Holders England kick off their Euro 2025 campaign against France in a heavyweight Group D clash in Zurich this evening.
In one of the matches of the whole group stage, the Lionesses begin their quest to retain European Championship title against a dangerous Les Bleues side packed with attacking talent.
And with the Netherlands and Wales completing the “group of death”, the pressure will be on both England and France from the start as they look to safely progress to the quarter-finals.
Sarina Wiegman’s side won the Euros three years ago before reaching the World Cup final in 2023, and have set themselves the challenge of defending their European crown this month.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Group D opener.
When is England v France?
The match takes place on Saturday 5 July, with kick-off at 8pm BST (UK time) in Zurich.
What TV channel is it on?
England v France will be shown on ITV 1 and ITV X, with coverage getting underway from 7pm.
What is the England team news?
Lauren James starts for England against France. The forward is considered ready to make her first start in three months and replaces Ella Toone in England’s line-up.
That’s the only change from the side that started England’s send-off game against Jamaica last week. James comes into the No 10 position and will play behind Alessia Russo and with Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead on the wings. Alex Greenwood wins her 100th cap in defence.
England XI: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood, Carter; Walsh, Stanway; Mead, James, Hemp; Russo
What is the France team news?
France head coach Laurent Bonadei made the bold call of dropping captain Wendie Renard, all-time top goalscorer Eugenie Le Sommer and Kenza Dali from his Euros squad, explaining: “As Einstein said: ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.’ I want different results for this team so I have gone with a different selection.”
The player named as captain in place in Renard, centre-back Griedge Mbock, has also been ruled out due to injury. Still, France still have a very talented team, especially in forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Chelsea’s Sandy Baltimore. Kadidiatou Diani, tough, only starts on the bench, with winger Delphine Cascarino coming in.
France XI: Peyraud-Magnin, de Almeida, Lakrar, Sombath, Bacha,Karchaoui, Jean-Francois, Geyoro, Baltimore, Katoto, Cascarino
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