By Jamie Spencer
Solely as soon as earlier than had England ever performed on 5 July. On that event, targets in both half from Lionesses legends within the making Ellen White and Rachel Yankey secured a 2-0 win over Japan.
The stage was the 2011 Girls’s World Cup and that group stage fixture was the only real defeat for a Japan facet that went on to raise the trophy. England exited the match by the hands of France, in a heartbreaking quarter-final penalty shootout, within the very subsequent recreation.
Les Bleues have usually triggered issues for the Lionesses over the many years and Saturday night time was an enormous assertion from France of their quest for a primary ever main trophy.
For England, who grew to become Europe’s first defending champions to lose recreation one, this time was a 5 July to neglect. A 2-1 scoreline and late strain didn’t inform the story of the primary 87 minutes.
Keira Walsh’s consolatory strike close to the top was England’s first shot on track. At half-time, the Lionesses had solely accrued 0.2 xG and, over 90 minutes plus stoppage time, there have been no statistically ‘huge possibilities’. Had Lauren Hemp’s last-ditch effort not been hacked off the road, it will have masked an alarmingly disappointing efficiency.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney didn’t pull any punches within the ITV studio post-game. “We acquired completely bullied,” she stated, refusing to be moved by England’s end, too little too late.
England truly began effectively. Throughout the first minute, that they had carved France open and Lauren James fired over the bar from a fantastic place. It was quickly her driving run into French territory that led to Alessia Russo turning the ball into the online, however VAR intervened over an offside. From that second that France awakened and England rapidly light.
For the subsequent 70 minutes, the sport was performed on France’s phrases and England had been simply attempting to maintain up, generally actually. The opening purpose got here from a fast transition down France’s proper flank, leading to a tap-in for Marie-Antoinette Katoto. Sandy Baltimore scored the quickfire second as Les Bleues received possession in midfield. She shrugged off Chelsea clubmate Lucy Bronze and ghosted previous a statuesque Leah Williamson earlier than discovering the highest nook.
England desperately appealed for a foul within the build-up, watching Maëlle Lakrar take the ball from Russo. It was a robust problem that left Russo in a heap, however not an unlawful one – VAR noticed no motive to rule it a foul or disallow the purpose.
Russo, hailed for her impacts off the bench at Euro 2022, often when Ellen White had spent at the least 45 minutes carrying down the opposition, struggled to seek out her place within the recreation. Except for not being robust sufficient in opposition to Lakrar in that key second, one other positive margin went in opposition to her when an England breakaway early within the second half resulted in a poor contact on the vital time.
The Arsenal favorite got here into the match on an enormous wave of hype, England’s reigning Participant of the Yr, the newly topped FWA Footballer of the Yr, the WSL’s joint-Golden Boot winner, and straight off the again of Champions League glory. However she didn’t do sufficient to check or a French defence with out its most popular centre-back pairing – damage substitute 21-year-old Alice Sombath was making simply her fifth worldwide look. Russo’s solely try on purpose was a blocked shot within the 90th minute and her mixed xG and xA for the match amounted to 0.12.
When French wingers Delphine Cascarino, who assisted the primary purpose, and Baltimore had been attacking with tempo and intent, England’s forwards had been ineffective and predictable. Throughout ITV’s commentary within the first half, Lucy Ward had precisely summarised: “France look extra cellular than England within the areas of the pitch that rely.” That didn’t change till the ultimate moments.
Maybe it didn’t assist that Russo, for all her success at membership stage, performed 41 instances for Arsenal in 2024/25. Along with common worldwide responsibility, it’s probably the most by far in a single season throughout her profession. Others within the lineup are most likely missing rhythm and match sharpness. Hemp, James, Alex Greenwood and Georgia Stanway have all not lengthy returned from main damage layoffs. Stanway is often England’s box-to-box engine, however received solely 5 of 10 floor duels because the Lionesses failed to realize a foothold till it was too late, and didn’t as soon as contact the ball in France’s field.
Wiegman’s religion within the tried and examined might be underneath scrutiny. Of the beginning XI, solely James wasn’t a part of the Euro 2022-winning squad three years in the past. But with a sluggish efficiency solely bettering as soon as adjustments had been made, questions might be requested about what the England boss does subsequent.
Grace Clinton was afforded 13 minutes plus stoppage time in her match debut, with wildcard Michelle Agyemang getting even much less. Each made real impacts in brief cameos. Maya Le Tissier, Jess Park and Aggie Beever-Jones didn’t get off the bench, however all 5 had good campaigns at membership stage – Clinton and Le Tissier each featured within the WSL’s Workforce of the Season.
Immediately, with only one recreation performed, England’s Euro 2025 hopes are in actual hazard. Defeat in opposition to the Netherlands on 9 July, following their 3-0 win over Wales earlier on Saturday, would imply untimely elimination for the defending champions. A draw retains them alive however probably means their future by matchday three isn’t in their very own fingers.
The naked minimal is that it can’t be something however a considerably higher efficiency.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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