England v France live: Lionesses stunned by quickfire France goals in Women’s Euro 2025 opener

England v France LIVE: Euro 2025 latest score and updates

• England face France in blockbuster start to Euro 2025 campaign | Live on ITV
• 38' GOAL! Baltimore doubles France's lead after goal survives VAR check (ENG 0-2 FRA)
• 36' GOAL! England hit on counter-attack as Katoto finishes in the box (ENG 0-1 FRA)
• 18' NO GOAL! England have opener disallowed by VAR after Mead offside (ENG 0-0 FRA)

England 0-2 France

76 mins: Close! Diani heads just wide of the far post. France have had 12 shots to England’s four, including six on target to England’s zero...

Clinton replaces Stanway in midfield.

England 0-2 France

74 mins: And more frustration for England as Toone is booked for a late challenge on Bacha. Again, England lost the ball so carelessly as Williamson’s pass to Bronze was cut out.

Grace Clinton will be coming on next for the Lionesses.

England 0-2 France

72 mins: Williamson and Karchaoui are back on but England are running out of time still. It’s France who are still creating more danger.

Does Wiegman turn to an Aggie Beever-Jones or Jess Park?

England 0-2 France

69 mins: Leah Williamson thunders into a 50-50 challenge and comes away holding her head, but it looks to be France captain Sakina Karchaoui who has come away worse off. That was a crunching tackle from Williamson.

England 0-2 France

65 mins: A nervy moment for Hampton as she spills Mateo’s cross but is relieved to see England clear. France are still the side looking more likely to score and the Lionesses have offered very little since half time.

England 0-2 France

60 mins; France are making changes too, and Katoto and Baltimore, the two goalscorers, are replaced. There is still plenty of firepower to bring on, though, and Diani and Malard will bring threat themselves.

England 0-2 France

58 mins: France are tearing England apart again down the wings. Baltimore and Katoto have the beating of Bronze and Williamson and Karchaoui’s cross is dangerous but runs through. Then France attack from the side, but Cascarino’s cross is gathered by Hampton.

TRIPLE change for England. Toone, Kelly and Charles are on. James, Mead and Carter are replaced by Wiegman on the hour.

England 0-2 France

54 mins; HUGE chance! Oh dear, this would have just added to England’s nightmare! There’s another loss moment in midfield, with Beth Mead giving the ball away with the backpass and playing in Geyoro. The midfielder only has Hampton to beat and the goalkeeper has to gather at her second attempt, to stop it from spilling over the line.

England 0-2 France

50 mins: De Almeida finds the side-netting after a run forward from defence, but Hampton had it covered.

Then Hemp has some space to attack after a long ball from Hampton is flicked on, but the winger can’t find Russo in the middle. It was good defending from France to close Russo down.

England 0-2 France

49 mins: Beth Mead is furious as she wins the ball back but is then stopped short by the referee after being ruled to have barged into the France defender Bacha from behind.

Sarina Wiegman is angry too and is again berating the fourth official, asking why that was a foul and the one of Russo in the first half was not.

(Getty Images)

England 0-2 France

46 mins: One step at a time for England, I guess. And they will have to start by being much, much sharper on the ball if they are to get anything out of this game.

England 0-2 France

And we are back underway for the second half! Interestingly, no changes at the break from England. The same XI returns.

Sarina Wiegman was furious that a possible foul on Alessia Russo went unpunished in the build-up to France’s second goal, and berated the fourth official on the touchline.

Two marginal calls have gone against England here.

(REUTERS)

HALF TIME! England 0-2 France

How it all turned around...

16 mins: Alessia Russo fires England into the lead on the rebound

18 mins: England have opening goal ruled out for marginal offside decision

36 mins: France hit England on the counter-attack and Katoto scores

38 mins: Baltimore finds top corner as England appeal for foul on Russo

(The FA via Getty Images)

HALF TIME! England 0-2 France

45+5 mins: A last chance for England before the half-time whistle but Greenwood’s inswinging corner is headed away.

And there is half-time. The Lionesses trudge off and this is a reality check indeed. This was always going to be a tough game but France have been much sharper.

England 0-2 France

45+5 mins: It’s a totally different game now for France. They can afford to drop off and try and catch England into more mistakes before hitting to Baltimore, Katoto and Cascarino. It’s a tricky position for England to be in.

