England Women Lose Euro 2025 Opener to France, Face Crucial Netherlands Clash

England's Women's Euro 2025 campaign began with a disappointing 2-1 loss to France, with key issues including emotional lapses and sloppy possession contributing to their defeat. France took control early through goals by Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore, exploiting England's frequent turnovers and efficient counterattacks, while England's Alessia Russo had a disallowed goal due to a contentious offside call. England's manager Sarina Wiegman and captain Leah Williamson acknowledged the team's struggles with ball retention and responding to France's pressing tactics, highlighting the need for urgency and fewer mistakes in upcoming matches. The tactical gamble of starting Lauren James, who was returning from injury, was criticized as it left midfield exposed and failed to spark the team, compounded by the lack of impact substitutions such as Aggie Beever-Jones. This defeat marked Wiegman's first loss in a European Championship and put England in a precarious position, facing a must-win match against the Netherlands to stay competitive in Group D. Despite a late goal by Keira Walsh, England's overall performance raised concerns about their ability to defend the title amid a tough group and internal challenges.