France 2-1 England Player Ratings: A Disappointing Euros Opener for the Lionesses

The defending champions, England, faced an early setback in their European Championship campaign with a 2-1 loss to France in Zurich.

England started the match strongly, with Lauren James and Alessia Russo both testing the French goalkeeper early on. However, an early disallowed goal halted their momentum. France, boasting a perfect record in previous group-stage matches, capitalized on England’s vulnerability, scoring twice before halftime to leave the Lionesses stunned.

Keira Walsh reduced the deficit late in the game, sparking hopes of a comeback. Despite late chances, England failed to find an equalizer, ending their title defense on a frustrating note.

Player performances varied, with goalkeeper Hannah Hampton earning a solid 7.5 for her shot-stopping and distribution, though she couldn’t prevent the goals conceded. Lucy Bronze struggled against France’s attacking wide players, rating 5.5, while Leah Williamson showed notable effort despite some disjointed teamwork.

Defensively, Jess Carter received the lowest rating (4.5), as she faced a tough time against Delphine Cascarino. Midfield was overrun, with Keira Walsh rating 5.5 and Georgia Stanway 5, with Stanway notably responsible for a costly error leading to France’s opening goal. Up front, Beth Mead and Lauren James had memorable moments but ultimately faded as the game progressed.

Russo was thwarted after a disallowed goal, highlighting the difficulty England faced in creating clear scoring opportunities. Substitutes tried to inject energy, but the team couldn’t turn their momentum into points.

Sarina Wiegman’s management was criticized, especially for a triple substitution before the hour mark, which came too late to turn the tide. Overall, England’s performance revealed areas for improvement ahead of upcoming matches in the group stage.