Key occasions
The Guardian Consultants' Community has run the rule over each staff at Euro 2025. Right here's why France have the potential to succeed in the ultimate …
… and why England can defend their title.
Immediately's different recreation in Group D has simply completed: Wales 0-3 Netherlands. Underdogs Wales held out in opposition to the Netherlands till first-half stoppage time, at which level the beforehand quiet Vivianne Miedema stepped up with a screamer, and the 2017 champions by no means appeared again. Emillia Hawkins delivers the small print within the new-fangled minute-by-minute idiom.
1. Netherlands W1 D0 L0 F3 A0 Pts 3
2. England W0 D0 L0 F0 A0 Pts 0
3. France W0 D0 L0 F0 A0 Pts 0
4. Wales P1 W0 D0 L1 F0 A3 Pts 0
The large information for the Lionesses: Lauren James begins the sport. The half-hour run-out she bought in opposition to Jamaica final week has stood her in good stead. It's the Chelsea ahead's first begin for membership or nation since selecting up a hamstring damage in April. Alex Greenwood wins her a centesimal cap at centre-back.
A few James's Chelsea team-mates are in France's beginning XI: midfielder Oriane Jean-François and winger Sandy Baltimore. Manchester United's Melvine Malard and Everton's Kelly Gago are on the bench. France's centre-back and captain Griedge Mbock has a calf subject and isn't risked.
The groups
France: Peyraud-Magnin, de Almeida, Lakrar, Sombath, Bacha, Karchaoui, Jean-Francois, Geyoro, Baltimore, Katoto, Cascarino.
Subs: Lerond, Samoura, Toletti, Malard, Majri, Diani, Mateo, Gago, Mbock, N'Dongala, Bogaert, Picaud.
England: Hampton, Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood, Carter, James, Walsh, Stanway, Mead, Russo, Hemp.
Subs: Moorhouse, Charles, Toone, Le Tissier, Clinton, Morgan, Agyemang, Kelly, Beever-Jones, Park, Wubben-Moy, Keating.
Referee: Tess Olofsson (Sweden).
Preamble
It's the ultimate recreation of the primary wave of matches, and the perfect of them has been saved till final. The champions England start the defence of their title in opposition to France, fourth favourites to carry the trophy and the most important nation on this match by no means to win a serious worldwide prize. This, you watched, goes to be tasty.
It's not that simple to foretell, thoughts. France have the general higher hand within the head-to-head, with 5 wins from ten conferences to England's two. Nevertheless it's the newest match-ups which are probably the most instructive, and these groups met final 12 months in qualifying for these finals, and traded 2-1 away victories inside the area of 4 days. So good luck calling it.
Maybe total type clears the image? Effectively, maybe: France are on an eight-game profitable streak, whereas the Lionesses have been inconsistent of late, defeated by Belgium and Spain in latest Nations League matches. However Sarina Wiegman's girls also can boast a victory over the world champions this 12 months, and so they've lately put 5 previous Belgium, six previous Portugal, and 7 previous Jamaica. So yeah, good luck calling this. The sport kicks off at 8pm UK time, 9pm in Zurich. It's on!
