England's Women's Euro title defence stumbled as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against France in their opening match in Zurich. This loss marks the first time a reigning champion has lost their opening game in the tournament's history. France's victory, fueled by goals from Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore, underscores a pressing problem for England: their vulnerability to France's aggressive, strategic play.
The Lionesses started brightly, with Lauren James nearly scoring in the first minute. Alessia Russo also had a goal disallowed due to a narrow offside call against Beth Mead. However, France gradually gained control, capitalizing on England's mistakes. France's midfield duo, Grace Geyoro and Oriane Jean-Francois, played a key role in asserting dominance. France's coach, Hervé Renard, noted that his team's pressure from the start made it difficult for England, disrupting their usual build-up play from midfield.
England's struggle to maintain possession and their susceptibility to counter-attacks proved costly. Leah Williamson, England's captain, acknowledged the team's shortcomings, stating they "weren't good enough" and were undone by "cheap defending". She highlighted the high number of turnovers, leading to emergency defending situations against a high-quality French attack. Sarina Wiegman, England's coach, pointed to sloppiness and an inability to escape France's initial press as contributing factors to the defeat.
France's goals, scored in quick succession by Katoto and Baltimore, exposed England's defensive vulnerabilities. Katoto's goal came from a cut-back after Delphine Cascarino won the ball, while Baltimore's followed a "mazy run". Despite Keira Walsh pulling a goal back late in the game, it wasn't enough to salvage a draw. England mounted pressure in stoppage time, but France managed to hold on for the win.
The match statistics further illustrate France's dominance. They won more duels (53 to 36) and had a higher expected goals tally (2.22 to 0.91), also creating four "big chances" compared to England's zero. This highlights England's struggles to generate clear-cut opportunities and their defensive fragility.
The defeat raises concerns about England's ability to progress in the tournament. They face the Netherlands next, a match that could determine their fate in the competition. Sarina Wiegman faces the challenge of addressing the team's weaknesses and finding a way to counter opponents' pressing strategies. The Lionesses need to rediscover their form and resilience to overcome this setback and keep their Euro 2025 hopes alive.
