A look at the big talking points ahead of England's Euro 2025 opener vs France
Can the Lionesses stay cool, both literally and figuratively?
This is the first time England have entered a major tournament as the defending champions after securing the European title on home soil. Sarina Wiegman's much-changed side enter this tournament in Switzerland with huge expectations to bring the trophy home again.
The worst of the heat wave in Zurich – where it hit 34 degrees on Wednesday – has subsided, but the mercury is still set to hover around 26 degrees even at the 9pm local (8pm UK) kick-off.
Chelsea forward Lauren James marked her return from three months out of action with an assist in England's 7-0 send-off victory over Jamaica in Leicester after coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute.
Lauren James is BACK! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/wojRYHUzKz
— (C)helsea FC Women 🏆🏆🏆 (@ChelseaFCW) June 29, 2025
When she is fit, the 23-year-old, who scored three goals and added the same number of assists at the 2023 World Cup, is one of the most potent weapons in Wiegman's arsenal, and successfully managing her return – as well as how best to employ her – could be key to England's success.
Group D is arguably the tournament's Group of Death, with 10th-ranked side France and 2017 champions the Netherlands one place below them, as well as newcomers Wales keen to prove they will not be satisfied with a participation ribbon.
Our #WEURO2025 campaign begins TOMORROW 🤩 pic.twitter.com/XpWza23R4j
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 4, 2025
Unlike the World Cup, when England got off to an uneven start in a group comprised of much lower-ranked opposition in China and Haiti, there will be little margin for error here, if any.
Arsenal forward Beth Mead started every game of England's 2022 triumph, and was that Championship's Golden Boot winner as well as the player of the tournament.
But much has changed since, including the ascendance of her Arsenal team-mate and this season's Women's Super League Golden Boot winner Alessia Russo, who will be itching to assert herself early at Euro 2025.
Former France captain Wendie Renard's omission from Laurent Bonadei's side came as a shock to many – including former Lyon team-mate and England defender Lucy Bronze – and it now remains to be seen whether or not that decision was correct.
Centre-back Renard, 34, has played 168 times for France, scoring 39 goals, and was left out alongside France's top goalscorer Eugenie le Sommer, 36. While both have had tremendous success with Lyon, France's best result at the Euros was in 2022, when they reached the semi-finals.
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The Guardian
25 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Nine-man PSG hold off Bayern Munich to reach Club World Cup semi-finals
PSG were a goal up and two men down, deep into stoppage time, when they went on one last run of hundreds here. Suddenly, as had happened so many times in a breathless afternoon in Atlanta the pitch had opened up and footballer's flew into the space. They should have been exhausted, barely able to move, but off went Vitinha through the middle, Ousmane Dembélé sprinting up alongside. He smashed the crossbar with the first shot but this wasn't done just yet; Achraf Hakimi got possession back, dribbled through three men and set up Dembélé to score the goal that ended it. Actually, ended might not be the word because although that was the 96th minute, there was still time for Bayern to have a penalty given to them and then taken away again. But after Désiré Doué had got the opener on 78 minutes, Dembélé had secured PSG's passage to the Club World Cup semi-final. Bayern were out. Worse, they had seen Jamal Musiala carried off at half-time, having suffered a horrific broken ankle after a challenge from Gianluigi Donnarumma who, seeing the grim sight of his opponent's foot facing the wrong way, had been left close to tears. That had given a sour, sad note to a breathless and brilliant game, a match of joy and enthusiasm in which the players had given generously, and one that had been open to the end. Vincent Kompany had said he could predict what would happen, Luis Enrique seemed to agree, and it turned out they were right. We will have less of the ball than normal, the PSG coach said; so will we, the Bayern manager said. Kompany, after all, had described them as teams with 'extreme principles', and so it was: a game defined by intensity and intent, an open, often frenetic match, of rob and rob back where the roars from the stands had a bit of the he's behind you about them. Passes were misplaced, the ball lost and won back again, but not for any lack of quality – quite the opposite – but the speed at which it was all happening. They had been playing just three minutes when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia robbed Michael Olise for Doué to shoot wide, and just four when Hakimi – the right-back, remember – almost stole from Josip Stanisic on the edge of his own six-yard box. If this was what they predicted, it was a riot, blows traded. Not like heavyweights, but something faster, the combinations too quick to see coming, a kind of organised chaos. On 18 minutes, superb work from Bradley Barcola soon released Hakimi on the right and he dashed away to deliver a deep ball to the far post, where Kvaratskhelia hit the side netting. Nineteen seconds later, there was another roar as it looked like Kingsley Coman was going to escape at the other end. PSG closed that quickly, but the speed with which it had happened, going from one attack to another, was a picture of a half that was frenetic. At half-time, PSG's pass completion was at 77%, way below their normal levels. Their threat remained. Bayern's did too. Barcola again came in off the left to open the pitch out, looking left or for Kvaratskhelia to run, and when the ball came back, Fabián Ruiz turned over the game's best chance so far. At the other end Donnarumma dived to save from Olise and then, back at this one, Manuel Neuer produced a brilliant stop at the feet of Kvaratskhelia, who had driven all the way into the six-yard box. Two strong hands had denied two goals and another followed. Harry Kane just about forced his way past Willian Pacho and craned his neck to head over a Coman cross when Donnarumma stopped from Aleksandar Pavlovic – a save made all the more impressive by the fact that it hadn't actually been a shot but a delivery bending in at the far post. Dayot Upamecano then headed in what might have been the opener but the flag was up, PSG holding the line as the free-kick came in and catching him and five others offside. This had been brilliant, and then just on half-time it went bad. Diving out to reach a ball by the byline, Donnarumma went through Musiala, whose left ankle turned, apparently broken and dislocated. Musiala was left in a heap in the corner, a crowd soon gathering around him; the goalkeeper was left close to tears, crouched by his line wearing a lost look. As they went off, he didn't know where to go. In the second half, he was booed when he came into contact with the ball; some supporters here blamed him, even if his opponents didn't. