England have dropped out of the automated qualification spots of their Euro 2025 group after France got here from behind to beat the Lionesses 2-1 at St James’ Park.
Sarina Wiegman’s aspect thought they have been heading prime of Group A3 when Beth Mead put the hosts forward on half-hour, as England recovered nicely from dropping goalkeeper Mary Earps as a result of an damage picked up within the first minute.
However France used their nook experience to show the sport on its head as Elisa De Almeida scored a surprising volley simply earlier than half-time, earlier than Marie-Antoinette Katoto swept residence because the Lionesses did not clear one other set piece.
The end result means England at the moment are 5 factors behind first-placed France, forward of one other sport with the group leaders in Saint-Etienne on Tuesday, whereas the Lionesses sit third behind Sweden on objective distinction, after they beat the Republic of Eire 3-0.
How France turned the tables
England bought off to a tough begin as goalkeeper Earps’ one and solely contact of the sport inside the primary 30 seconds noticed her move out the again then go down holding her hip, earlier than finally being pressured off on seven minutes, with Hannah Hampton approaching.
That put a dampener on the raucous St James’ Park ambiance and whereas France held the ball nicely, England grew into the sport simply earlier than their opener.
Ella Toone missed probability to open the scoring when she scuffed Lauren Hemp’s cross vast of objective, earlier than Alessia Russo smashed over the close to put up when performed in down the left.
Finally, England’s stress advised as Toone fed Hemp down the left and the England winger’s cross fell kindly for Georgia Stanway. The midfielder was denied by a France block however Mead was readily available to seek out the online from the rebound.
Beth Mead celebrates with Lauren Hemp after her opener
As an alternative of pushing for a second, England bought sloppy in possession. France gave them a few warnings when Maelle Lakrar was discovered unmarked within the field from a nook, just for Hampton to acrobatically preserve her out. Then Katoto fired over from contained in the field after being discovered on their lonesome within the England penalty space from a harmful cross.
And moments later, France bought their equaliser as a nook discovered De Almeida on the sting of the field and her gorgeous, instinctive volley flew over Hampton into the objective.
That left England kicking themselves at half-time, though Mead and Russo each went shut within the remaining minutes of the half.
There was extra sloppiness from the Lionesses as Delphine Cascarino and Sandie Toletti have been allowed clear sights of objective from the sting of the field, however each efforts have been off track.
The Lionesses have been sloppy at instances of their defeat to France
And there was comparable clumsiness in France’s winner as Russo did not clear from a nook and France took benefit. Katoto latched onto a flick-on and swept residence into the far nook, to go away the 42,000 followers at St James’ Park silenced.
Wiegman tried to reply by bringing Fran Kirby and Chloe Kelly on, the latter blasting over nearly immediately in England’s finest probability to seek out an equaliser. However England had no extra responses.
What’s subsequent?
England Ladies journey to face France Ladies within the return Euro 2025 Qualifier in League A, Group 3 on the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Tuesday June 4; kick-off 8pm.
What are the opposite Euro 2025 qualifying dates?
June 4: France vs England, Saint-Etienne, kick-off 8pm
July 12: England vs Republic of Eire, Norwich, kick-off 8pm
July 16: Sweden vs England, location TBC, kick-off 6pm
Play-off draw: July 19
Play-off spherical one (two legs): October 23-29
Play-off spherical two (two legs): November 27-December 3
Euro 2025 finals draw: December 16
Euro 2025 finals: July 2-27 2025 – Switzerland
