Defending champion England started with a painful defeat to the European Women’s European Championship in Switzerland.
The team of national coach Sarina Wiegman lost the top game against France in Zurich 1-2 (0: 2). The European champion, who had won all six games at the Triumph 2022, is facing the early on Wednesday against the Netherlands.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto (36th) and Sandy Baltimore (39th) made the decision shortly before the break with a double strike. Keira Walsh (87th) only managed the late goal. For the fourth time in a row, a European champion remained without a win at the start of an EM. For France, a semi -finalist from 2022, it was the ninth game in the ninth game of the year.
Before 22,542 fans, including England’s men’s national coach Thomas Tuchel, Alessia Russo hit the goal early for the defending champion (16th), but the goal did not count due to an offside position. As a result, the strongly rejuvenated team from France became more and more dangerous – and struck ice cold twice.
In the afternoon, the Netherlands had won 3-0 (1-0) against EM newcomer Wales in front of Queen Maxima Maxima. The former Bavaria striker Vivianne Miedema scored her 100th international goal in Lucerne as 19th player in the world. In view of the demanding group, a victory for the 2017 European champion and 2019 World Cup runners-up was mandatory.