France vs England facts

England begin their defence of the European title against France in Zurich in the first round of Group D games at UEFA Women's EURO 2025.

The teams were also paired in qualifying, France topping Group A3 with 12 points, one point ahead of their Matchday 1 opponents.

Previous meetings

France and England have met twice before at Women's EURO. France won 3-0 in Linköping on their way to first place in Group C in 2013, while a Jodie Taylor goal settled the sides' quarter-final in Deventer four years later.

The nations traded away victories in qualifying for the 2025 finals. France triumphed 2-1 in Newcastle in May 2024 before England won by the same scoreline in Saint-Étienne four days later.

They also faced each other in successive FIFA Women's World Cups, first in 2011 when France won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 quarter-final draw, and then in 2015 when Eugénie Le Sommer's goal separated the sides in their group stage opener.

Form guide

France

France topped Group A3 in qualifying, winning four of their six games to finish ahead of England, Sweden and Republic of Ireland.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored three of Les Bleues' eight qualifying goals, including winners against all three of their group opponents.

This is France's eighth consecutive finals appearance since their first entry in 1997; they have progressed from the group stage in each of their last four participations.

A side coached by Corinne Diacre reached the semi-finals in 2022 – France's best Women's EURO run to date. They beat holders Netherlands in the quarter-finals (1-0 aet) before losing 1-2 to Germany in the last four.

The following year, under new head coach Hervé Renard, they reached their third consecutive Women's World Cup quarter-final, losing 7-6 on penalties to co-hosts Australia in Brisbane after a 0-0 draw.

France reached another quarter-final in 2024, this time at their home Olympic Games, which followed a run to the final of the inaugural UEFA Women's Nations League, where they lost 0-2 to world champions Spain.

Following the 2024 Olympics Renard was succeeded by assistant Laurent Bonadei.

England

England qualified for their tenth finals, and seventh in succession, after finishing runners-up to France in Group A3 (W3 D2 L1), ahead of Sweden and Republic of Ireland.

Alessia Russo struck three times during qualifying, one more than team-mate Georgia Stanway.

Sarina Wiegman's England defeated Germany at Wembley in the final of Women's EURO 2022 to win their first major trophy. Ella Toone (62) put England in front and, though Germany forced extra time, substitute Chloe Kelly forced in the winner for the tournament hosts.

England's 8-0 win against Norway in the 2022 group stage is the biggest margin of victory in Women's EURO history.

The Lionesses have also twice been runners-up, losing 3-4 on penalties to Sweden in 1984 after the two-legged final had ended 1-1 on aggregate (0-1 a, 1-0 h), and 2-6 to Germany in the 2009 final in Helsinki.

England have reached at least the semi-finals in three of the last four tournaments.

Following their 2022 success, during which they became the second nation after Germany to go through the group stage without conceding, England reached the final of the 2023 Women's World Cup, losing 0-1 to Spain in Sydney.

Wiegman, in charge since September 2021, is the only coach to win the EURO title with two different countries following her 2017 success with Netherlands.

Key facts

• France are unbeaten in their last ten Women's EURO group games (W6 D4), since a 5-1 defeat against Germany in their second fixture at the 2009 finals.

• Les Bleues have won their opening match in each of the last five tournaments going back to a 0-3 loss to Norway in 2001.

• France have scored in 12 of their last 13 finals games.

• England won all six matches at Women's EURO 2022, scoring 22 goals – the most in tournament history.

• Three years ago England named the same starting XI for all six matches, a first in a men's or women's EURO involving a group stage.

• England have won ten of their last 11 finals matches (L1).

• England's 34 EURO finals matches have all featured at least one goal.

• Their 1-0 win against Austria in 2022 was England's second successive Matchday 1 victory.