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion PSG should have taken the lead early in the second half when Barcola raced clear, released by Kvaratskhelia, but as he opened up his body to take the shot Neuer got a glimpse of his intentions and made another hugely impressive save. Yet play tilted Bayern's way, if that meant anything, given how quickly everything could switch, a moment's clarity in the chaos. An example: on the hour, Olise curled a shot that Neuer gathered; almost immediately, an outrageous 70-yard diagonal from Nuno Mendes set Doué away and beyond Konrad Laimer to flash a cross through the six-yard box. Olise then had best chance so far but, faced by Donnarumma, lifted his shot over the near post. With 20 minutes remaining, on came Dembélé and straight away left Olise in his dust, screeching up the wing. He might have score two when a Neuer hit a routine pass straight at Kvaratskhelia, near the area. The keeper recovered just enough to slide in and make a desperate lunge at he Georgian but Dembele got to the loose ball first, stepped past him, and, with the goal unguarded, hit the sidenetting. Every moment carried a threat; heading into the final 15 minutes, every moment could be decisive too. And a moment was. It started with a robbery, Kane this time the man caught out, and there was Vitinha dashing forward, João Neves produced a superb turn and Doué came inside, and cut the shot into the corner, Neuer slipping as he tried to adjust. That, it seemed would be that, but this was a wild game that would have a wild finish. Pacho was sent off for a foul on Leon Goretzka, Kane had an equaliser ruled out for offside and then Lucas Hernández almost put the victory in danger with an act of stupidity, red carded for an elbow on Raphaël Guerreiro. Bayern kept coming, offered hope, but instead it was PSG who set off once more, this time to the semi-final in New York.
North Wales Chronicle
27 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Vivianne Miedema nets landmark goal as Wales lose Euro opener to Netherlands
Wales, the lowest ranked team in the competition, had made an encouraging start to the Euro 2025 Group D opener at the Allmend Stadium, but were undone by two clinical Dutch goals either side of the break. After Jill Roord's shot had hit the woodwork, Wales' solid defensive line was eventually breached when Miedema clipped home a fine dipping effort in stoppage time at the end of the first half to bring up her century in style. ⏰ FT | 🏴 0-3 🇳🇱 Defeat in our opening game at #WEURO2025 in Lucerne. — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) July 5, 2025 Victoria Pelova then struck from close range just three minutes into the second half before Esmee Brugts added a third to put the result beyond Rhian Wilkinson's side, who next play France in St Gallen on Wednesday. Despite being pushed deep for long spells, Wales – with Esther Morgan handed a surprise start in a back three – had held their own as the Netherlands struggled to break them down in the final third ahead of the first drinks break. Wales, cheered on by around 3,800 supporters, were again well organised when play continued as the Dutch, who were European champions in 2017, looked to find a cutting edge to all of their possession. Cymru yn creu hanes 🏴 First Women's EURO game ✅#WEURO2025 — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 5, 2025 The Netherlands, though, were soon within inches of taking the lead in the 35th minute. Rhiannon Roberts headed out a long pass which had been launched towards the Wales penalty area. The ball dropped out to Roord, who took a touch before sending a 20-yard drive flying past Wales keeper Olivia Clark but her strike came back off the post. Wales created a decent opening late in the first half when Jess Fishlock laid the the ball off to Lily Woodham, only for her shot to fly over. The Netherlands then broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time through a brilliant finish from Miedema. Historical. 🇳🇱💯#NothingLikeOranje — OranjeLeeuwinnen (@oranjevrouwen) July 5, 2025 There looked little on for the Manchester City forward when she collected the ball on the left just outside the Wales penalty area, before then switching back inside to clip a fine effort up over Clark and into the far corner. Wales fell further behind three minutes after the restart when Danielle van de Donk latched on to a long ball and had the time to pick out Pelova, who fired home from inside the six-yard box. Former Manchester City midfielder Roord then saw another shot crash back off the bar before the Netherlands did get a third goal in the 57th minute. ⚽️ Pelova (48')⚽️ Brugts (57') 🇳🇱 @oranjevrouwen's second half… 🥵#WEURO2025 — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 5, 2025 Jackie Groenen's long-range strike rattled the crossbar again and after Wales failed to clear the danger, Brugts volleyed in a deep cross at the back post. Wales head coach Wilkinson looked to minimise further damage by making some substitutions going into the last 25 minutes, sending on Ffion Morgan, Kayleigh Barton and Rachel Rowe to replace Fishlock, Hannah Cain and Josie Green. Clark was out quickly to make a brave stop at the feet of Lineth Beerensteyn as she raced clear on goal before the Netherlands substitute then saw her late angled strike ruled out for offside.
