England v France reside: Lionesses have early aim disallowed in Women’s Euro 2025 opener
England take on France as the Lionesses face a blockbuster start to their title defence at Euro 2025 in Switzerland. The Lionesses won the tournament three years ago on home soil with a historic victory over Germany but Sarina Wiegman has told her players to embrace a “new challenge” as a “new England”.
Wiegman’s team have no time to find their feet in Zurich as they take on a strong France side who, like England, are one of the few sides who can win the Euros this summer. With the 2017 champions Netherlands and debutants Wales also making up the ‘group of death’, there is also no room for slip-ups and the pressure will be on from the start.
The Lionesses are boosted by the return of star forward Lauren James, who starts against France after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Follow live updates from England v France in our live blog below
NO GOAL! England 0-0 France
HANG ON! This is going to be disallowed! It is! Beth Mead was offside in the build-up!
The move started with James, who shimmied and flicked to create some space. But Mead had just strayed offside from the pass, which I think was intended for Bronze.
The goal came from the following phase, with Hemp’s shot saved. Russo had followed it in but the striker is denied by the offside flag, which came after a VAR review.
GOOOOOAAAAALLL !!!!!! England 1-0 France (RUSSSSOOO 16′)
THE LIONESSES TAKE THE LEAD! Alessia Russo with another goal at a major tournament, but it’s all about Lauren James in the build-up!
England 0-0 France
14 mins: England men’s manager Thomas Tuchel is here in Zurich watching the Lionesses.
England 0-0 France
13 mins: England have fallen on the back foot a little bit, but France aren’t hurting them. Williamson and Greenwood can deal with the long ball forward to Katoto. England just need a spell where they can get the game under control.
England 0-0 France
9 mins: Leah Williamson makes a brave header at the back post to clear Cascarino’s cross with Baltimore lurking.
Russo brings down Hampton’s long pass forward and releases Mead, but the France defenders recover well to cut out the danger.
England 0-0 France
6 mins: France are able to get their foot on the ball. A couple of times England have lost it cheaply in midfield. Stanway gets a stern word after fouling Karchaoui, but Hampton confidently collects the cross from Bacha.
England 0-0 France
3 mins: Chance! Nice move again from England with James involved. Cutting onto her left foot, she looks for the cross to Russo at the back post, but it just evades the striker. Almost a copy of the goal Russo scored against Jamaica last week.
England 0-0 France
1 mins: CHANCE! An opening for England inside the first minute! Russo tees up James and there is space for the star forward, but she fires over on the angle. Decent opportunity but a sharp start.
KICK-OFF! England 0-0 France
And England’s Euros defence is underway! That was a perfectly observed moment of silence for Jota, and a poignant way to start.
Moment of silence for Diogo Jota before kick-off
After the national anthems, there will be a moment for silence for Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who were tragically killed in a car crash on Thursday. The players from France and England will also wear black armbands.
