ENGLAND WOMEN VS FRANCE GAMES EUROS QUALIFIERS

Entente Cordiale

(The Anglo-French Agreement of 1904)

There was no applicable agreement on the pitch. Both teams were fighting for European qualification in the Swiss Euros in 2025. This was a fight between the second and third-best teams in the world. France is one of the highest-ranked teams with no silverware in their cabinets to show for it.

Home: 2-1 victory to France at St. James' Park

Automatic qualification was out of the picture for England after a disastrous game at home to France, in which it was the first time losing in European qualification since 2002. This is due to the new qualification process in which the teams are more evenly matched, so England is no longer playing low-rank teas with easy wins to come, too. There was uncertainty that England would automatically qualify at this point with only one win against the Republic of Ireland.

The season-long fatigue seemed to have hit the Lionesses with increased demand, and the games for the club and country were catching up with them in this abysmal performance. England started well with a 30-minute goal by Beth Mead, assisted by Lauren Hemp, giving a flashback to the European summer not too long ago with those players on the scoresheet. The ball started rolling downhill with Mary Earp, England's number 1 goalkeeper, going down with a hip injury on her 50th cap, which led to an early change, and Hannah Hampton was put on the stage. Hampton had excellent disruption and epic saves, with a left saving in the first half to send a goal-bound header from Maelle Lakrar. However, a goal by Elisa de Almeida volley cancelled Mead's goal at the end of the second half, finishing it on a sower note for England. The second goal from France could not be kept out with De Almeida's volley, which spun over Hampton's head and made it impossible to save. It has since been known after the match that Mary Earps had to withdraw from the England squad ahead of the reverse fixture, putting more doubts in the fans that England would be capable of winning away from home. However, it gives Hannah Hampton time to mentally and physically prepare to play, as that was not the case in Newcastle, and she is not averse to playing in high-stakes games in the WSL, FA Cup, and the Champions League this season alone.

This was also Wiegman's 50th match in charge; however, it was not a positive one to remember with players returning from rest after the Champions League final, England having that work cut out. It was the first time Leah Williamson and Millie Bright were centre-back pairing again since February 2023, so they weren't as perfect as in the past; evidence in the event being undone on set pieces, something the manager will take and work on after the game in training.

Away: 2-1 victory to England in Saint-Etienne, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard

However, it seemed that the defeat and that record being broken just drove them more to win away. France has not lost at home in a Euro qualifier since 2007 until now, so both sides are breaking the other's records.

They came out ready for redemption and had perfect first-half control of the game, even out of possession, although there were so many loose passes and misplaced that, as the game went on, it started on the front foot. Georgia Stanway started it with a perfect long-range volley in the 21st minute before Alessia also doubled the advantage with a header before halftime.

France seemed to have very little joy in the English half, with a limited recording of shots on target, and their only goal came from a penalty given by Leah Williamson, who clipped Grace Geyoro in the penalty area. Diani made no mistake on her spot kit and sent Hampton the wrong way. However, the number 2 goalkeeper who stepped in on Friday when Earp left the pitch injured had impeccable saves, denying Marie-Antoinette Katoto a goal in the closing minutes and securing the English victory. Russo was commended by Karen Carney and Ian Wright, both saying that it was one of her best games in an England shirt with her perfectly timed runs and shots, but it also needs to be commended on Hemp, who had a lot of joy on the ball her strength and speed was an asset in this game. Many fans were angered by the lack of a start for Alex Greenwood, and Wiegman started Carter instead, but she did not put a foot wrong and was as reliable as ever. She was the preferred fit for these games due to her ability on one and pace against French wingers Kadidiatou Diani and Delphine Cascarino, and she did just that in the second game, kept them at bay and making sure they had limited opportunity to shoot on target.

This was England before the victory against France in France 51 years ago, and now the qualify is in their own hands; it's not theirs for the taking. The only thing separating them and Sweden in second is the goal difference. Sweden has to play a vital France before any qualification is confirmed, and England should beat Ireland with an extensive score line.

England has to win against Ireland at home and Sweden away if they have any chance of automatically qualifying and need to be kept.

France seemed to have very little joy in the English half, with a limited recording of shots on target, and their only goal came from a penalty given by Leah Williamson who clipped Grace Geyoro in the penalty areas. Diani made no mistake on her spot kit and sent Hampton. This gave France a lifeline, but it was not enough, with Hampton producing another stunning save to deny Katoto at close range to get England to the finish line with 3 points.