All week Sarina Wiegman has insisted her staff are greater than able to defend their title.
Switzerland is a springboard into a brand new frontier, the possibility to win a significant event on international soil, the Dutch coach and her deputy Leah Williamson confidently exclaimed.
And but, when the full-time whistle blew right here, palms went on hips and stayed there.
Wiegman’s good file on the Euros – six wins accountable for the Netherlands, six wins at England’s – had lastly come to an finish. France discovered a chink within the armour and twisted the knife.
This outcome doesn’t essentially imply it’s the finish of England’s title hopes however given the best way that the Netherlands inflicted a heavy blow on Wales earlier within the night time, it’s not going to be straightforward.
And it is going to be unattainable in the event that they proceed to play like this. All sport the Lionesses seemed overwhelmed by the event. Alessia Russo was the intense spark in a largely abject in assault and Lucy Bronze was numerously outpaced by her Chelsea teammate Sandy Baltimore on England’s proper wing.
England’s Euros title defence is off to a shaky begin after they misplaced 2-1 to France of their opener
The Lionesses might be despatched packing in the event that they lose their subsequent fixture to the Netherlands
Sarina Wiegman’s good file on the Euros has been demolished; England have been second greatest
It wasn’t till after the eightieth minute that they got here to life, and by then, it was too late. Keira Walsh managed to tug one again to spark a late surge however finally England had been outplayed and outmuscled.
The journey to get so far has been probably the most tumultuous within the Wiegman period.
Three high-profile withdrawals – Millie Vivid, Mary Earps, and Fran Kirby – stripped the squad of key expertise. Coupled with inconsistent kind and a string of accidents, England’s build-up to the event has been something however easy.
Chief among the many considerations has been managing the health of James. The 23-year-old winger, who emerged as a significant attacking pressure in the course of the 2023 World Cup, had performed simply over 40 minutes of soccer since struggling a hamstring damage in April – returning within the pleasant in opposition to Jamaica final weekend.
James was named by Wiegman within the beginning line-up in an enormous assertion of intent from the England supervisor.
Their opponents have sturdy European pedigree, having received their earlier ten group-stage matches on this competitors, but their path to the Euros has, in some ways, mirrored England’s by way of upheaval.
Head coach Laurent Bonadei made headlines along with his controversial choice to omit three senior gamers from the squad: captain Wendie Renard, vice-captain and all-time look chief Eugénie Le Sommer, and seasoned midfielder Kenza Dali. ‘I need completely different outcomes for this staff,’ he mentioned. ‘So, I’ve gone with a distinct choice.’
Two event heavyweights dealing with off in a ‘group of loss of life’ – by the point the ball was lastly kicked, the sense of anticipation was palpable.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto opened the scoring within the first half after a blistering counter-attack
Chelsea star Sandy Baltimore doubled France’s lead after England misplaced the ball in their very own half
Keira Walsh gave England hope late on together with her second worldwide aim in 88 appearances
Alessia Russo had had a aim dominated out within the first half by VAR on a irritating night time for England
Even with a 9pm kick-off native time, the sold-out stadium in Zurich simmered within the lingering grip of a continent-wide heatwave, turning the pitch right into a sweltering furnace.
Thomas Tuchel was watching on from the stands as Wiegman’s aspect got here out onerous. James was offered with an early alternative, the aim opening up for her on the sting of the six-yard field, however she lacked her normal composure and despatched it flying over the cross bar.
Moments later James was concerned once more, sending a ball into the penalty space however it was too excessive for Alessia Russo to achieve.
The Lionesses thought they’d discovered an opener when Lauren Hemp’s shot was saved – just for Alessia Russo to make an exquisite reflex follow-up shot.
The England followers erupted however a prolonged VAR test confirmed Beth Mead was inches offside within the build-up, and the aim was struck off.
After this early spell, the sport grew cagey, and England struggled to maintain a maintain of possession.
The nerves seeping by way of the England midfield, Georgia Stanway gave the ball away and France capitalised. Delphine Cascarino charged down the best flank and Lauren Hemp was caught out of place, sending in a low-driven ball for deadly striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto to faucet in.
Moments later, France doubled their lead. Sandy Baltimore managed to outmuscle her Chelsea teammate Lucy Bronze, and fireplace previous Hannah Hampton. VAR checked for a foul on Russo within the build-up, however the referee gods weren’t wanting down on England, and the aim stood.
England’s build-up to the Euros was marred by three high-profile withdrawals, together with that of Mary Earps
England have been shocked by France and performed with not one of the fluidity Wiegman has mentioned
France boss Laurent Bonadei made headlines when he quoted Einstein earlier than the event to justify the exclusion of some key gamers, however it has paid off within the first sport
England have been shocked and their play suffered. Balls have been being despatched wayward and the fluidity that Wiegman had been praising all week was nearly non-existent.
The second half picked up the place the primary had been left off and a unfastened ball from Beth Mead again to Keira Walsh virtually value the Lionesses a 3rd after the resumption.
Hampton, who has had such a storied introduction into her first main event to start out between the sticks following the departure of Earps, bought down low and saved the tame shot.
Sixty minutes have been but to cross earlier than Wiegman determined she had seen sufficient, and Ella Toone, Chloe Kelly and Niamh Charles have been despatched in.
With three minutes left to go of regular time England received a free-kick and Keira Walsh despatched the aim bulging. For the primary time, they’d rattled France.
Michelle Agyemang, the 19-year-old wildcard who had been despatched on late within the day, wreaked havoc to their defence, and Clinton additionally got here shut, however to no avail.
