By Jamie Spencer
Solely as soon as earlier than had England ever performed on 5 July. On that event, objectives 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 Ladies’s World Cup and that group stage fixture was the only real defeat for a Japan aspect that went on to carry the trophy. England exited the event by the hands of France, in a heartbreaking quarter-final penalty shootout, within the very subsequent recreation.
Les Bleues have usually precipitated issues for the Lionesses over the a long time and Saturday evening 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 overlook. 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 course. At half-time, the Lionesses had solely accrued 0.2 xG and, over 90 minutes plus stoppage time, there have been no statistically ‘massive probabilities’. Had Lauren Hemp’s last-ditch effort not been hacked off the road, it could 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 properly. Inside the first minute, that they had carved France open and Lauren James fired over the bar from an amazing 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 wakened and England shortly light.
For the subsequent 70 minutes, the sport was performed on France’s phrases and England had been simply attempting to maintain up, typically 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 gained 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 powerful 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, normally when Ellen White had spent not less than 45 minutes sporting down the opposition, struggled to search out her place within the recreation. Except for not being robust sufficient in opposition to Lakrar in that key second, one other effective 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 event on an enormous wave of hype, England’s reigning Participant of the 12 months, the newly topped FWA Footballer of the 12 months, 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 – harm alternative 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 depend.” That didn’t change till the ultimate moments.
Maybe it didn’t assist that Russo, for all her success at membership degree, performed 41 instances for Arsenal in 2024/25. Along with common worldwide obligation, it’s essentially the most by far in a single season throughout her profession. Others within the lineup are in all probability missing rhythm and match sharpness. Hemp, James, Alex Greenwood and Georgia Stanway have all not lengthy returned from main harm layoffs. Stanway is normally England’s box-to-box engine, however gained 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 will probably be below 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 will probably be requested about what the England boss does subsequent.
Grace Clinton was afforded 13 minutes plus stoppage time in her event 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 degree – Clinton and Le Tissier each featured within the WSL’s Crew of the Season.
All of a sudden, 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 palms.
The naked minimal is that it can’t be something however a considerably higher efficiency.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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