A Glimpse into the Thrilling Showdown Between France and England in the Women’s European Championship

The concluding group match of the opening stage of the Women’s European Championship is set to unfold on Saturday evening, featuring a clash between France and the defending champions, England.

Since the beginning of 2024, Sarina Wiegman’s squad has suffered only three defeats – two of which came in their last five outings – establishing themselves as strong contenders to secure yet another place in the finals for the third time in a row.

France Women in Peak Condition

Nevertheless, they face a daunting challenge against the French side, who have clinched victory in all of their last five matches, maintaining clean sheets in four of those encounters. This performance could set a significant precedent for the remainder of the tournament.

In head-to-head matchups, England has prevailed in two of the last five clashes (4-1 and most recently 2-1 in June 2024), while France has come out on top in the other three (2-1, 3-1, and 1-0).

Wiegman is likely aware that her team has not managed to secure a win in their last four matches played outside of home, although she can draw confidence from the fact that their most recent victory on foreign soil was a narrow 2-1 win over France last summer.

This match marked Les Bleues’ first loss in 59 qualifying matches for major tournaments and was also England Women’s first away victory in France in over half a century.

Don’t miss out on the 10 players to keep an eye on during the Women’s European Championship

England Aiming to Build on Group Stage Success

Additionally, it’s notable that the England Women’s team holds the record for the most consecutive wins in group stage matches at major tournaments (14). With Beth Mead among their ranks, a player who has either scored or assisted in three of her last four outings and accounted for four assists in her last six European Championship games, they boast quite the attacking threat.

However, Lauren James and Ruby Mace may not be fully fit and could consequently be sidelined for this fixture.

Following the recent retirement of Fran Kirby from international football after she was informed of her exclusion from the squad, alongside Mary Earps also stepping back from England duties, the Lionesses will present with a slightly altered appearance.

Moreover, Chelsea’s defender Millie Bright will also be absent from the tournament after prioritising her mental and physical wellbeing in a somewhat contentious decision.

​Two of her club colleagues might play pivotal roles for their respective teams this tournament.

Significant Changes for Les Bleues

Sandy Baltimore emerged as the leading scorer for France in the Nations League, netting five goals, and is likely to spearhead their attack confidently. Meanwhile, England’s Aggie Beever-Jones also showcased her prowess by scoring four goals in five matches during the same tournament, along with nine goals in 12 league fixtures for Chelsea in the 2024/25 season.

The Lionesses have struck first in seven of their past eight games, and securing an early advantage will be essential to Wiegman’s strategy.

Meanwhile, the French side will miss several significant figures, including their legendary captain Wendie Renard. The seasoned 34-year-old, with 168 caps to her name, was surprisingly dropped by Laurent Bonadei, along with all-time leading goalscorer Eugénie Le Sommer, who has netted 96 goals in 200 appearances.

This audacious decision has created ripples in French women’s football, and Bonadei, who took over from Hervé Renard after a year in his position, has aimed to distance himself from the backlash, even referencing Einstein to justify his choices.

“These are tough choices,” he remarked. “They are difficult to make and challenging to communicate to the players. Such decisions are hard to process and accept, especially as they involve legendary players of the French team.

“This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. You might think that the timing is mad, but it isn’t. As Einstein said: ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.’ I am aiming for different outcomes for this team, hence my selection choices.

“This is something I’ve been contemplating since the season began. When I stated that everyone had a chance and no one was indispensable, it was not just about giving the young players an opportunity but also considering those who have faced psychological hurdles following the Olympic Games, ensuring everyone was given a chance to participate.”

A Difficult Task to Predict the Winner

With France still seeking their first major tournament victory, Bonadei’s strategy carries inherent risk. However, if his team can strike quickly against England, any shock from these changes might soon fade away.

Ultimately, determining a winner between these two formidable sides is a challenge, but the team that prevails will create a solid foundation to build upon as they progress through the tournament.