Soccer-Another last-eight exit for France has players wondering when their turn will come
BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) -France arrived at Euro 2025 riding on one of the hottest streaks in women's football, but another quarter-final exit from a major tournament left the shell-shocked players wondering when it will be their turn to celebrate.
France had won 11 in a row before they kicked off against Germany on Saturday, but wilted against the eight-times European champions -- despite having 11 players to Germany's 10 for most of the game -- losing 6-5 in a penalty shootout.
"We're wondering when it's going to be smiling for us at last," said Grace Geyoro.
Geyoro put France ahead with a 14th-minute penalty in a game that ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Les Bleues have now been eliminated in the quarter-finals in seven of the past nine World Cups or Euros. They were also eliminated in the quarters in their last two Olympic appearances, in 2016 and 2024.
Germany swept them aside in the 2022 Euro semi-finals.
"I don't think we have a psychological problem," said France coach Laurent Bonadei. "We have opponents of quality, and it gets harder and harder.
"But I think my players gave us hope; Rome wasn't built in a day."
Bonadei, who was hired in August 2024, drew criticism when he left veteran centre-back Wendie Renard and France's all-time leading goalscorer Eugénie Le Sommer off his Euro 2025 squad in favour of younger players.
Bonadei quoted Einstein in his decision at the time, saying: "'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.' I want different results for this team so I have gone with a different selection.
"It's something I've been thinking about since the start of the season."
France defender Sakina Karchaoui called the early exit "totally frustrating."
"We had so much faith in this group, in what we've built up and so on," she said. "But we don't have to throw it all away; on the contrary, you have to take a lot of positive things from it. And one day it will pass, we know that."
Bonadei pointed out after Saturday's loss that France will clash with Germany again in October in a two-legged Nations League semi-final.
Germany, meanwhile, play world champions Spain in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
30 minutes ago
- The Star
Soccer-Women's Copa America highlights inequality in South American women's football
Conmebol's President Alejandro Dominguez speaks during the inauguration of the FIFA Museum, in Asuncion, Paraguay May 13, 2025. REUTERS/Cesar Olmedo (Reuters) -Intended to spotlight women's football in South America, the 2025 Women's Copa America in Ecuador has instead exposed deep inequalities with the men's game, outraging some players and drawing unflattering comparisons with the Women's Euros in Switzerland. With Olympic and Pan American qualification at stake, the continent's finest players expected professional conditions when the tournament kicked off earlier this month. What they found sparked widespread outrage and calls for systemic change. The controversy erupted when images circulated on social media showing Brazil and Bolivia players warming up side-by-side in a cramped indoor space before their Group B clash, rather than on the pitch as is standard in men's competitions. Brazil great Marta, who came out of international retirement for the competition, led the calls for change. "We are expected to perform well and work hard, but we also have to demand a high level of organisation," the six-time FIFA Player of the Year told Globo Esporte. Brazil midfielder Ary Borges delivered even sharper criticism, directly challenging CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez: "Even amateur matches are better organised than this. Ask Alejandro if he could warm up in a space measuring five or 10 metres and smelling of paint," she said. "I think we saw an example of what can be done with the Men's Copa America and its huge infrastructure. Why does the women's tournament have to deal with this kind of thing?" TECH GAP DEEPENS FRUSTRATION While CONMEBOL eventually allowed 15-minute pitch warm-ups following the backlash, the absence of VAR technology in knockout stages intensified player grievances. Chilean forward Yanara Aedo called the lack of VAR "disrespectful" after a controversial 2-1 loss to Argentina. "VAR changes everything... Everyone could see the two penalties that weren't awarded," she told reporters. "This is the Women's Copa America, and it should be the same as the men's tournament. The Women's Euros are being played at the same time, so it's disappointing for us to see this competition taking place with no VAR," she added. The timing proved particularly galling, with Europe's tournament in Switzerland breaking attendance records while utilising cutting-edge technology. Brazil's Kerolin captured the growing discontent on social media: "I'm watching the Euros today... and man. The difference in structure, audience and investment is surreal. It's discouraging." The disparities have also drawn criticism beyond South America. Lynn Williams, the National Women's Soccer League's all-time leading scorer, challenged governing bodies on Sam Mewis's podcast The Women's Game. "Think about a tournament that's happening at the same time, the Euro Cup. And you, as a player, are witnessing this, having a very different experience between media coverage, access to the game, and investment in the sport in these countries. Why aren't we investing in them?" Former United States midfielder Mewis, a Women's World Cup winner in 2019, added: "I want to see governing bodies and people in positions of power advocating more for the players." Next year's Finalissima in Los Angeles against the European champions could further highlight the inequalities. (Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico CityEditing by Christian Radnedge)
