Soccer-Reigning champions England beaten 2-1 by France in Women's Euro opener
(Reuters) -France forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore scored first-half goals as they beat reigning champions England 2-1 in their Women's Euro Group D opener on Saturday, handing Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman her first defeat at the finals of the competition.
After championship-winning runs with Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022, Wiegman came into the game unbeaten in 12 games at the Euro finals, but the beginning of the end of that run came when Katoto scored from close range after a superb French counter-attack in the 36th minute.
Three minutes later France winger Baltimore scored a tremendous solo goal, jinking into the box and almost losing the ball a couple of times before rattling it past Hannah Hampton, and though Keira Walsh set up a grandstand finish with a late goal, France held on to win.
Netherlands, who beat debutantes Wales 3-0 earlier on Saturday, top the group after the first round of games ahead of their clash with England on Wednesday in Zurich, while France can book their spot in the knockout stage with a win over Wales in St. Gallen the same evening.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; editing by Clare Fallon)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Arsenal sign Spain's Martin Zubimendi as Arteta reshapes midfield
LONDON, July 6 — Arsenal today announced the signing of midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad after they reportedly triggered his £51 million (RM253 million) release clause. Euro 2024 winner Zubimendi had previously been a target for Liverpool and was also linked with Real Madrid. 'This is a huge moment in my career,' said the defensive midfielder, who is understood to have put pen to paper on a five-year deal. 'It's the move I was looking for and one I wanted to make. As soon as you set foot here, you realise how big this club and this team are. 'I set my sights on Arsenal because their style of play is a good fit for me. They have shown their potential recently and the best is yet to come.' The BBC reported the deal is worth almost £60 million (RM298 million), with Arsenal opting to pay more than the release clause in order to spread the cost of the fee. Zubimendi, 26, made 236 appearances in all competitions for Sociedad after graduating from the club's academy and has played 19 times for Spain. He will reinforce manager Mikel Arteta's midfield options after Thomas Partey's contract expired and Jorginho left the club. Zubimendi's arrival paves the way for Arsenal's record-signing Declan Rice to play a more attacking midfield role alongside captain Martin Odegaard. 'Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team,' said Arteta. 'He will fit in really well and he has all the attributes to be a key player for us.' Zubimendi is Arsenal's second signing of the summer transfer window after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga joined from Chelsea as they seek to improve on three consecutive second-placed Premier League finishes. The Gunners are also expected to complete the signing of midfielder Christian Norgaard from Brentford. Attention will now turn to the forward line as Arsenal try to see off Liverpool and Manchester City and claim a first league title since 2003/04. Arteta's men had to cope without a natural striker for much of last season due to long-term injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres are reportedly the two leading candidates to fill the need for a new number nine. — AFP
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Usually stoic Miedema emotional after goalscoring milestone
Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Group D - Wales v Netherlands - Stadion Allmend, Lucerne, Switzerland - July 5, 2025 Netherlands' Vivianne Miedema celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Annegret Hilse LUCERNE, Switzerland (Reuters) -Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema rarely betrays much emotion, but her 100th goal for her country, scored in Saturday's 3-0 victory over Wales at the Women's European Championship, produced plenty of happy tears. The Dutch were comfortable winners over the debutants in their opening Group D game at Lucerne, with Miedema curling in a shot from outside the area which sailed into the far top corner, a goal worthy of the captain's milestone in her 126th international appearance, to give her side the lead and bring up a ton of goals for her country. "It's very special, this is something you don't dare dream of as a little girl," she reflected after the achievement. "It was very unreal when the milestone was getting closer, and it is extra special that it is achieved at the European Championship," she added. For the forward, it also came after a long spell out with injury, prompting her reaction. "There were definitely emotions released. Tears? Yes, when we walked on the pitch, at the goal, and after the game. That shows how much this affects me. "I think we all know how tough the past two and a half years have been for me and how hard I've worked to get here." Miedema tore her cruciate ligament at the end of 2022 and was sidelined for 10 months. Shortly after her comeback, cartilage in her knee was damaged again, and she underwent another surgery last November. THREAT On her return, she injured her knee again in April and there was a threat she might miss out on the Women's Euros. She only believed she was really going to play on the morning before the match. "I said it out loud for the first time. I don't often get nervous, but now I do. I thought: 'wow, I did it'," she said of her recovery. For Dutch coach Andries Jonker, Miedema's successful return was as good as the three points garnered from their first match at the tournament in Switzerland. "I've been asked who the best player I've worked with is? Well, Lieke Martens and Miedema are exceptional. The others are great, but those two are a step further and better." The 28-year-old Miedema is only the 10th woman to score a ton of international goals, and her coach made a comparison with Dutch great Marco van Basten. "She just sees where the goalkeeper is. I don't think many people see that, but she does. Marco van Basten also did things that made you think you could stop him. But then he takes a swing, and the ball ends up in the top corner. "Great players who don't do the logical thing but do the creative thing. Food for the enthusiast, and I am an enthusiast," said the coach. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
New Straits Times
12 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Real Madrid ready for 'really big challenge' against PSG at Club World Cup
EAST RUTHERFORD: Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said Saturday he was looking forward to seeing how his new team measures up to European champions Paris Saint-Germain after the sides set up a semi-final showdown at the Club World Cup. Real beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in their last-eight tie at the MetLife Stadium, a few hours after PSG defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 in Atlanta. The Spanish giants and the French side will now clash at the MetLife Stadium in the semi-finals on Wednesday, and whoever emerges victorious will be seen as favourites to go on and win the competition. "Today we played against a team who went far in the Champions League and now we face the winners, so this is going to be another little step up for us in this new project we are beginning," said Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti as Real coach just ahead of the tournament. PSG, coached by Luis Enrique, succeeded Madrid as European champions after hammering Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final in Munich in late May. "They have been playing at a really high level since the last 16 of the Champions League and it will be a really big challenge for us." Real appeared to be cruising to a comfortable victory against Dortmund after goals in the first 20 minutes by young striker Gonzalo Garcia and left-back Fran Garcia. But Maximilian Beier pulled one back for Dortmund in stoppage time, sparking a remarkable late flurry which saw Kylian Mbappe net an overhead kick and then Serhou Guirassy score a penalty for the Germans after Dean Huijsen was sent off. "We can do better but overall it ws a very serious performance and now we need to take the positives from this," said Alonso, who will have to do without centre-back Huijsen against PSG due to suspension. "The game has just ended so I am not yet thinking about the semis. I will have a couple of hours of peace but obviously it is not good news to have lost Huijsen." Alonso may now have a selection headache of another sort in attack, with Mbappe – used as a substitute on Saturday – pushing for a first start of the tournament against his old club after overcoming illness. "He is still not perfect, not at 100 percent, but he is improving every day," Alonso said of the France superstar after he scored his 44th goal for the club since signing from PSG a year ago. Gonzalo Garcia, meanwhile, has had a fine Club World Cup with the 21-year-old striker notching four goals in five appearances off the back of a prolific campaign with the Madrid second team, Castilla. "Yesterday (Friday) I said that Gonzalo was making the most of his opportunity and he did it again today," Alonso said. "He has the characteristics of a goal-scorer, he had a great season with Castilla, scoring 25 goals, and he is in the right place here." Meanwhile Dortmund coach Niko Kovac insisted he was satisfied with his team's performance at the tournament despite their defeat, as they now get to take a holiday before preparing for the start of the next German Bundesliga season. "I want to congratulate Real Madrid for going through. It is a well-deserved victory. We were too slow, the conditions were not perfect, and we were not good enough even if in the second half we were a lot better," he said.
