England start Women's Euros title defence with defeat by France: Live updates and reaction

New York Times

a day ago

England's defence of their European crown got off to an underwhelming start with a 2-1 defeat by France Getty Images
England's defence of their European crown got off to an underwhelming start in Switzerland as they were deservedly beaten 2-1 by an impressive France.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore scored fine first-half goals and for long periods afterwards it seemed as though France would run away with the game.
England did pull one back late on thanks to Keira Walsh's impressive strike but were unable to find an equaliser in injury time.
England became the first reigning champions to lose their first game at the next tournament of a women's Euros and it was Sarina Wiegman's first defeat at the finals of the competition.
The Lionesses will be eliminated if they lose to the Netherlands in their next match on Wednesday. Later that day France return to action against Wales, who lost 3-0 to the Dutch in their opening match.
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France outlast Lionesses 2-1 to end Sarina Wiegman's Euros record: Briefing Getty Images
Sakina Karchaoui received a rousing reception as she went off.
France have overrun England in midfield and Karchaoui was absolutely everywhere.
England look fresh out of answers — and, perhaps more concerning than that, fresh out of willpower.
It's been an agonizing past 10 minutes as France pass around them with stunning nonchalance, with the sense they will not be punished for any mistakes they may make. Getty Images
81' France 2-0 England
France have been brilliant but they've also been very wasteful.
Lucy Bronze finds herself in a foot race with Malard and attempts to poke the ball back to Hampton but doesn't get enough on it. Malard is a millisecond away from reaching the ball to add France' third only for Hampton to somehow get her boot to it first.
There isn't a single England player who can be proud of her performance tonight but Bronze has been particularly poor.
80' France 2-0 England
The utterly brilliant Karchaoui departs. She's replaced by Toletti.
And N'Dongala comes on for the similarly superb De Almeida.
77' France 2-0 England
Clinton comes on for Stanway. Getty Images
75' France 2-0 England
England are clearly starting to grow frustrated. Bacha is the latest France player to dance her way down the wing, encountering little resistance. But eventually Ella Toone has enough. She's not quick enough to catch her opponent, so she jumps in and hacks her down instead. She goes into the book.
Moments later Diani gets up above England's defence to meet De Almeida's cross, but she heads wide.
England are hanging on. Getty Images
73' France 2-0 England
The defending champions are running out of time to turn this around.
England are still waiting on their first shot on target. In total they've had 4 attempts on goal, compared to France's 12. Getty Images
70' France 2-0 England
Check complete. Play on. Getty Images
69' France 2-0 England
Both skippers dive in for a very meaty 50/50 in France's final third.
The England captain gets there first and Williamson clearly wins the ball but is clattered by Karchaoui's knee.
Both seem to be okay but VAR is checking to see whether or not Karchaoui should be sent off… Getty Images
65' France 2-0 England
England are on the ropes and France are looking for the knockout.
Matéo chips a lovely ball into the box. Hampton quickly comes off her line to claim it but makes a mess of things and drops the ball at the feet of Diani.
Somehow England scramble it away before the sub can score the third. Getty Images
Is there a French version of joga bonito ? Because that's what France are playing right now, and it is delightful to see for a team who've always had the talent but not necessarily the intangibles required to lift a trophy.
Their swagger that Charlotte mentioned in the first half has swelled in the second; they are moving the ball with creative freedom, as if each crisp, craft pass builds the confidence of the recipient before they send it on to the next.
Scary stuff — and that was before their subs: Katoto, Cascarino, and Baltimore are off for Melvine Malard, Clara Mateo, and Kadidiatou Diani.
62' France 2-0 England
Cascarino, Baltimore and Katoto go off. Laurent Bonadei is changing his entire front line!
On come Malard, Mateo and Diani. Getty Images
60' France 2-0 England
Sarina Wiegman has seen enough.
Jess Carter, Beth Mead and Lauren James are hooked.
On come Niamh Charles, Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone.
As expected, England have made a much brighter start to the second half. Beth Mead and Lauren James have turned up the temperature on their defensive pressure, catching France off guard as they'd grown used to having a bit more time on the ball.
It will only take one goal — perhaps even an encouraging goal-scoring opportunity — for England to get a real grip on this game. But France haven't let up offensively; even De Almeida is getting in on the action with a shot just wide of the box. The margins are narrow for England but not completely shut. The question is who will get them back into the game. Getty Images
55' France 2-0 England
It should be 3-0!
Walsh is guilty of an absolute stinker of a backpass that Karchaoui gratefully runs onto. She gets the ball out from under her feet and rolls it to Geyoro, who has the whole goal at her mercy. But, fortunately for the trailing champions, she directs her shot straight into the grateful arms of a sprawling Hampton. Getty Images
52' France 2-0 England
Things just aren't quite falling for England at the moment. Hemp breaks down the left and, losing momentum slightly, does well to square the ball to an onrushing Russo. But her first touch is poor and she's quickly crowded out by French defenders. Moments later James gets on the ball but runs straight into a cul-de-sac. It's not clicking. Getty Images
50' France 2-0 England
England need to keep their heads.
Karchaoui is caught dawdling in possession, while facing her own goal, by Mead. It's a good tackle and Mead is suddenly through — but the rather fussy Tess Olofsson blows for a foul.
Mead and Wiegman are both outraged. It wasn't a foul, but England need to be careful. They can ill afford any unnecessary cards at this stage. Getty Images
Knowing Sarina Wiegman's approach, it's unsurprising that there are no changes at this stage. But looking to the bench, it doesn't necessarily feel like the substitutes available are the ones England need.
There are players there like Ella Toone and Aggie Beever-Jones who can be effective goalscoring substitutes, but that is no good at all to England if they can't get any control of the midfield. There's no obvious deputy for Keira Walsh, who's not been pulling the strings today as she has in the past.
As for the defence, the major problem is how full-backs Carter and Bronze are dealing with Baltimore and Cascarino. Niamh Charles is the only person I can truly see Wiegman bringing on, which suggests a worrying lack of depth.
47' France 2-0 England
England are attempting to avoid becoming the first reigning champions to lose their opening match at a Women's Euros. But they have a lot of work to do.
But there are no changes from Sarina Wiegman just yet. Lauren Hemp, who had a quiet opening half, attempts to drive forward with the ball but is penalised for a flared elbow.