North Wales Chronicle
28 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
England face challenge of bravado as India take total control of second Test
In the three years since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took the reins of the Test side it has become a guiding principle that their team do not do draws – a rain-ruined Ashes clash at Old Trafford the only one in 37 matches of the 'Bazball' era. Now they may be forced to accept that avoiding defeat is the only route out of Birmingham that keeps their series lead in tact. Stumps on Day 4. 🏏 Ollie Pope (24*)🏏 Harry Brook (15*) 🏴 7️⃣2️⃣-3️⃣ — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 5, 2025 Chasing a colossal 608, almost 200 more than the world record, they found themselves 72 for three at the end of day four. With an inconceivable 536 to win in 90 overs, a challenge of their bravado awaits. India, riding on the coat-tails of yet another century from their insatiable captain Shubman Gill, raised eyebrows by delaying their declaration well beyond expectation and they must now hope the weather does not leave them short of time. By the time Gill finally pulled the plug at 427 for six, a packed crowd had stopped singing Oasis songs and started chanting 'boring, boring India'. England's fearless approach to fourth-innings batting had clearly spooked the tourists, who saw them easily chase down 378 on this ground in 2022 and 371 at Headingley last week, but their ultra-cautious approach slipped down the agenda as they wreaked havoc with the new ball. Zak Crawley flashed Mohammed Siraj to backward point to bag England's seventh duck of the match and Ben Duckett followed for a rapid 25. Five boundaries in 15 balls from the left-hander had the boisterous Hollies Stand taking to their feet as they hollered 'stand up if you still believe', but they were back in their seats when Akash Deep smashed his stumps with a beauty. Deep was at it again when he added the coveted scalp of Joe Root for six, blasting out his off stump with speed, seam and skill. If India do take the remaining seven wickets they require, it will be a crowning achievement for Gill, who followed his first-innings 269 with a flawless 161. That took his match total to 430, the second highest aggregate in Test history, and his series output to a staggering 585 in four visits. After stepping in to the number four spot previously occupied by national icons Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, Gill already looks at home. Another record-breaking knock from Shubman Gill at Edgbaston 🔥#WTC27 #ENGvIND 📝: — ICC (@ICC) July 5, 2025 India held all the cards at the start of play, already 244 in front with nine wickets in hand. By lunch England had taken two more, Karun Nair caught behind to cap a vibrant opening burst from Brydon Carse and KL Rahul seeing his middle stump uprooted by a ripper from Josh Tongue. But by the interval Gill's latest bout of gorging had begun and India were in front by 357. A chaotic cameo of 65 from Rishabh Pant ensued, with eight fours, three sixes and two missed catches. On two separate occasions he swung so hard he hurled the bat high into the air, including the shot that eventually saw him caught by Duckett. Crawley had earlier dropped an easy chance with Pant on 10, caping an increasingly weary performance from the hosts. Gill breezed to his hundred in 127 balls and cut loose after tea, blazing five sixes and four fours. By now England had become passengers, a disorientated Ollie Pope running past a catch in the deep as he lost sight of the ball, and the crowd were baying for the innings to end. At one stage they thought the declaration had come and cheered loudly in response, only to jeer when play resumed. Shoaib Bashir eventually dismissed Gill with a caught and bowled, but figures of two for 119 were scant cause for celebration. When Gill finally called his side in there were just 16 overs possible, but that was enough to plunge England into deep strife. Crawley did not trouble the scorers before an over-ambitious slash outside off gave Siraj the breakthrough and Duckett's brief charge was ended when Deep bowled him from round the wicket. Where India had batted with impunity, every ball appeared to carry danger for England and Deep hit the jackpot when he skewered Root with a rocket that nipped away crashed into off stump. Harry Brook and Pope are first to the crease on Sunday and must decide overnight whether they can stomach fighting for a stalemate.
