Latest news with #EuroGroupD
The Star
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Reigning champions England beaten 2-1 by France in Women's Euro opener
Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Group D - France v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 5, 2025 France's Marie-Antoinette Katoto in action with England's Alex Greenwood REUTERS/Stephane Mahe (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)
Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Defiant Wales wear underdog tag with pride ahead of Women's Euro debut
Wales know that little is expected of them when they take on 2017 champions Netherlands in their opening Women's Euro Group D game on Saturday, but they sent a defiant message to anyone prepared to underestimate them as they make their tournament debut. The Welsh were handed one of the toughest draws possible when they were grouped with reigning champions England, France and the Dutch, but after qualifying for the tournament they are not just in Switzerland to make up the numbers. Canadian-born coach Rhian Wilkinson, whose mother hailed from Wales, brought in her long-time Canada international teammate Diane Matheson to talk to her players on Thursday, and the rallying cry had the desired effect. "Diana said it last night -- it's a privilege to be the underdogs and that's the attitude we're going in with. Underestimate us all you want but we know that we're ready for the fight, we're ready for each game and we're ready to be here, be present and take on each team as it comes," Wales captain Angharad James told reporters on Friday. Wales know they will be up against it when they take on a tough Dutch team in Lucerne on Saturday but, no matter how the game goes, the squad will still see their participation as a great success for Welsh football. "I think for me personally it's been a very long journey, and for most of the group too. It's been something that we've always strived to achieve and we've always come up short but not anymore -- we're here," James said. "To see the Welsh flag and to see Wales being on the biggest stage of all is truly something that I didn't know if I'd be able to experience personally, and to be here today is an honour," she added. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PAP has begun search for new candidates; PM Wong hopes to deploy them earlier ahead of next GE Singapore 20 retired MPs spoke up on many issues in Parliament, helped successors prepare for new role: PM Wong Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Singapore Banks tighten vigilance and processes following $3b money laundering case Asia JB petrol station shooting: Dead man with bullet wounds dumped at hospital Singapore Trilateral work group formed to address allegations of foreigners illegally taking on platform work Singapore Power distribution system in renewal project may be linked to Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: SMRT Singapore Rise in number of scam e-mails claiming to be from Cardinal William Goh: Catholic Church
