The women’s European Championships in Switzerland is richer. Defending champion England had to give up France and is already under pressure.
France won the first duel of the top teams in Group D at Women’s European Championship against England 2-1 (2-0). Marie-Antoinette Katoto took the lead (36th minute) after about half an hour, Sandy Baltimore only followed up shortly after (39.). Keira Walsh provided the connection (87th) in the final phase. While France had the game under control until shortly before the end, England would almost have equalized in added time with the second air.
The game was particularly explosive because with England, France and the Netherlands three teams from the circle of favorites compete in a group. Because there are only two places for the quarter -finals, a selection will have to go home after the preliminary round. Good chances of a place and the top eight teams now have France after the game on Saturday evening in Zurich.
There had been discussions around the squadry in both countries. France coach Lorent Bonadei did without some established forces, including record player Eugénie Le Sommer. Both “Lionesses” Designed goalkeeper Mary Earps (FIFA World goalkeeper in 2022 and 2023) and offensive player Fran Kirby in front of the European Championship.
Vary English leadership again
Before the eyes of England’s national male coach Thomas Tuchel, it only took 40 seconds until the first dangerous conclusion of England: Lauren James, which was surprisingly upgraded from the start, was released in the penalty area, but put her shot a little too high. It took a few minutes for the French women to get in the game.
The game was subsequently balanced until England celebrated the supposed leadership goal. But in the run -up to the dusting of Alessia Russo, an attacker had been just offside. Video referee Christian Dingert contacted his word and correctly annuled the hit (16th).
Katoto and Baltimore provide double strikes
On the other hand, Sakina Karchaoui offered the great chance to 1-0. But after Alice Sombath, the 29-year-old set her lupfer just next to the goal. But the scene showed that France was now much better in the game. In the 32nd minute, Elisa de Almeida came to the shot after a rebound, but failed to Hannah Hampton. The goal would not have counted anyway, there was an offside position.
Four minutes later, the French were allowed to cheer.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto pressed a sharp cross from Delphine Cascarino from a short distance over the line. And “Les Bleues” According to: Maelle Lakrar vehemently defended against Russo, the ball came to Sandy Baltimore via Oriane Jean-Francois, who, with luck, prevailed against two opponents and chased the ball into the right angle (39.). England was now challenged, but did not find a means of the stable defensive of the French until the half -time whistle.
France’s Sandy Baltimore (right) meets 2-0 against England.
Hampton preserves England from the third goal
Without a change, both teams started the second round. England came out of the cabin with a lot of pace, but France stood intensely against it. After 54 minutes, Beth Mead played a capital wrong pass and put Grace Geyoro in position, which, however, pulled the shorter in the one-on-one duel against Hampton: the goalkeeper deflected the right shot and saved the ball that had grown towards the goal.
Not much came from England on this phase on the offensive. Trainer Sarina Wiegman reacted and tried to make a new momentum with a change of personnel. But that helped little, the English game lacked order and determination. Instead, France almost increased after Hampton flown past a flank.
France has to tremble again
A quarter of an hour before the final whistle, hardly anything indicated that the defending champion could still shoot the game or at least take a point with them. “Les Bleues” cleverly managed the lead. And that without great effort, because England was on the offensive of the role – up to the 87th minute. Then Keira Walsh met for the connection after a corner kick.
England’s Keira Walsh (2nd VL) meets France. But the connection came too late.
It was the start of a hot final phase in which England threw everything forward again. Michelle Agyemang missed the great chance of 2-2 in the 90th minute. In injury time it burned twice in the French penalty area twice. But Hemp’s end saved Selma Bacha on the goal line, Clinton’s shot rushed over the goal. In the end, France was allowed to celebrate a deserved 2-1 win. For Wiegmann it was the first defeat in the 13th EM game. Previously, she had led the Netherlands 2017 and England 2022 to the title with the perfect record of six wins from six games.
The next top team is waiting for England
In the first game of the group, the Netherlands had certainly prevailed 3-0 against Wales in front of the eyes of the specially traveled royal family. England meets the next top team with the Netherlands on the second matchday of Group D and is already under pressure. Only with one win would the defending champion still have the progress in his own hands. The kick -off next Tuesday in Zuricher Letzigrund is at 6 p.m. France plays against Wales in St. Gallen three hours later.