Lauren James' lively display and Michelle Agyemang's impactful cameo were two of the only positives to take in a concerning opener.
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For a few minutes on Saturday, before the final whistle confirmed a historic 2-1 loss, it looked like England's blushes could be saved. When Keira Walsh curled in just her second international goal in 88 appearances, it halved the deficit against France with three minutes, and added time to play. The Lionesses were alive – which was incredible given Les Bleues had been in firm control of this game since Alessia Russo's disallowed goal in the 16th minute.
However, had any of the efforts from Ella Toone, Grace Clinton, Lauren Hemp, or Michelle Agyemang somehow found their way into the back of the French goal, it would have surely been undeserving. That's not always how tournament football works, sure, but England were not good enough in Zurich, despite sometimes cursing their luck. Yes, Russo was incredibly unlucky not to break the deadlock, after Beth Mead was called for as marginal an offside as seemingly possible, and the lack of foul called on her in the build-up to France's second infuriated Sarina Wiegman in the dugout. But it is possible to dub those calls unfortunate and admit that the Lionesses were remarkably poor overall.
Leah Williamson has been lauded for her form this past season which helped Arsenal win the Champions League, with many backing her to have a big Euro 2025 off the back of such a year. Yet, her marking of Marie-Antoinette Katoto for the first goal was appalling and her inability to deal with Sandy Baltimore for the second had Karen Carney, the 144-time England international, crying out that she is "better than that" on 's coverage of the game.
She was not the only culprit. Lucy Bronze went flying past Baltimore in that same instance, before inadvertently setting up her Chelsea team-mate to strike home; Jess Carter will be having nightmares about Delphine Cascarino after how she ripped apart England's makeshift left-back; Hannah Hampton nearly fumbled a third in for France from Grace Geyoro's strike; while all of Mead, Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh were guilty of giving away the ball in dangerous situations that almost led to more goals for Les Bleues.
The good news is that this was only England's first game. There is time to make amends, against the Netherlands on Wednesday and then Wales next weekend. The bad news is that there is now no margin for error whatsoever. Lose to the Oranje, an outcome which is entirely possible if the Lionesses defend like this again, and Wiegman's side will become the first defending champion to be eliminated in the group stage of the European Championships. They came out to Switzerland to make history – but not like this.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Stadion Letzigrund…
Getty ImagesLOSER: Jess Carter
It always feels harsh to criticise both Carter and Niamh Charles when they don't perform well in the left-back role with England, because neither of them are left-backs. It's a position that Carter in particular never plays except for when on international duty, so it can never come as a huge surprise when she does struggle. However, she did so massively on Saturday, with Cascarino running rings around her down France's right.
It was a tough challenge. Emma Hayes, the United States women's national team head coach, has watched a lot of Cascarino this year, given she plays in the NWSL, the top-flight in the U.S, with the San Diego Wave. On punditry for , she described her as "by far and away the best player in the league" in 2025. Still, it wouldn't be a shock if Carter finds herself out of the starting line-up for the next game given how difficult she found the opener, and how close the battle for that place is with Charles.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWINNER: Lauren James
There were not many stand-out performers in this England team on Saturday, but Lauren James was certainly the most impressive starter by a long shot. And that's not just by default, either. The Chelsea star made things happen consistently in her first start since early April, and only minutes since then aside from last weekend's 30-minute cameo from the bench against Jamaica, with sharpness not lacking despite her recent absence.
It was a surprise to see her start in the No.10 role, especially in a match like this against France which might have been better-suited to a more steely midfield rather than including a free-roaming forward. But she did find a lot of space and cause Les Bleues problems in it. If she is ready to start again in just four days' time against the Netherlands, that balance is something Wiegman has to consider, with it perhaps better for the whole team if James is out wide. Still, her performance was massively encouraging, especially given England might need her at her best to get out of the group.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Beth Mead
The wide areas are some of the most competitive in this England squad and given the lack of productivity the Lionesses got from there on Saturday, Wiegman could well opt to change personnel for the clash with the Netherlands. Lauren Hemp was by no means sensational in that France defeat, despite making a lively start, but it is Mead's place that feels slightly more up for grabs, especially given some of the poor errors in possession she made in dangerous areas.
There was no lack of effort from the Arsenal winger, who often defended better than some of England's back line, but she struggled to get into the game in attack and could've handed Les Bleues a couple of extra goals with some sloppy passing. With there questions to be asked of James' most effective place in the XI and competition from Chloe Kelly, a change on the right feels likely to be considered.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Michelle Agyemang
Not since April, when she scored 41 seconds into her senior international debut, have England fans seen Michelle Agyemang play for the Lionesses. In the three games that followed that defeat to Belgium, which Agyemang's superb volley couldn't prevent, Aggie Beever-Jones has been given the bulk of the opportunities in the forward areas, rather than her teenage team-mate. So, it was a slight surprise to see Agyemang called upon for the final five minutes of Saturday's game.
But she came into the game hungry to make an impact and there was no shock about the influence she did have, lining up in an improvised front two with Russo. The 19-year-old was physical, she battled well in her duels and latched onto second balls, with Hayes simply noting, on , that "she brought presence" as a "different type" of No.9.
It was a long time coming for Agyemang to win that second cap, given what she did on her first. The impact she had in such a short space of time, though, should surely pave the way for Wiegman to turn to her more often as this tournament progresses.
