England's Lionesses made an uncharacteristic start to their Women's European Championship title defense, falling 2-1 to France in a dramatic Group D clash on Saturday. The loss marks the first time a reigning champion has stumbled in the tournament's opening match.
France's Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore delivered two rapid-fire goals late in the first half, capitalizing on defensive lapses. England's Keira Walsh narrowed the gap with an 87th-minute strike, but the late surge proved insufficient to salvage a result.
"We hold ourselves to higher standards," said England captain Leah Williamson, reflecting on the team's uneven performance. The defeat also ended manager Sarina Wiegman's perfect 12-game winning streak in the competition, spanning her title runs with the Netherlands and England.
France, riding a nine-match winning streak, showcased tactical discipline despite missing injured captain Griedge Mbock. Coach Laurent Bonadei tempered expectations, stating: "We haven't won anything yet. We showed courage, but there are two more matches."
The Lionesses now face a critical match against the Netherlands on Wednesday, followed by a clash with Wales. The Dutch opened their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Wales earlier in the day.