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
‘We're no underdogs': England set to challenge world champs Spain in Euro 2025 final
BASEL, July 27 — England captain Leah Williamson admits that Spain are 'the best at what they do' but is confident her side can compete with the reigning world champions in today's Euro 2025 final. 'Tomorrow, we play a game against the world champions who continue to prove themselves over and over in the way that they play football,' Williamson told reporters at Basel's St Jakob-Park on the eve of the game. 'They are a fantastic footballing team, they are the best at what they do, and we are very much aware of that but we think we are pretty good in some areas as well. 'We need to be at our best to beat Spain but I think they will need to be at their best to beat us too. 'I think there is a lot of respect between the two teams, and I'd be hesitant to say we are underdogs in this scenario.' England are hoping to retain the European Championship title they won on home soil in 2022, but the match is also a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final, in which Spain triumphed 1-0 in Sydney. There is a growing rivalry between the nations, with England winning in extra time when they clashed in the quarter-finals at Euro 2022. The sides have also already faced each other twice this year in the UEFA Nations League, with England winning 1-0 at Wembley in February. Spain avenged that result by claiming a 2-1 victory in Barcelona at the beginning of last month, when Claudia Pina scored twice after Alessia Russo had given England the lead. 'We have played each other a lot over the last couple of years and I think you always have learnings from the games we have played,' said England coach Sarina Wiegman. 'Tomorrow is a new situation where we have an opportunity to hopefully take out their strengths a bit and exploit some of their weaknesses too.' England have been sweating on the fitness of Lauren James for the final after she came off with an ankle injury during the last-four win over Italy, but Wiegman indicated that the winger is in line to feature today. 'We had 23 players on the pitch today and everyone came through,' said the Dutch coach. Chloe Kelly and young striker Michelle Agyemang are pushing for starts after making impacts off the bench in the comeback wins against both Sweden and Italy in the last two rounds. Williamson, though, believes James has a lot to offer. 'We have a team of talented players. Lauren brings something slightly different, obviously having her available is the best-case scenario,' said the Arsenal centre-back. — AFP
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
‘Knocking down walls': Spain eye Euro 2025 glory to cement women's football rise
BASEL, July 27 — Spain captain Irene Paredes said yesterday her team have been 'knocking down walls' in helping women's football grow thanks to their remarkable achievements as they prepare to face England in the Euro 2025 final. Experienced Barcelona defender Paredes was referring to the development of the women's game since Spain's triumph at the World Cup in 2023, when they defeated England 1-0 in the title decider. Her team now have the opportunity to add a first ever European crown to the World Cup, and in doing so allow Spain to hold the both the women's and men's continental titles at the same time. 'Firm steps have been taken but I think we need to keep opening doors and normalising the situation,' Paredes said in Basel, where today's final will be played. 'A lot of walls were knocked down with our victory' in 2023, she added. 'Now more and more people look up to us, but we still have some way to go.' Spain's victory over England in the World Cup final was quickly overshadowed by different headlines, after a forced kiss by the country's football federation chief Luis Rubiales on player Jenni Hermoso as the team prepared to lift the trophy. Rubiales was eventually fined €10,800 (RM53,552) for sexual assault in February this year. Montse Tome replaced Jorge Vilda as coach in the aftermath of that tournament, and she believes her team — led by reigning Ballon d'Or Aitana Bonmati — would be deserving European Championship winners. 'As a team we have been fighting and working so hard in so many areas and we have managed to get everyone to just focus on the football, which is what matters,' she said. 'All the questions now are focused on football and that shows you the changes we have achieved.' Tome insisted that neither she nor her team were feeling the pressure despite the high stakes at St Jakob-Park, with Spain already having made history on their run to the final. It is their first ever appearance in the final of a women's senior European Championship, achieved after a narrow last-four victory against Germany — a team they had never previously beaten. 'I am not thinking about pressure, just about all the history we have made during the tournament,' she said, insisting that getting to the final was Spain's main goal in Switzerland. 'At the beginning our aim was to play six games and we are going to do that, but England are the current European champions and we will just try to compete with them and enjoy it.' It will be the third meeting of the teams in 2025, with Spain and England managing one win apiece during the recent Uefa Nations League campaign. 'I expect a very even game against a team who also like to get forward — England have so much potential in attack,' Tome added. — AFP
