundell combined nicely in the build up to England's second goal, scored by Daly, while Reading's Lauren Bruton also caught the eye.
Bruton's tireless performance indicated the strength in depth the Lionesses possess, with the forward's shot forcing a save from which Christiansen fired home.
The experienced Bronze demonstrated her quality in the build-up to Staniforth's low strike, as an unrelenting, free-flowing England ran out clear and comfortable winners.
England will undoubtedly face much tougher tests, but Neville can at least reflect with satisfaction on the depth of talent at his disposal as he prepares the team for France 2019.