England’s Lionesses began their European Championship defence with a frustrating 2-1 defeat against France, throwing qualification from an extremely tough group into doubt. Keira Walsh’s stunning late strike and a late onslaught was not enough for Sarina Wiegman’s side.
A disastrous start in Zurich, Switzerland, saw England 2-0 down at half-time. Some terrible defending sparked a four-minute double, with Jess Carter particularly struggling at left-back. Delphine Cascarino got in behind the Gotham defender and crossed for Marie-Antoinette Katoto to tap home. Sandy Baltimore then fired home after Leah Williamson and Lucy Bronze failed to clear an attack. The defensive trio are among four England players who underperformed. The Dutch and a tough home nations clash with Wales will decide England’s fate.
Here are Express Sport’s player ratings…
Hannah Hampton – 6
Hampton kept England in the game with a couple of bright saves. At 0-0, her hesitation coming out of her box saw the ball looped over her head, and the 24-year-old was fortunate that it did not find the net.
Lucy Bronze – 4
England’s full-backs struggled against France. Bronze produced an uncharacteristically poor defensive performance, and was turned inside out for France’s second goal. It was then a ricochet off her knee that presented Baltimore with the perfect opportunity to fire beyond Hampton.
Leah Williamson – 4
Williamson was equally culpable for Baltimore’s strike. Caught flat-footed by the France forward, the England captain was too weak in her challenge.
Alex Greenwood – 5
This was an unhappy 100th England cap for Greenwood. There was little she could do for either goal as her team-mates flounder around her.
Jess Carter – 3
Albeit with little help from those around her, Carter was given the run around by Delphine Cascarino. The tricky French winger had already got the better of the former Chelsea star out wide before she then beat her for pace and fired across the box for Katoto to tap home.
Keira Walsh – 5
The Chelsea star struck a stunning late consolation, but the usually influential midfielder struggled to dictate play from deep. A couple of loose passes handed possession back to the French too easily.
Georgia Stanway – 6
Stanway was one of England’s better performers and attempted to take the game to France. The Bayern Munich star tried her luck with a few efforts from long range.
Lauren Hemp – 5
England struggled to get Hemp into the game, but when they did she caused trouble to the French defence.
Lauren James – 5
James had one major influence on the game, driving forward with the ball before freeing Mead on the right. The move led to a disallowed goal for Alessia Russo, but it showed how dangerous James can be when England play to her strengths.
Beth Mead – 4
Mead did little to get into the game and strayed offside in the move that led to Russo’s disallowed goal. The Arsenal forward was taken off on the hour.
Alessia Russo – 5
Russo was unfortunate to see her first-half strike, which would have put England ahead, ruled out. She otherwise cut an isolated figure up front.
Substitutes
Niamh Charles (for Carter, 60) – 5
Charles replaced the struggling Carter and provided a bit more solidity at left-back.
Ella Toone (for James, 60) – 6
Toone improved England’s performance and had a late effort deflected wide. The Manchester United playmaker let her frustration boil over on a number of occasions, eventually picking up a yellow card.
Chloe Kelly (for Mead, 60) – 5
The hero of the triumhant 2022 campaign, Kelly replaced Mead but struggled to make an impact.
Grace Clinton (for Stanway, 77) – 5
Clinton had little time to stamp her mark on proceedings.
Agyemang (for Greenwood, 86) – 6
A young forward who has impressed in warm-up fixtures, Agyemang proved a threat in her few minutes on the pitch. The Arsenal teenager drew a fantastic late save and may even have done enough to deserve a start.