Match in Focus: England bounce back after a late scare

Very much a game of two halves in Saint-Etienne as England got back on track in the Euro 2025 qualifiers, while hosts France game themselves too much work to do...

England bounced back from a disappointing Friday night in Newcastle to open the group right back up again with themselves, opponents France and Sweden going for the two automatic spots after a 2-1 win in Saint-Etienne.

It was very much a game of two halves as the Lionesses raced into a 2-0 lead, and it could have been more despite a fine strike from Georgia Stanway and a clinical header from Alessia Russo.

France’s changes allowed England much more freedom, and while Herve Renard rectified things at the break and got a much better performance for it, there wasn’t enough time to claw back a result despite a nervy final 15 minutes after Kadidiatou Diani halved the deficit from the penalty spot.

England had Hannah Hampton to thank for an excellent late save to divert a clearance from Lucy Bronze past the post as France threw everything at the Lionesses, and while the result leaves England still in third, on seven points they are level with Sweden and two points behind France, with both England and France to play Sweden in next month’s window.

Sarina Wiegman will be pleased overall with her side’s performance, even if in the second half there were glimpses of the frailties of the past few games when France reverted to something close to the team from Friday’s win, but a win is a win and England needed that right now.

Here’s five key takeaways from the match in WFC’s view…

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England stick, France twist

There were a few raised eyebrows when Sarina Wiegman named the same eleven, bar Hannah Hampton, which lost to France on Friday, partly because it wasn’t a great performance, and secondly because this is a tiring part of the season for everyone involved - but that’s not another story.

But while England and Wiegman stuck to their guns and certainly put in a better performance, it was the two twists from France head coach Herve Renard which allowed the game to get away from Les Bleues.

Renard changed two of his midfield three as both Grace Geyoro and Amandine Henry came in, with Sakina Karchaoui moving out wide, but it just didn’t work.

Once again, Kenza Dali shadowed Keira Walsh, but the space afforded to Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone in comparison to when Sandie Toletti was on the pitch cost France dear, with both able to enjoy much more of the ball than on Friday, until Renard went back on his changes and introduced Toletti and Delphine Cascarino at the break.