France capitalized on Sarina Wiegman's risky decision to start Lauren James, securing a 2-1 victory over England in their opening match of the UEFA Women's EURO 2025. The match, held in Zurich, saw France extend their winning streak to nine games in all competitions.
Wiegman's gamble on James, who was returning from a hamstring injury, was a major talking point before the game. While James showed early promise, firing a shot just over the bar in the opening minute, she appeared to lack sharpness and struggled to impact the game effectively. England started the match energetically, and Alessia Russo had a goal disallowed due to a marginal offside call against Beth Mead in the build-up. This decision seemed to shift the momentum, with France gradually gaining control.
France's midfield, led by Grace Geyoro and Sakina Karchaoui, began to dominate, exposing England's Walsh and Stanway. France's coach, Laurent Bonadei, emphasized the importance of confidence and winning possession. France's pressure eventually paid off in the 36th minute when Marie-Antoinette Katoto tapped in a cross from Delphine Cascarino. Just three minutes later, Sandy Baltimore doubled the lead with a shot into the top corner, capitalizing on poor defending from Lucy Bronze. There was a question of a potential foul on Russo in the buildup, but VAR did not overturn the goal.
Wiegman made a triple substitution in the 60th minute, bringing on Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly, and taking off James. Keira Walsh scored a late goal in the 87th minute, giving England a glimmer of hope. However, France held on to secure the victory. Sakina Karchaoui was named Flashscore Player of the Match.
Wiegman acknowledged that England "played themselves a bit out of the game" with short passes that played into France's hands. Williamson lamented that England "weren't good enough".
France has historically been known for prioritizing individual brilliance over team unity. However, in this match, they displayed admirable cohesion. France has qualified for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women's EURO in all four editions since 2009. This victory against England marks their sixth successive opener win at the European Championships.
England now faces a must-win situation against the Netherlands in their next match. The Lionesses are in a challenging Group D, which also includes Wales.
