England stunned the group leaders France in Saint-Étienne with a 2-1 victory that kept their Euro 2025 qualification hopes very much alive.
Sarina Wiegman’s side produced a composed performance for the most part and sealed three points thanks to first‑half goals from Georgia Stanway and Alessia Russo. A penalty from Kadidiatou Diani brought the hosts back into the match but the Lionesses drew on all their experience and resilience as European champions to hang on for an important victory.
It was a rematch of the two European heavyweights who had met just four days earlier – second against third in the world rankings. England had been stung at St James’ Park – a 2-1 defeat that Wiegman had called “very unnecessary” and which had caused a bit of consternation amongst England supporters.
There would have been raised eyebrows when Wiegman opted for just one change to the starters that had looked fatigued on Friday. Hannah Hampton was the sole difference, replacing Mary Earps who had pulled up early with a minor hip injury early in that encounter. The captain, Leah Williamson, continued her partnership with Millie Bright in the backline while Ella Toone retained her role as the No 10, earning her 50th cap for her country at just 24 years old.
In contrast the France manager, Hervé Renard – returning to the sideline after serving a suspension – made two changes. He opted to bring in the experience of Amandine Henry and Grace Geyoro into midfield with Sakina Karchaoui pushed up to provide support to the attack.
Just as was the case last time out, it was a cagey start. England seemed content to pass the ball around the back, building back their confidence in possession and picking their moments to drive forward. It was the visitors who had the first shot of note with Stanway setting Toone away in the box, only for the midfielder to scuff her effort. France almost made England pay immediately when Diani diverted a Karchaoui cross wide under pressure from Williamson.
As England settled, they began to find the gaps to which France had little answer. The hosts looked particularly vulnerable down the flanks with the running of Lauren Hemp and Lucy Bronze stretching the play to meet the trademark cross-field balls from their captain.
As space started to appear, England took the lead in spectacular style. Stanway is known for her ability to score from distance and she did not think twice when she received a lay‑off from Hemp about 20 yards out. With one glance at goal, she opened up her foot to rifle a shot past the helpless Pauline Peyraud-Magnin in France’s goal.
The Lionesses did not take their foot off the gas and continued to outplay their opponents. They made their lead more comfortable 10 minutes from the break when Russo broke through the French defence to head home Hemp’s pinpoint delivery. She had been knocking at the door all evening and capped off a hat-trick of chances with the instinctive finish. It was a goal that left France with plenty of thinking to do as they trudged off the pitch somewhat desolately at half-time. Wiegman later called England’s first 45 minutes “one of the best halves we’ve ever played”.
Renard had seen enough and hauled off Henry and Karchaoui at half-time for Sandie Toletti and Delphine Cascarino. It had an immediate impact as the hosts moved up a gear, buoyed by the drumbeat of the raucous home support sitting behind the opposite goal.
They came at England more directly with the speed of Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto applying more pressure on the defensive line, although created little.
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In the 72nd minute, however, they were given a lifeline when Williamson got caught in a tangle with Geyoro and the referee pointed to the spot. Diani stepped up to convert, driving home the spot kick on her 100th cap for her national side. It was a goal that suddenly put England on shaky ground with the last quarter of the game remaining.
The Lionesses’ frustration at conceding in a game in which they had largely been untroubled was evident and it took them a while to settle again. They set up compactly, allowing France to have control of the ball in their own half while focusing on marshalling the key attacking players out of the game.
Cascarino had an ambitious half‑volley over the bar from a tight angle before Chloe Kelly, on for the tiring Beth Mead, vitally blocked a shot from Geyoro. Hampton produced a superb instinctive save to deny Katoto late on, ensuring a victory that placed England level with Sweden in League A, Group 3 ahead of the final two matches.
“Of course it gives a boost,” Wiegman said. “You want to win and we are in a better position now. The group is totally open. We said from the beginning this is a really tough group with top, top‑level teams and that’s exactly what you see.”
The Lionesses host the Republic of Ireland in July before finishing their qualifying campaign against Sweden.
Source: theguardian.com
