The biggest thrashings in the history of the European Championship

Spain's 5-0 victory over Portugal in Switzerland has gone down in history as one of the biggest wins in a Women's European Championship finals, surpassed only by England.

The national team got off to a flying start and arrives as one of the favorites to win their first European title on July 27. The world champions took the game to a flying start in the first half, with a goal from Esther González in the 87th second, followed by another from Vicky López, quickly putting them 2-0 up, before Alexia Putellas and Esther scored just before the break. Cristina Martín-Prieto put the game to bed with the fifth.

This resounding triumph adds to a list of five countries that have achieved the same feat, but ahead of them are the 'Lionesses', who had already made history when they beat Scotland 6-0 in the 2017 edition, but as hosts in 2022, they surpassed their own record after scoring eight goals against Norway.

Spain, Sweden (twice), Germany, Norway, and England are in the five-goal bracket. The Norwegians were the first to do so in 1997 against Denmark. Twenty-two-year-old Marianne Petterson stole the show after scoring two goals in each half. To this day, she remains the only player to have scored four goals in a Women's EURO finals match.

In 2001, Germany replicated this feat against Russia. The Bavarians defied all expectations by holding off the hosts for the first 43 minutes and then scoring five goals. The Swedes did the same in 2013, in the group stage against Finland, and in 2022 against the Portuguese, who were unable to contain the prowess of the yellows.

Prior to the Spanish side's milestone, England's 8-0 victory against Norway confirmed their passage to the quarter-finals as group winners with one game remaining, but the hosts weren't slowing down much when they faced Northern Ireland. Fran Kirby and Beth Mead scored before the break (Mead scoring her fifth goal of the tournament) and half-time substitute Alessia Russo scored twice shortly after the restart, with an own goal leaving the Lionesses with a record 14 goals in the group stage.