That’s all from me! I’ll leave you with Suzanne Wrack’s match report. England are back in action against France on Tuesday. Until then, thanks for reading, have a great weekend!
France came from behind to stun England at St James’ Park in a huge Euro 2025 qualifier.
Updated
Fri 31 May 2024 18.00 EDT
First published on Fri 31 May 2024 14.00 EDT
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Key events
Sarina Wiegman on Mary Earps’ injury: “I can’t say anything because I haven’t spoken to anyone yet.”
England manager Sarina Wiegman tells ITV Sport: “Frustrating. I think we played pretty well. We conceded two goals from set plays which we have to do better. In these matches you don’t get too many chances, in the first half we created multiple chances and we scored one. In the second half we were dangerous, the final pass needed to be better. Then we conceded a goal from a corner. In the end we wanted to force a goal but that didn’t go very well.”
“We’re going to recover, review the game then we get ready for Tuesday. This is disappointing then tomorrow it’s done and we continue to Tuesday and a new chance to play a good game and win a game.”
A look at the winning goal…
England fail to clear their lines... ❌
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) May 31, 2024
...and France take the lead with a second set piece goal ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/qzGFBX43Vb
England winger Beth Mead tells ITV Sport: “Disappointed, frustrated. I actually thought we were the better team, created more chances. Ultimately we got beat on two set pieces and that’s something we need to look at and rectify. It’s a really tough game, a lot of quality on show. Small margins won them the game today.”
Mary Earps is currently on crutches after picking up that early injury, another devastating blow for the Lionesses.
This is England’s first European Championship qualifying defeat in almost 24 years. The last came against Norway in June 2000 – that’s 28 Euro qualifying games unbeaten before tonight’s loss.
Full-time: England 1-2 France
A crushing defeat for England. France win the first of two games in this crucial Euro qualifying double-header.
90+4 min: Bright is the furthest player forward for England at the moment. The Lionesses are throwing everything, but it might be too little too late.
90+1 min: Five minutes have been added on. France make some more changes with Katoto, who may have scored the winning goal here, making way for Louna Ribadeira and Léa Le Garrec replacing Dali.
88 min: Another chance for England as Kelly attempts a shot from distance. It’s not far off but flies narrowly over the crossbar.
87 min: Kelly splits the defence with a pass through to Bronze in the box, who tries to set up Russo but the ball is intercepted. Another chance missed.
84 min: There is a brief pause in play as Renard gets checked over following a hit to the face.
Meanwhile, goalscorer De Almeida is replaced by Ève Périsset.
83 min: England get a glimpse at goal as Hemp crosses the ball to Kelly in the box, but the winger can’t get her shot away.
82 min: It just hasn’t been happening for England today. With the two central midfielders being marked out of the game, the Lionesses have been forced to play straight from the defence over to attack, leaving Russo with little support up front. Chances have been few and far between this half.
79 min: Two changes for England as Chloe Kelly replaces Mead and Stanway makes way for Fran Kirby. Both players have scored important goals for the Lionesses on big occasions before, can they do it today?
76 min: Stanway attempts an audacious shot from distance, but her effort is off-target. Can’t blame her for going for goal – she’s scored from those positions before!
Kirby and Kelly are warming up for the Lionesses.
72 min: France have made a change with Amandine Henry replacing Cascarino.
Lakrar has also just been booked for a challenge on Russo.
70 min: Poor defending sees England concede from a set piece once again. Following a cross into the box, Diani heads the ball down to Katoto who flicks it into the bottom-right corner past Hampton.
GOAL! England 1-2 France (Katoto, 69)
Katoto stuns St James’ Park into silence!
66 min: Walsh switches the play over to the right as Bronze picks her pass out of the air. The defender sets the ball to Stanway on the edge of the box, who looks to shoot but instead drags it back. Bronze then attempts to cross it back in, but Peyraud-Magnin claims.
63 min: A Mexican wave is travelling around St James’ Park. That certainly gives you an idea about how this game is going… I can’t say it’s been the most exciting.
61 min: Stanway and Walsh have been very limited in midfield so far. The England defence have been playing the ball straight over to the front three on several occasions rather than moving through the middle.
58 min: Russo plays the ball out to Hemp on the left, but the winger is forced out slightly too wide. She sends a cross into the box as Russo makes a run, but Peyraud-Magnin manages to claim it.
55 min: France look to go on the attack as the ball is passed over to Bacha on the left. The full-back goes to make the cross, but it runs behind for a goal kick.
52 min: Some brilliant link-up play down the right as Mead backheels the ball to Bronze, who makes a run on the overlap. Diani gets back to deflect it behind for a corner.
Hemp sends the set piece into the box, but the ball gets caught under Williamson’s feet and the England captain can’t get her shot away.
51 min: Hemp makes a run down the left and receives the ball from Williamson in a dangerous area. She crosses it into the box, but Russo can’t get there.
49 min: Hampton sends a fantastic pass out from the back to Bronze on the halfway line. The full-back plays the ball through to Russo, but the flag goes up.
46 min: France burst out of the blocks and go straight on the attack. Bacha sends a cross into the box and finds Toletti, who goes for goal but her effort is off-target.
Kick-off: England 1-1 France
We’re back under way at St James’ Park!
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Don’t worry, there’s plenty of time to do it before the second half starts!
It was far from an ideal start for England with Mary Earps’ forced substitution. The Lionesses lacked some confidence for the majority of the first half, but the match sprung into life in the final 20 minutes.
A huge 45 minutes ahead!
Half-time: England 1-1 France
An eventful first half to say the least! It’s all square at St James’ Park!
45+4 min: Huge chance for England! Bronze makes a great run out from the back before passing to Mead. The winger cuts inside from the right and looks to curl the ball into the far corner, but Peyraud-Magnin makes a fantastic save!
45+1 min: Five minutes have been added on. Carter is booked for a shirt pull on Cascarino.
45 min: A low-driven cross is sent into the France penalty area. Peyraud-Magnin goes to make the save but spills it. The goalkeeper can eventually clear the danger.
41 min: A corner is sent into the box by Dali and the ball finds De Almeida, who manages to wrap her foot around it to direct her shot over the England defence and into the top-left corner!
Sarina Wiegman will certainly be disappointed with that.
GOAL! England 1-1 France (De Almeida, 40)
What a finish!
39 min: And just as I say that, France have a huge chance! A fantastic cross is sent to Katoto, who finds herself in a great position right in front of goal. She goes for the shot but her effort flies over the crossbar.