France Defeats England 2-1 in Women's Euro Group D Opener

In the Women's Euro Group D opener, France secured a 2-1 victory over reigning champions England, with key first-half goals from Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore securing the win. England's manager Sarina Wiegman faced her first defeat in this competition after a 12-match unbeaten streak, despite a late goal from Keira Walsh. France's coach Laurent Bonadei emphasized team unity and rotation, defending his decision to leave out former captain Wendie Renard and record scorer Eugenie Le Sommer, while fostering a strong, competitive squad mentality. The group also includes Wales and the Netherlands, with the latter currently topping the group after a win against Wales and set to face England next. France aims to consolidate their place in the knockout stage with a win over Wales, while England looks to rebound from their opening loss. Both teams have shown contrasting recent form, with France on an eight-game winning streak and England displaying some inconsistency, making the tournament highly competitive.