In a disappointing turn of events, England began its defense of the Women’s European Championship title with a stunning 2-1 loss to France on Saturday. This defeat marked a significant low point for the Lionesses, who became the first reigning champions in history to lose their opening match in the tournament's history.

The match, held in a charged atmosphere, saw France capitalize on two quick goals scored by Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore just before halftime. Their goals came as a result of well-coordinated plays, with France demonstrating excellent teamwork and strategy. This victory not only extended France's impressive winning streak to nine matches but also served as a wake-up call for England, who had been considered favorites to retain their title.

Despite a determined effort from the English side, it was not until the final moments that they managed to find a glimmer of hope. Keira Walsh's well-placed shot in the 87th minute momentarily reignited the Lionesses' spirit, reducing the deficit to 2-1. However, it proved too little, too late to change the outcome of the match.

England captain Leah Williamson, reflecting on the performance, expressed a mixture of frustration and optimism. “The positive is that I’ve not seen us like that ... for a while,” she shared with British broadcaster ITV. Williamson emphasized the need for higher standards and individual accountability in their gameplay as the team moves forward.

This defeat also brought an end to the remarkable record of England's coach Sarina Wiegman, who had previously led her teams to an astonishing 12 consecutive victories in the tournament across two competitions. “We’re frustrated because we had three very good weeks and trained well, but that’s never a guarantee of winning,” Wiegman stated, acknowledging the need for improvement in key moments during the match.

Looking ahead, the Lionesses will face the Netherlands on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, followed by a crucial match against Wales four days later. The Netherlands recorded a decisive 3-0 victory over Wales in the group stage, setting a high bar for England to meet in their upcoming encounters.

On the other hand, France, despite missing their injured captain Griedge Mbock, displayed a commanding performance throughout the match. Coach Laurent Bonadei, however, remained grounded, stating, “At the moment we haven’t won anything; we are still challengers with a lot of ambition.” His comments illustrate the competitive nature of the tournament, as teams jockey for position and momentum.

England initially started strong, with Lauren James nearly scoring just 40 seconds into the match. However, a disallowed goal by Alessia Russo in the 16th minute, due to a tight offside call, seemed to deflate the team's morale. Wiegman expressed her disbelief at the decision, which shifted the momentum in France's favor.

As the match progressed, England struggled to regain footing and faced mounting pressure from the French side. The game’s climax saw France breathe a sigh of relief at the final whistle, with players collapsing onto the pitch in elation, while defender Selma Bacha led jubilant celebrations in front of their fans, waving a massive French flag amidst an ocean of blue, white, and red.