Amorim & Ward Star as England Demolish Switzerland in Emphatic World Cup Prelim Opener

Amorim (24) & Ward (34), at contrasting ends of their international futsal careers were central to an England performance that oozed quality in Loughborough, as John Tapia-Owen’s side continue to make strides in gelling the old and new generations together both on and off court.

Image Credit: Becca Taylor - IG @becca.taylor.photography

England showed exactly how to blend generations together, as Eddie Amorim’s brilliant hat-trick, marking his first three international goals on his second cap, was accompanied by a clinical Richard Ward brace, his 27th and 28th Three Lions strikes on his 64th appearance, to deliver a stunning 9-0 victory in their Group B opener against Switzerland on Tuesday evening in Loughborough.

There were goals too for captain Russell Goldstein, Harry Tozer & Jeff Adubofour as England ran rampant over the Swiss from early in proceedings at the Sir David Wallace Sports Hall, but it was the 24-year-old & 34-year-old Genesis Futsal Club pair who stole the show on the opening night of International Futsal Week.

Speaking after the game, Player of the Match, Amorim said:

“I never thought I would score an England hat-trick…the first goal took the pressure off and to score three, in front of my family, it’s probably one of the best feelings I’ve had in my life”

After an impressive debut against Germany in February’s trip to Stuttgart, the winger took his performance up a notch, in front of a home crowd for the first time, demonstrating the 1v1 prowess, finishing ability & physicality that he has become known for in the National Futsal Series.

How It All Unfolded

It was Amorim who opened the scoring, after three first-half minutes, starting and coolly finishing a well-worked kick-in from the left-hand side with Jamie Brooker and Tyler Cook, before wheeling away in delight to take in the emotion of the home crowd as he celebrated his first in England colours.

Ward then doubled the lead in the 10th minute, picking himself up from a tackle to latch onto a Goldstein pass and finish in typically clinical style. Having not played an international game for six years, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic and a ruptured achilles at the start of last season, Ward was emotional as he could finally celebrate an England goal again with his teammates and fans, new and old.

And it was one of Ward’s oldest England teammates, Goldstein, who put England in firm control of the contest almost as soon as the game had restarted. Brooker passed crossfield to Tozer, who threaded a needle through the defender’s legs to pick out the England Captain at the back-post to tap home, followed by a firm point to the Three Lions crest.

As England brimmed with confidence, Switzerland toiled, with Tozer slamming home a right-footed rocket for his fourth international goal to make it 4-0 before Amorim grabbed a second, slotting off the post and in after a wonderful through ball from 25-year-old debutant, Jack Tysom.

5-0 at half-time, the home side in cruise control and the home crowd enjoying themselves.

It was five minutes into the second half that Amorim had his hat-trick moment, latching onto a Jonny Sim throw on the right wing and crashing a half-volley off the underside of the cross bar and over the line. Amorim took in the moment, pumped his fists to the England faithful and jumped into Palfreeman’s arms, as he became the third England player to score a hat-trick against Switzerland, following Palfreeman himself and Tozer last campaign.

But the old guard weren’t done yet with Ward, who made his England debut against Moldova in 2014, tucking away his second of the evening following exceptional work from Jordan Edge, who beat his man 1v1 down the line and scooped a delicate finish over the keeper and off the base of the post, leaving Ward to do the rest.

With plenty of inexperience in this young England side, Ward’s tireless, intelligent pivot performance gave his side a focal point and an added sense of maturity both on and off the ball.

7-0 up with 10 minutes to go, yet Adubofour had time to slide home his second England goal in as many games, then instigate the final goal of the game, an own goal, when his shot ricocheted off Jaggi and wrongfooted the keeper to round off a difficult evening for the visitors and a gluttonous one for the hosts.

The result takes them top of Group B heading into tomorrow’s tasty home nations clash with Northern Ireland, who lost narrowly 3-2 to Sweden in the day’s opening fixture. A reminder that the top two will qualify for October’s Main Round. Full details, standings and results can be found on the UEFA website.

Fifty up for Silver Cap Palfreeman

Liam Palfreeman - Winger, 30

England Caps - 50

England Goals - 14

England Assists - 17

England Debut - Dec 2016 vs Scotland

Liam Palfreeman loves the Sir David Wallace Sports Hall, and the Sir David Wallace Sports Hall loves Liam Palfreeman.

So it was a fitting moment for one of England’s current longest-serving players to collect his 50th cap at full-time in front of his family, friends, teammates and a crowd that saw him score a memorable hat-trick against these opponents in December 2024.

Full of emotion at the final whistle, silver cap in hand, Palfreeman spoke to the crowd of what his international career has meant so far:

“It’s 10 years of dedication, sacrificing a lot and living away from my family for long periods of time. I’m glad my hard work has paid off. I want to say thank you to my family, without them it’s not possible, and to my teammates along the years…I know I’m getting on, I haven’t got long left…but we’ve got a job to do, let’s qualify, that’ll be even better. The sky’s the limit for this squad.”

There’s plenty more for you to do in an England shirt yet, Liam.