England, Wales Face Elimination Risks at Euro 2025 Group Stage

England's Lionesses, the defending European champions, faced a challenging start to Euro 2025 with a 2-1 loss to France, putting their title defense at risk of early elimination. They responded emphatically by defeating the Netherlands 4-0, with standout performances from Alessia Russo, who contributed three assists, and two goals from Lauren James, restoring confidence and keeping their quarter-final hopes alive. Manager Sarina Wiegman acknowledged the tension but emphasized the importance of resilience and maintaining high standards, describing their upcoming matches as must-win to avoid elimination. Wales, making their first major tournament appearance, also face tough odds after losses to the Netherlands and France, with both England and Wales requiring positive results in their upcoming group games to progress. The group dynamics are precarious, as England could be eliminated if they lose to the Netherlands and France do not lose to Wales, underscoring the high stakes for the home nations. Both teams are motivated to improve and avoid a double exit from the tournament, with England drawing on past experiences and internal resolve to advance.