England 0-2 France

45 mins: Can England get a precious goal back before half time? We’re into five minutes of additional time but Mead’s cross is overhit and runs straight out.

GOAL! England 0-2 France (BALTIMORE)

THE GOAL STANDS!

And suddenly the Lionesses find themselves in a deep hole in this crucial Group D opener. They have been punished for losing the ball too carelessly.

(Getty Images)

GOAL! England 0-2 France (BALTIMORE)

Oh my goodness! What a goal from Sandy Baltimore, and England are 2-0 down. The Lionesses are furious because they wanted a free-kick in midfield!

Russo looked to have been fouled on the halfway line but nothing was given. Baltimore was played in down the right and she evaded the challenge of Bronze, who stumbled. Baltimore then fired into the top corner of Hampton’s goal. Nothing she could do.

GOAL! England 0-1 France (KATOTO)

Shock! France take the lead against the Lionesses! And it comes from the right wing, where France have been so dangerous. England lose the ball and Cascarino is played down the channel. There's straight ball across and an unmarked Marie-Antoinette Katoto is there to finish.

(Getty Images)

England 0-0 France

32 mins: France have certainly been the better team since the disallowed England goal. Baltimore dribbles at Bronze and puts a dangerous ball into the box - England in the end are grateful for an offside flag in there somewhere.

France are looking very dangerous down the wings.

England 0-0 France

29 mins: James scampers down the left and does very well to just give England a moment to rest. The problem is, they keep losing it with sloppy passes into midfield - with Carter’s pass into Stanway allowed France to nick it back. England fall on the back foot against but Bacha’s shot is collected by Hampton, with the ball dipping down from a deflection.

(Getty Images)

England 0-0 France

24 mins: CHANCE! Wow England breathe a sigh of relief. Karchaoui is released over the top and there’s a moment of hesitation where Williamson can’t get across. Karchaoui goes for the lob and beats Hampton... but it drops just wide of the post. It rippled the side-netting and there are France fans who think it went in.

England 0-0 France

23 mins: The semi-automated offside review shows that was an extremely marginal decision, with Mead’s shoulder offside.

James attempts a spectacular overhead kick from Hemp’s cross but it sails over. That would have been special.

(Getty Images)

NO GOAL! England 0-0 France

HANG ON! This is going to be disallowed! It is! Beth Mead was offside in the build-up!

The move started with James, who shimmied and flicked to create some space. But Mead had just strayed offside from the pass, which I think was intended for Bronze.

The goal came from the following phase, with Hemp’s shot saved. Russo had followed it in but the striker is denied by the offside flag, which came after a VAR review.

GOOOOOAAAAALLL !!!!!! England 1-0 France (RUSSSSOOO 16')

THE LIONESSES TAKE THE LEAD! Alessia Russo with another goal at a major tournament, but it’s all about Lauren James in the build-up!

England 0-0 France

14 mins: England men’s manager Thomas Tuchel is here in Zurich watching the Lionesses.

(The FA via Getty Images)

England 0-0 France

13 mins: England have fallen on the back foot a little bit, but France aren’t hurting them. Williamson and Greenwood can deal with the long ball forward to Katoto. England just need a spell where they can get the game under control.

England 0-0 France

9 mins: Leah Williamson makes a brave header at the back post to clear Cascarino’s cross with Baltimore lurking.

Russo brings down Hampton’s long pass forward and releases Mead, but the France defenders recover well to cut out the danger.

England 0-0 France

6 mins: France are able to get their foot on the ball. A couple of times England have lost it cheaply in midfield. Stanway gets a stern word after fouling Karchaoui, but Hampton confidently collects the cross from Bacha.

(REUTERS)

England 0-0 France

3 mins: Chance! Nice move again from England with James involved. Cutting onto her left foot, she looks for the cross to Russo at the back post, but it just evades the striker. Almost a copy of the goal Russo scored against Jamaica last week.

England 0-0 France

1 mins: CHANCE! An opening for England inside the first minute! Russo tees up James and there is space for the star forward, but she fires over on the angle. Decent opportunity but a sharp start.

KICK-OFF! England 0-0 France

And England’s Euros defence is underway! That was a perfectly observed moment of silence for Jota, and a poignant way to start.

Moment of silence for Diogo Jota before kick-off

After the national anthems, there will be a moment for silence for Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who were tragically killed in a car crash on Thursday. The players from France and England will also wear black armbands.

