England 0 France 2
July 5 – With two quick-fire first-half goals, France stunned England 2-1 in Group D’s blockbuster in Zurich as the Lionesses became the first defending champions to lose their opening match at the European championship.
It’s not how the champions had imagined kicking off their campaign, but England had a nightmare opening to Euro 2025 at the hands of France that leaves memories of their triumph at Wembley distant and their title defence in Switzerland in danger.
Following a fast start and a disallowed 15th-minute goal, the ‘new England’ crumbled. Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore scored France’s goals before the break with France consistently bullying England off the ball. Keira Walsh’s 87th-minute strike came too late to rescue a draw.
France needed time to settle down in the match after England’s zealous beginning inspired by Lauren James, but when they did, they were devastating. Sakina Karchaoui delivered a first warning in the 25th minute when she was released in the inside-left channel and seeing Hannah Hampton out of position, her lob rippled the side netting. England didn’t heed the ominous signs.
The French sustained the pressure, had numbers in the box and quickly recycled the ball. Right-back Elisa de Almeida picked out Delphine Cascarino, who once again got in behind her direct opponent Jessica Carter, and Marie-Antoinette Katoto met her inch-perfect at the far post with a tap-in, 1-0. It was a simple but brilliant goal that left England exposed after 36 minutes. Carter had been given the runaround and Leah Williamson failed to pick up Katoto.
The European champions were firmly on the back foot and about to collapse. In the 40th minute, Sandy Baltimore slalomed her way past Lucy Bronze and Williamson, who both fell over, swivelled and dispatched a great strike into the top-right corner. Baltimore’s footwork was dizzying but at the same time, England rolled over. She could do what she wanted. At right-back, Bronze was badly exposed.
At half-time, the scoreline didn’t even flatter the French. They had schooled England and the reigning champions required a big second half. But could a team that looked so disjointed and so dysfunctional turn it around at all?
England were a royal mess and at the hour mark manager Sarina Wiegman reacted with a triple substitution, bringing on Niamh Charles, Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly. They barely made an impact in a half that France mostly controlled without finding the final pass even if Onema Geyoro almost got a third in the 53rd minute but Hampton did just enough to smother the ball.
England resurfaced with Walsh’s late strike, a lifeline which prompted a grandstand finish. France, so cool all evening, almost lost their heads. Amid some frenzied defending, substitute Michelle Agyemang had a shot from close range blocked and Selma Bacha cleared Lauren Hemp’s little dink off the line. But there was to be no dramatic comeback.
In truth, there had been very few positives for England on a night of despair. The frontline was invisible, the midfield outrun and the defence fragile. Wiegman had gambled fielding Lauren James, who had featured just 30 minutes in England’s 7-0 warm-up win against Jamaica, but James led a flying start from the European champions. Early on, the number seven could have made a statement but she ballooned her attempt high and wide.
If this was the new England, then the signs were promising. In the 15th minute, the Lionesses and striker Alessia Russo had the ball in the back of the net after James had driven the attack, but the VAR chalked off England’s opener. In the build-up, both Beth Mead and Georgia Stanway had been offside. England then were nowhere to be seen until the last ten minutes.
The group of death just got a whole lot more difficult for Wiegman and her European champions.
| Grp D | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| France | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| England | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Wales | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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