Jodie Taylor simultaneously ruined Scotland’s European Championship debut and sent English optimism levels soaring courtesy of a master class in intelligent movement and perfectly weighted finishing.

Such attributes brought the Arsenal striker a hat-trick as Mark Sampson’s England suggested their status as one of the favourites to win Euro 2017 is anything but overblown.

Additional goals from Ellen White, the outstanding Jordan Nobbs and Toni Duggan rather cruelly highlighted the disparity between the sides on an evening when England’s strength in midfield left Scotland chasing shadows and Taylor became the first woman to score a hat-trick for the Lionesses in a major finals.

She attended the post-match media conference along with Sampson and the match ball. “It meant a lot,” said Taylor, who has overcome a series of injuries, including a particularly serious knee problem in recent years.

“Jodie’s world class, simple as that,” Sampson said, “but the whole team were outstanding, very efficient from back to front. It’s exciting for me to watch this team play, to see how good we can become over, hopefully, the next five matches.

“We’ve found a way to enjoy these pressured occasions. We’ve got to keep working hard and we’ve a difficult game against Spain on Sunday but we’re completely confident we can become the best team in the world.”

It must have made chastening viewing for Anna Signeul, Scotland’s manager, down in the technical area and Nicola Sturgeon up in the posh seats.

At first Scotland’s first minister would have been cheered when, after only 20 seconds, Jane Ross tried her luck with a 30-yard shot that the England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley looked mighty relived to put over the bar for a corner.

If that offered Sturgeon any cause for optimism, it was soon dampened. Almost immediately England’s right-sided combination, Lucy Bronze and Nobbs, began causing Scotland multiple problems.

Appropriately, Bronze’s through pass created England’s opener for Taylor. With Scotland holding a dangerously high line, the right-back initially looked to have played in Fran Kirby but, instead, the Chelsea forward – famously dubbed England’s “mini Messi” by Sampson two years ago – took out two markers courtesy of a fabulous dummy. It left Taylor clean through and the pacy striker proceeded to shoot England ahead.

The Lionesses believe that, since finishing third in the 2015 World Cup in Canada, their fitness levels have risen by 23% courtesy of much intense physical conditioning from Ben Young, who has worked with the England rugby union team. They certainly looked in daunting shape as Scotland could, at times, have been forgiven for wondering if qualifying for their first major tournament had really been such a good idea after all.

They fell further behind when another slice of Kirby skill saw her hacked down by Rachel Corsie. Nobbs took the free-kick which Signeul’s defence failed to clear. As the ball ricocheted around the box, Bronze sent a header goalwards that was hacked off the line before Taylor gave another reminder of her predatory instincts by lashing home from six yards.

Ifeoma Dieke and Vaila Barsley, Scotland’s normally robust centre-half partnership had been deconstructed well before White claimed the third. It involved Jill Scott shooting from distance, goalkeeper Gemma Fay doing very well to tip the ball on to the bar and the on-rushing White immediately pouncing on the rebound and crisply redirecting it beyond her.

Tartan-clad fans attempted to lift their team’s morale with a few choruses of Flower of Scotland while also unfurling a banner in their VIP guest’s honour emblazoned with “Happy Birthday Nicola”. Sturgeon turned 47 on Wednesday and as the interval whistle final blew Dieke and company probably felt double that age.

Admittedly the ever industrious Ross menaced sporadically but the lone striker was far too isolated and must have felt increasingly envious of the sort of service Taylor and White enjoyed.

Taylor completed her hat-trick thanks to an accomplished lob over Fay which followed Steph Houghton’s free-kick, a clever flick from White and Taylor’s wonderful change of pace which permitted her to peel away from Dieke.

England’s midfield amalgam of steel and silk had been a decisive factor, with the excellent Nobbs particularly prominent, so it seemed fitting when she scored the fifth goal. It was a technically audacious one too, the Arsenal midfielder meeting substitute Karen Carney’s cross before volleying sublimely beyond Fay.

By the time Barcelona’s Duggan, on for Taylor, added a last-gasp sixth following Nobbs’s corner, Scotland were humiliated.

“We’ve played against a very good side in all areas,” said Signeul, who lost Ross to a potentially tournament ending shoulder injury in the second half. “England are a real contender for this tournament but it’s not over for us. We’ll rise again but it was a tough debut.”

Spain brush Portugal aside

Spain, England’s next opponents in Breda on Sunday, beat Portugal 2-0 in the day’s other game in Group D. The former Arsenal midfielder Vicky Losada scored the opener from Andrea Pereira’s assist and Spain doubled their lead just before half-time from Amanda Sampedro’s header.

They continued to dominate after the break, enjoying 76% possession as Portugal failed to get a shot on target. “We’ll go away now, analyse things and prepare for the next game which is against one of the best sides at this tournament,” said player of the match Sampedro of the England match.

Spain’s manager, Jorge Vilda, added: “The next match we have is against one of the tournament favourites and it will be our most difficult game ever.”