Reminder of team news and how to watch England v France

Lauren James starts for England against France. The forward is considered ready to make her first start in three months and replaces Ella Toone in England’s line-up.

That’s the only change from the side that started England’s send-off game against Jamaica last week. James comes into the No 10 position and will play behind Alessia Russo and with Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead on the wings. Alex Greenwood wins her 100th cap in defence.

England XI: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood, Carter; Walsh, Stanway; Mead, James, Hemp; Russo

What TV channel is it on?

England v France will be shown on ITV 1 and ITV X,

'She brings something different': Sarina Wiegman on Lauren James selection

Sarina Wiegman has explained her decision to give Lauren James her first start in three months against France in the opening game of Euro 2025, telling ITV that she can “bring something different”.

James was in a race to the fit for the Euros after suffering a hamstring injury at the end of March, but impressed against Jamaica in a 30-minute cameo from the bench, and has been trusted to start here.

“We know she can bring something different and she tried really hard to be where she is now. We have options in that position,” Wiegman told ITV. On France, she said: “They're powerful as we know. They're dynamic and powerful. They have speed up front."

(The FA via Getty Images)

Lucy Bronze: Tough opener makes England’s Euro 2025 challenge ‘more exciting’

England right-back Lucy Bronze insists the tough task of facing France first at Euro 2025 will ensure there are “no surprises” about what it will take for the Lionesses to defend their title in Switzerland.

“It’s a good and a bad thing,” said Bronze. “It depends on the result. If we lose that game, everyone says it’s the worst. If we win that game, it’s the best thing.

“It’s similar for every other team. I think we just try to look at the positives in the fact that we get to test ourselves against the good teams straight away. There’s no surprises going through the tournament.

“We know the standard that you have to be at, whereas other teams maybe can build in, but you don’t really know the level then.

“So we’ve just got to take it for what it is and be excited to play in a big game. I think when you get to these kinds of tournaments, you want to play in the big games against the best players. And why not have it in your first game? It makes it more exciting.”

(The FA via Getty Images)

Sarina Wiegman: 'It's a new challenge, we're the new England'

Sarina Wiegman has told her players to not focus on defending their European title, but to instead challenge themselves to go out and win another major trophy at Euro 2025.

There are seven England players who will be making their first appearance at a major tournament and Wiegman, who has won the last two Euros with the Netherlands and the Lionesses, has looked to motivate her squad by drawing a line under their past achievements.

“We absolutely cherish what we have done before,” Wiegman said. “We’ll never forget it and it was the experience of a lifetime for us and for our families and also for the fans, but you have to move on and you have to be on top of it.

“Things are changing very quickly, things are developing very quickly, so we have to do too. And we came together, it was actually in February and then we came to, to this day we said, yeah, it's a new challenge The approach was there anyway, but we call it the ‘new’ England.”

(The FA via Getty Images)

What is the France team news? Captain injured and Diani on the bench

France head coach Laurent Bonadei made the bold call of dropping captain Wendie Renard, all-time top goalscorer Eugenie Le Sommer and Kenza Dali from his Euros squad, explaining: “As Einstein said: ‘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.”

The player named as captain in place in Renard, centre-back Griedge Mbock, has also been ruled out due to injury. Still, France still have a very talented team, especially in forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Chelsea’s Sandy Baltimore. Kadidiatou Diani, tough, only starts on the bench, with winger Delphine Cascarino coming in.

France XI: Peyraud-Magnin, de Almeida, Lakrar, Sombath, Bacha,Karchaoui, Jean-Francois, Geyoro, Baltimore, Katoto, Cascarino

(Getty Images)

Why blockbuster Euro 2025 opener is a huge moment for a ‘new England’

England may be the defending European champions, but this very much isn’t a squad hoping that old approaches – or that reputation – carry them through. Sarina Wiegman was unequivocal on the eve of her team’s Euro 2025 opener against a dangerous France team.

“We call it a new England,” the manager said.

This intent obviously explains a lot of the ructions in the build-up to this tournament, since transition rarely comes without friction. It’s also just as well, as England do actually need something new.

They need to immediately find their feet and actually start a tournament well.

Here’s why

Netherlands beat Wales 3-0 in opening match of Group D

A comfortable win for the Netherlands over Wales in the opening match of Group D. It was a good effort from the tournament debutants Wales, but Vivianne Miedema scored her 100th international goal just before half time to break their resistance. The Netherlands then scored against just after the break, through Victoria Pelova, with Esmee Brugts adding the third.

