An Insight into the Thrilling Women’s European Championship Clash: France vs. England

The concluding group fixture from matchday one of the Women’s European Championship is set for Saturday evening with France going head-to-head against the reigning champions, England.

Since the beginning of 2024, Sarina Wiegman’s squad has only suffered three defeats—including two in their last five outings. They will undoubtedly be considered one of the strong contenders to reach the final for the third consecutive time.

France Women in Impressive Form

However, they face a formidable challenge in their opening match against a French side that has achieved victory in all five of their last matches, managing to keep clean sheets in four of them—a trend that could shape the tournament ahead.

In their last five encounters, England has claimed two wins (4-1 and, most recently in June 2024, 2-1), while France has triumphed in the other three matches (2-1, 3-1, and 1-0).

Wiegman will know that her side has struggled to secure victories on foreign soil in their last four matches. However, she can draw confidence from their last overseas win, which was a 2-1 victory over France last summer.

That match marked Les Bleues’ first loss in 59 major championship qualifying games and was also England Women’s first away victory in France in 51 years.

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England Aiming to Extend Group Stage Dominance

It’s also interesting to note that England Women hold the record for the most consecutive group stage wins at major tournaments (14). With Beth Mead in their ranks, who has either scored or assisted in three of her last four matches, they have a key player. Mead has also contributed four assists in her last six European Championship appearances.

Lauren James and Ruby Mace are reportedly not yet fully fit and may be held back in this match.

With Fran Kirby announcing her retirement from international football last month after not making the squad and Mary Earps also stepping back from national duty, this Lionesses side will have a slightly different appearance.

Additionally, Chelsea defender Millie Bright will miss this tournament after making the controversial decision to focus on her physical and mental well-being.

Two of her clubmates may very well become key players for their respective teams as well.

Significant Changes for Les Bleues

Sandy Baltimore, who was France’s top scorer in the Nations League with five goals, is expected to lead their attack efficiently. Meanwhile, England’s Aggie Beever-Jones netted four goals in five matches in the same competition, alongside nine goals in twelve league games for Chelsea during the 2024/25 season.

The Lionesses have taken the lead in seven of their previous eight games, and seizing an early advantage again must be central to Wiegman’s strategy.

Some notable absences for France include their renowned captain, Wendie Renard. The seasoned 34-year-old, who has an impressive 168 caps, was left out by coach Laurent Bonadei, who also dropped all-time top goalscorer Eugénie Le Sommer (96 goals in 200 appearances).

This bold decision has stirred significant reactions across French Women’s football. Bonadei, who stepped in after Hervé Renard’s short stint, has tried to deflect criticism of his actions, even citing Einstein to justify his choices.

“These are difficult choices,” he stated. “They are tough to make and challenging to communicate to the players. It’s never easy to receive, hard to comprehend, and almost impossible to accept since they are legendary players for the French team.

“This decision was not made lightly. One might think, given the timing, that this is madness, but it’s not. As Einstein said, ‘Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results.’ I seek different results for this team, hence my selection.”

“I have been contemplating this since the season’s beginning. When I stated that everyone had a chance and that no one was indispensable, I meant not just giving chances to young players but also supporting those who faced psychological struggles after the Olympics and ensuring everyone felt included.”

Difficult to Pick a Winner

Considering France has never clinched a major tournament, Bonadei’s strategy is risky. However, if his team can launch a strong performance against England, the initial shock of his selections might quickly fade.

It’s indeed challenging to predict a victor between these two sides, but whoever comes out on top will establish a solid foundation to build upon as they progress through the tournament.