England's Euros defence starts with France defeat as Lionesses receive early wake-up call

England were left licking their wounds after France left the Euros holders on the ropes with a one-two punch in Zurich.

Sarina Wiegman’s team thought they had the lead midway through the first half, only for VAR to intervene and chalk out Alessia Russo’s strike.

France took full advantage after the let-off, scoring two quickfire goals through Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore to go in 2-0 up at the break.

There were bright sparks from an England perspective, not least in the performance of Lauren James, but they weren’t able to get on the scoresheet until the 87th minute and Keira Walsh’s effort came too late to spark an unlikely comeback.

They still had time for some half-chances, with late substitute Michelle Agyemang causing problems for the French defence as nerves set in, but England couldn’t find a leveller.

The Lionesses will need to pick themselves up quickly, with Wednesday’s game against the Netherlands now looking like a must-win fixture.

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England boss Sarina Wiegman made a big call before the game, bringing in Lauren James in place of Ella Toone, and the holders started on the front foot.

It was James’ first start since her return from injury, and Toone was made to start from the bench despite her brace in the 7-0 warm-up win over Jamaica.

Chelsea star James almost justified that selection inside a minute, finding space inside the French box but failing to keep her shot down, and looked a threat when picking the ball up in all areas of the pitch before eventually running out of steam around the hour mark.

While England have been able to welcome players back from injury at the ideal time, the opposite has been true for France, with captain Griedge Mbock unable to recover from a calf injury in time to start this game, and Wiegman’s team attempted to take advantage with some front-foot football before falling behind.

England thought they had taken the lead through Alessia Russo, with the Arsenal striker firing home a rebound after Pauline Peyraud-Magnin beat away a Lauren Hemp effort, but Beth Mead had strayed offside earlier in the move and VAR denied the holders.

Instead, though, it was France who struck first. Marie-Antoinette Katoto had been kept quiet for the first half hour but only needed one chance, tapping in at the back post after Delphine Cascarino sent in an impossible-to-defend cross between goalkeeper and centre-back.

One quickly became two, and not without controversy. Alessia Russo thought she had been fouled in the centre circle by Maelle Lakrar but referee Tess Olofsson waved play on and Sandy Baltimore ran at the England backline before benefiting from a kind ricochet and blasting into the top corner.

With a lead to protect, France carried a threat on the break and were inches from a third when keeper Hannah Hampton half-stopped a Grace Geyoro effort and had to scramble back to gather the ball on the line.

Full-backs Lucy Bronze and Jess Carter struggled against the movement and threat of France wide players Cascarino and Baltimore, while Wiegman’s use of an extra attacker left England short in the middle of the park at times - with stand-in skipper Sakina Karchaoui able to take full advantage.

England rolled the dice with a triple change on the hour mark, with Euro 22 heroes Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly entering the fray as Wiegman chased a breakthrough.

And Walsh's goal gave the Lionesses hope, but they could not force an equaliser meaning they have it all to do to make it out of the group.

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