A historic moment for Wales but not the result they wanted of course. Wales are up against France next, while England will play a Netherlands side who will be on three points...

(REUTERS)

The England team arrive in Zurich

The England team arrive to the ground in Zurich. Ella Toone is still having a laugh with Alessia Russo despite dropping out of the starting line-up. What a boost it is to have Lauren James ready to go from the start.

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

England team news and confirmed line-up

Lauren James starts for England against France! The forward is considered ready to make her first start in three months and replaces Ella Toone in England’s line-up.

That’s the only change from the side that started England’s send-off game against Jamaica last week. James comes into the No 10 position and will play behind Alessia Russo and with Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead on the wings.

Alex Greenwood wins her 100th cap in defence.

England XI: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood, Carter; Walsh, Stanway; Mead, James, Hemp; Russo

Lauren James to start England's opening game of Euro 2025?

Sarina Wiegman has suggested Lauren James could start England’s opening match of Euro 2025 against France, or could at least play a significant role in the game, after the forward recovered from a hamstring injury to be fit for the tournament.

James played the final 30 minutes of England’s 7-0 send-off win against Jamaica on Sunday, in what was the Chelsea forward’s first appearance in three months, and Wiegman said the 23-year-old “can play more than that” in Zurich against France on Saturday night.

“She’s in a good place,” Wiegman said. “She came on the pitch in against Jamaica last week and she's ready to get more minutes tomorrow.

“I'm not going to give you the line-up, but she played 30 minutes last week, so she can play more than that, so I think that will say enough,” Wiegman said, perhaps suggesting that James will start England’s opener in place of Ella Toone.

The England team will be announced at 6:45pm...

Cooling vests, slush puppies, and cryotherapy: How England are battling the heat at Euro 2025

England players are wearing cooling vests during training sessions, filling their drinks with crushed ice, and using cryotherapy chambers for recovery to combat the scorching temperatures in Switzerland ahead of their opening game of Euro 2025 on Saturday.

The Lionesses kick off their title defence against France in Zurich, when temperatures across the country are likely to have cooled slightly, but their preparations for their opening game have come amid extreme heat warnings as the tournament begins.

England did not alter the time of their training on Tuesday, which took place at midday and in around 34C conditions in Zurich, but followed special procedures in an attempt to keep players’ body temperatures down during their session and afterwards to aid their recovery.

Sarina Wiegman: ‘My England players can say I’m direct but I am not blunt’

Four years into the England job, and on the eve of her third major tournament in charge of the Lionesses, Sarina Wiegman reflects on how her role has changed, and how it has changed her. "My approach is the same. I just worry a little bit less,” Wiegman says, appearing relaxed and in a typically open and honest mood at England’s Euro 2025 base camp at the five-star Dolder Grand hotel, perched like a medieval castle above Lake Zurich in Switzerland.

Prince William delivers inspiring good luck message to Lionesses ahead of Euro 2025

Prince William has delivered an inspiring good luck message to the Lionesses ahead of Euro 2025.

The Prince of Wales visited England's women's football squad at the St George’s Park national football centre in Staffordshire on Monday, June 30th.

During his visit, William spoke to the England manager, Sarina Wiegman, and then presented all 23 members with new match jerseys.

In his speech to the team, William stated, “I know how you are going to play – you are going to play with freedom, you are going to play with camaraderie and teamwork."

Who is Hannah Hampton? England goalkeeper told by doctors not to play football replaces Mary Earps at Euro 2025

Hannah Hampton puffs out her cheeks as she considers the magnitude of what came before. Mary Earps leaves big gloves to fill; the England goalkeeper who not just won the Euros and was twice named the best in the world, but who changed goalkeeping and inspired a generation. “I’ve got to just go and live up to her legacy,” Hampton says.goalkeeper, with nowhere to hide, the noise around Earps’ retirement only adds to the scrutiny.

Why is Mary Earps not playing for England at Euro 2025?

Mary Earps was one of England’s breakout stars when the Lionesses won the Euros three years ago, changing the way that goalkeeping is viewed in the women’s game, but will play no part in Euro 2025 after announcing her shock retirement before the tournament.

Earps was twice named the world’s best goalkeeper after helping England to Euros glory in 2022 and reaching the World Cup final in 2023, becoming one of the most popular members of the England team, but had lost her place in Sarina Wiegman’s starting line-up to Hannah Hampton.

