France meet reigning champions, England in a blockbuster start to their UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 in Group D.
Both teams come into this tournament as title favourites making this clash an early crucial marker for their title credentials.
Team News
France have no injury issues to report coming into this match although captain, Wendie Renard and top goalscorer, Eugenie Le Sommer have both been left out of the squad
England have no fresh injury concerns to report but Lauren James’ game time will continued to be managed, following her return from a hamstring injury.
When is Kick-Off?
France face England at Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland, live on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK.
Stat Attack
- France have won one of their two previous meetings against England at UEFA Women’s Euro (W1, L1).
- England lost 3-0 to France when played as the away team in UEFA Women’s Euro 2013 in the group stage.
- France have kept six clean sheets in eight matches in 2025 (W8), during which they scored 22 goals and conceded just four goals.
- England are looking for back-to-back victories for the first time since February – April 2025, when they beat Spain and Belgium at home in the Women’s Nations League.
Prediction
Coming into this match on an eight-match winning streak and on a hot goalscoring run, France will fancy their chances of staking their claim as potential group winners if they can get on the front foot and control this match quickly.
England though won’t fear anyone as reigning champions but with Netherlands likely to beat Wales, Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses ideally need to get a point here because if they lose this then they are already under immense pressure to beat the Dutch in their second group game.
Wiegman’s Lionesses though will be buoyed by how dominant they were in their friendly win over Jamaica but I expect them to have to do more defending here, which could be a slight worry given how inconsistent their defensive performances have been lately.
Nevertheless, I expect a fierce battle as neither team will want to lose this and given what is at stake, a draw would set both teams up nicely as the first group matches are often the most nervy.
Prediction: France 1-1 England
Result: France 2-1 England