Too little too late for England Women against France

France v England UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Group D ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JULY 05:
Sandy Baltimore of France scores her teams second goal past Hannah Hampton of England Photo by Alexander HassensteinGetty Images

England suffered a disappointing start to their UEFA Women’s EURO defence when going down 2-1 to France in Zurich.

Lauren James could have given England a first-minute lead and Alessia Russo had a goal disallowed, before France’s Sakina Karchaoui gave the Lionesses a warning shot lobbed into the side netting.

Les Bleues struck twice in a four-minute spell, as Marie-Antoinette Katoto was left with a tap in from the cross by Delphine Cascarino and Sandy Baltimore got through two challenges to fire the second beyond the reach of Hannah Hampton.

Hampton needed two attempts to keep out a Grace Geyoro shot after England had handed possession to the French, the Lionesses keeper also pushing away a Karchaoui effort.

Ella Toone had a shot blocked and a follow-up deflected for a corner, which came out to Keira Walsh who netted from the edge of the box with less than five minutes of the 90 to go.

Michelle Agyemang had a close-range shot blocked and Lauren Hemp an effort cleared off the line deep into added time.

Earlier in the same group, England’s next opponents Netherlands ran out 3-0 winners over Wales.

Group A games on Sunday 6 July 
Norway v Finland – live on BBC2 / iPlayer/ BBC Sport Website at 5pm BST
Switzerland v Iceland – live on ITV1 / STV / ITVX / STV Player at 8pm BST

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