Wiegman told Hampton in May that she would be England’s No 1 this summer, with Earps, 32, announcing it was the “right time” to end her international career just five weeks before the Euros. She will continue playing for her club, Paris Saint-Germain, and last month took part in the TV coverage of the annual charity match Soccer Aid.

France coach quoted Einstein before dropping captain Wendie Renard from Euro 2025 squad

France’s captain Wendie Renard and all-time leading goalscorer Eugenie Le Sommer were dropped by head coach Laurent Bonadei before Euro 2025, leaving Les Bleues without their two most experienced players as they play England, Wales and Netherlands in Group D.

Renard and Le Sommer were left out by Bonadei for France’s Nations League games against Switzerland and Iceland before the Euros and did not return to make his 23-player squad.

Centre-back Renard, 34, has played 168 times for France and captained her country at last summer’s home Olympic Games in France, while Le Sommer has scored a record 94 goals in 200 appearances.

France have never won a major international tournament and Bonadei, who was assistant to Herve Renard at the 2023 World Cup and Olympics before taking the reins, defended his decision by saying it had been planned for some time.

What is the France team news?

France head coach Laurent Bonadei made the bold call of dropping captain Wendie Renard, all-time top goalscorer Eugenie Le Sommer and Kenza Dali from his Euros squad.

The player named as captain in place in Renard, centre-back Griedge Mbock, has also been ruled out due to injury. Still, France still have a very talented team, especially in forwards Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Chelsea’s Sandy Baltimore.

Possible France XI: Peyraud-Magnin; De Almeida, Lakrar, Sombath, Bacha; Geyoro, Toletti, Karchaoui; Diani, Katoto, Baltimore

What is the England team news?

Lauren James made her return from injury in England’s 7-0 win over Jamaica on Sunday, playing the final half hour in the send-off friendly. Sarina Wiegman said the Chelsea star “can play more than that” against France.

“I'm not going to give you the line-up, but she played 30 minutes last week, so she can play more than that, so I think that will say enough,” Wiegman said, perhaps suggesting that James will start England’s opener in place of Ella Toone.

Wiegman’s other selection decisions comes at left back but Jess Carter impressed in the win over Jamaica, so may have done enough to keep her place.

Euros winners Mary Earps and Fran Kirby announced their retirements before the Euros, while vice-captain Millie Bright made herself unavailable for selection and subsequently underwent knee surgery, so is missing from the tournament.

Possible England XI: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood, Carter; Walsh, Stanway; Mead, James, Hemp; Russo

(The FA via Getty Images)

England’s Lucy Bronze says Lionesses are standing with Portugal after Diogo Jota’s death

England defender Lucy Bronze said the Lionesses would lend their full support to the Portuguese team at Euro 2025 after the death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.

“Yeah it definitely shocked all the squad when we woke up this morning and the news started to spread,” said Bronze, who will be competing in her fourth consecutive Euros and seventh major tournament.

“Obviously we have a lot of Liverpool fans in our team and football fans, but for people in general, everyone is just thinking of them – him and his brother. They were so young as well. We have seen all the messages on social media and stuff so you can tell what a great guy he has been. It’s just really sad and we were shocked by the news, really.”

Lucy Bronze: Tough opener makes England’s Euro 2025 challenge ‘more exciting’

England right-back Lucy Bronze insists the tough task of facing France first at Euro 2025 will ensure there are “no surprises” about what it will take for the Lionesses to defend their title in Switzerland.

Sarina Wiegman’s side open their tournament against 2022 semi-finalists France on Saturday in Zurich, then take on 2017 champions the Netherlands on Wednesday before their group stage concludes against newcomers Wales on July 13.

With France and the Netherlands also in the top 11 in FIFA’s global rankings, it is a more difficult immediate ask than England’s 2023 World Cup group, which included matches against Haiti and China, and arguably a far smaller margin for error in the event of a similarly uneven start this time.

Who is Michelle Agyemang? England striker claims Euros place after ‘flattening’ Leah Williamson

Michelle Agyemang knows how to make an impression. Leah Williamson still remembers the first time she saw the 19-year-old join in with the senior team at Arsenal, and perhaps even has the bruise to prove it. “She come and flattened me,” Williamson says. “I was too slow on it and I think I gave her a bit of stick about it, but in my head I thought: ‘You need to move the ball quicker, because she’s got something about her’.”

