The Lionesses continue their UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 qualifying campaign on Friday night as they take on France at St James’ Park.
The fixture is part of a double header against the French, with the reverse fixture set to take place in Saint-Etienne on Tuesday. Friday’s opponents currently sit top of the group, which also consists of Sweden and the Republic of Ireland.
Sarina Wiegman’s reigning European championsdrew their opening qualifier against Sweden in April, but the follow up win over Republic of Ireland puts them second in the standings. Under UEFA’s new qualifying format, which is similar to the newly-introduced Nations League, only the top two teams in each group across League A will automatically qualify for next summer’s tournament in Switzerland.
Should England finish third or fourth in their group, they would be required to go through two rounds of play-off games in order to book a place at the Euros. The Lionesses will hope to be there in order to retain their crown, which they secured on home soil at the 2022 edition of the competition.
Here’s 90min’s preview of the 2023/24 Friday’s Euro qualifier between England and France…
|
England |
France |
|---|---|
|
Republic of Ireland 0-2 England – 09/04/24 |
Sweden 0-1 France – 09/04/24 |
|
England 1-1 Sweden – 05/04/24 |
France 1-0 Republic of Ireland – 05/04/24 |
|
England 5-1 Italy – 27/02/24 |
Spain 2-0 France – 28/02/24 |
|
England 7-2 Austria – 23/02/24 |
France 2-1 Germany – 23/02/24 |
|
Scotland 0-6 England – 05/12/23 |
Portugal 0-1 France – 05/12/23 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
ITV4, ITVX |
Chelsea’s Niamh Charles and Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy both withdrew from the squad over the last week. Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier was promoted from the standby list in their place.
England were dealt a further blow as Sarina Wiegman confirmed on Thursday that Lauren James has returned to her club to continue treatment on a foot injury sustained at the end of the WSL season.
Elsewhere, Keira Walsh and Lucy Bronze are both fit and available after their involvement in the Champions League final for Barcelona last weekend. Alessia Russo is also available after Arsenal’s recent post-season exhibition matches in Australia.
England predicted lineup vs France
England predicted lineup vs France (4-3-3): Earps; Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Greenwood; Walsh, Stanway, Toone; Kelly, Russo, Hemp
France will be without Lyon’s Vicki Becho for this fixture after the forward was sent off in their last Euro qualifier against Sweden for two bookable offences. Lyon’s Eugenie Le Sommer is also absent from the squad after she picked up an injury during the last international break in April.
Wendie Renard, Selma Bacha, Delphine Cascarino and Kadidiatou Diani are all in the squad, despite featuring in the Champions League final for Lyon against Barcelona last week.
France predicted lineup vs England
France predicted lineup vs England (4-4-2): Peyraud-Magnin; De Almeida, Lakrar, Renard, Bacha; Dali, Geyoro, Toletti, Diani; Cascarino, Katoto
France are England’s toughest test in the group, with Herve Renard’s side currently top of the standings with two wins from their opening two games. France have won five of their last six across all competitions, their only defeat came against Spain in the Nations League final back in February.
Given Friday’s meeting is on home turf at St James’ Park in Newcastle, this will be the more favourable of the two France games for the Lionesses.
It won’t be easy, though, and it’s not hard to see both teams on the scoresheet. But, in a
nervy, tightly-contested affair, England should come out of on the right side.
Prediction: England 2-1 France
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