France Ladies 2-1 England Ladies: Keira Walsh strike not sufficient as Lionesses lose opening recreation of Euros defence | Soccer Information

England Ladies’s defence of their European title acquired off to a dropping begin, overwhelmed 2-1 by France in Zurich.

It’s the first time a reigning champion has misplaced their opening recreation of the next event, with the Lionesses largely outplayed and outfought by the spectacular French.

Providing her ideas as to why England didn’t carry out at their greatest to ITV Sport, Leah Williamson mentioned: “We misplaced a recreation. Low-cost defending one vs one. Not ok. We could not preserve it within the areas we wanted to maintain it.

“We discovered from these errors in equity and grew into the sport, however on the ball we weren’t ok.”

However the Lionesses’ efficiency was bookended with two shiny spells. Alessia Russo had the ball behind the web within the sixteenth minute, however her strike was dominated out by VAR for a Beth Mead offside within the build-up.

France reacted the higher, making the most of England’s sloppy play and utilizing their benefit down each wings – Lucy Bronze and Jess Carter struggling in opposition to the tempo of Sandy Baltimore and Delphine Cascarino.

And it was one other run from the latter that set France up for a deserved opener. Her cross into the field was turned house by Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who had drifted in behind Williamson.

Three minutes later and France doubled their lead, with England conceding the overall variety of targets they let in throughout Euro 2022 (2) within the house of some minutes.

Baltimore shrugged off the double problem of Williamson and Chelsea team-mate Bronze trying the cross. England’s right-back caught out a leg to dam, however that solely despatched the ball again to the winger, who then turned house.

There was a VAR evaluate for a foul on Russo within the build-up, however the know-how caught with the on-field choice to let the aim stand, sending the often stoic Sarina Wiegman into an offended outburst on the fourth official.

France continued to look snug within the second half – till England have been supplied a lifeline within the 87th minute. Keira Walsh, who had struggled to drag the strings for the Lionesses as she so typically does, rifled house from a cleared nook for simply her second worldwide aim.

The Lionesses continued to push – Michelle Agyemang trying shiny when she got here on as a late substitute – with Lauren Hemp having a poked effort cleared off the road after Pauline Peyraud-Magnin left her aim open.

But it surely was not sufficient for England to grab an undeserved level, leaving them third in Group D. They might want to win their subsequent two video games in opposition to the Netherlands and Wales to face an opportunity of progressing to the knockout rounds.

Williamson: Everybody has to take duty

England captain Leah Williamson talking to ITV Sport: “We acquired higher as they drained, we took benefit of that, however not sufficient.

“Typically that occurs, the constructive is that I’ve not seen us like that by way of turning the ball over a lot for some time now. It is actually irritating, I believe that is how we take it, however tomorrow we’re again on it.

“I believe everyone takes duty for themselves in the present day, take a look what was the realm that they may have had an affect on the sport extra.

“I’ll, however I believe then tomorrow we’ve a brand new recreation plan, completely different areas obtainable, completely different kind of opposition.”

Wiegman: We performed ourselves out of the sport

England boss Sarina Wiegman talking to ITV Sport: “I am very disenchanted concerning the end result. I assumed we began very well, scored a aim and sadly, it did not rely.

“Then we performed ourselves out of the sport by taking part in quick passes, which actually helped them and never being tight sufficient. We would have liked to get out of that first press and skip and I believe that harmed us a bit.

“Then after all, they scored targets after which on the finish we performed with 4 attackers and actually tried to get the ball over the road however we did not.

“The broad areas weren’t the largest drawback. We began very well after which we began taking part in quick passes, and that is what they wished, as a result of they wished to press. So we wanted to get in behind them and attempt to skip the press, we misplaced. We have been too sloppy and that did not assist us; it helped them.

“Then after all, we all know how good they’re within the counter-attack. They’re highly effective and quick gamers. That is what they did very well.”