England’s captain was left similarly impressed as she discusses Agyemeng’s impact at another training session a few years later, this time at St George’s Park before the Lionesses head to Euro 2025.

“I was screaming for a pass and she put it top bins, and I thought: ‘I ain’t going to say nothing’,” Williamson says. “So my first impression was she let me know she was there, which I love. As a young player coming through, you can do all the fancy flicks and tricks you want, but somebody needs to know about you, and you need to tell people that you’re there, and that’s what she does.”

England’s Euro 2025 squad: Guide to every Lionesses player

A “new” England heads to Switzerland for Euro 2025 look to defend the title they won on home soil three years ago.

There have been plenty of changes and seven players, from 19-year-old striker Michelle Agyemeng to the uncapped 30-year-old goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, will be taking part in their first major international tournament.

But several winners from Euro 2022 will be back again under Sarina Wiegman, with captain Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze and Beth Mead bringing the experience and setting the standards as England look to retain their crown.

Sarina Wiegman: 'England are ready and we have high expectations'

Sarina Wiegman said England are “ready” for what will be a tough opening match against France, which may set the tone for further group games against the Netherlands and Wales in a difficult Group D.

“We had a last session this morning and everyone came through well,” Wiegman said. “I think we had some good weeks where we trained and we could do some tactics and I think we're very well prepared.

“You see the bonding in the team. We've worked really, really hard and I definitely think we're ready to go tomorrow.”

Wiegman, who has won the last two European Championships with the Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022, revealed she has told her players to not focus on defending their European title, but to instead challenge themselves to go out and win another major trophy.

There are seven England players who will be making their first appearance at a major tournament and Wiegman has looked to motivate her squad by drawing a line under their past achievements.

England handed Lauren James boost ahead of crunch Euro 2025 opener against France

Sarina Wiegman has suggested Lauren James could start England’s opening match of Euro 2025 against France, or could at least play a significant role in the game, after the forward recovered from a hamstring injury to be fit for the tournament.

James played the final 30 minutes of England’s 7-0 send-off win against Jamaica on Sunday, in what was the Chelsea forward’s first appearance in three months, and Wiegman said the 23-year-old “can play more than that” in Zurich against France on Saturday night.

“She’s in a good place,” Wiegman said. “She came on the pitch in against Jamaica last week and she's ready to get more minutes tomorrow.”

When asked if James could start, Wiegman was tight-lipped but replied: “I'm not going to give you the line-up, but she played 30 minutes last week, so she can play more than that, so I think that will say enough.”

Leah Williamson reveals injury ‘anxiety’ ahead of leading England’s Euros defence

England captain Leah Williamson has revealed she held some “anxiety” ahead of leading England’s Euro 2025 campaign in Switzerland after being ruled out of the last World Cup with a serious knee injury.

Williamson captained the Lionesses to their historic victory at Euro 2022 three years ago but played no part in their run to the World Cup final in 2023 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury just weeks before the tournament.

On the eve of England’s opening game against France in Zurich, Williamson said she was “excited” and “intrigued” to experience another Euros but admitted the pain of missing the World Cup had weighed on her mind before the tournament.

Leah Williamson embracing approach of new mentality

Captain Leah Williamson said the England squad are looking at the Euros as “new territory” for the team.

“You explained it very well,” Williamson said while turning to Sarina Wiegman. “Not necessarily looking at it as a defence, but a new challenge and a new opportunity to do something new.

“We take any challenge that comes our way, but it's more about focusing on the day to day, and that's always a dream. Every team in the tournament has a dream, but I suppose nobody really connects to it.”

England skipper Leah Williamson is relishing the prospect of another finals campaign (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Wire)

TV channel and how to watch Euro 2025

When is England v France?

The match takes place on Saturday 5 July, with kick-off at 8pm BST (UK time) in Zurich.

What TV channel is it on?

England v France will be shown on ITV 1 and ITV X, with coverage getting underway from 7pm.

Good afternoon

In one of the matches of the whole group stage, the Lionesses begin their quest to retain European Championship title against a dangerous Les Bleues side packed with attacking talent.

And with the Netherlands and Wales completing the “group of death”, the pressure will be on both England and France from the start as they look to safely progress to the quarter-finals.

Sarina Wiegman’s side won the Euros three years ago before reaching the World Cup final in 2023, and have set themselves the challenge of defending their European crown this month.

(The FA via Getty Images)