England v France LIVE: Women’s Euro 2025 score and latest updates from Lionesses

Sarina Wiegman has told her players to not focus on defending their European title, but to instead challenge themselves to go out and win another major trophy at Euro 2025.

There are seven England players who will be making their first appearance at a major tournament and Wiegman, who has won the last two Euros with the Netherlands and the Lionesses, has looked to motivate her squad by drawing a line under their past achievements.

“We absolutely cherish what we have done before,” Wiegman said. “We’ll never forget it and it was the experience of a lifetime for us and for our families and also for the fans, but you have to move on and you have to be on top of it.

“Things are changing very quickly, things are developing very quickly, so we have to do too. And we came together, it was actually in February and then we came to, to this day we said, yeah, it’s a new challenge The approach was there anyway, but we call it the ‘new’ England.”

France head coach Laurent Bonadei made the bold call of dropping captain Wendie Renard, all-time top goalscorer Eugenie Le Sommer and Kenza Dali from his Euros squad, explaining: “As Einstein said: ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.’ I want different results for this team so I have gone with a different selection.”

The player named as captain in place in Renard, centre-back Griedge Mbock, has also been ruled out due to injury. Still, France still have a very talented team, especially in forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Chelsea’s Sandy Baltimore. Kadidiatou Diani, tough, only starts on the bench, with winger Delphine Cascarino coming in.

France XI: Peyraud-Magnin, de Almeida, Lakrar, Sombath, Bacha,Karchaoui, Jean-Francois, Geyoro, Baltimore, Katoto, Cascarino

England may be the defending European champions, but this very much isn’t a squad hoping that old approaches – or that reputation – carry them through. Sarina Wiegman was unequivocal on the eve of her team’s Euro 2025 opener against a dangerous France team.

“We call it a new England,” the manager said.

This intent obviously explains a lot of the ructions in the build-up to this tournament, since transition rarely comes without friction. It’s also just as well, as England do actually need something new.

They need to immediately find their feet and actually start a tournament well.

A comfortable win for the Netherlands over Wales in the opening match of Group D. It was a good effort from the tournament debutants Wales, but Vivianne Miedema scored her 100th international goal just before half time to break their resistance. The Netherlands then scored against just after the break, through Victoria Pelova, with Esmee Brugts adding the third.

A historic moment for Wales but not the result they wanted of course. Wales are up against France next, while England will play a Netherlands side who will be on three points…

The England team arrive to the ground in Zurich. Ella Toone is still having a laugh with Alessia Russo despite dropping out of the starting line-up. What a boost it is to have Lauren James ready to go from the start.

Lauren James starts for England against France! The forward is considered ready to make her first start in three months and replaces Ella Toone in England’s line-up.

That’s the only change from the side that started England’s send-off game against Jamaica last week. James comes into the No 10 position and will play behind Alessia Russo and with Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead on the wings.

Alex Greenwood wins her 100th cap in defence.

England XI: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood, Carter; Walsh, Stanway; Mead, James, Hemp; Russo

Sarina Wiegman has suggested Lauren James could start England’s opening match of Euro 2025 against France, or could at least play a significant role in the game, after the forward recovered from a hamstring injury to be fit for the tournament.

James played the final 30 minutes of England’s 7-0 send-off win against Jamaica on Sunday, in what was the Chelsea forward’s first appearance in three months, and Wiegman said the 23-year-old “can play more than that” in Zurich against France on Saturday night.

“She’s in a good place,” Wiegman said. “She came on the pitch in against Jamaica last week and she’s ready to get more minutes tomorrow.

“I’m not going to give you the line-up, but she played 30 minutes last week, so she can play more than that, so I think that will say enough,” Wiegman said, perhaps suggesting that James will start England’s opener in place of Ella Toone.

The England team will be announced at 6:45pm…

England players are wearing cooling vests during training sessions, filling their drinks with crushed ice, and using cryotherapy chambers for recovery to combat the scorching temperatures in Switzerland ahead of their opening game of Euro 2025 on Saturday.

The Lionesses kick off their title defence against France in Zurich, when temperatures across the country are likely to have cooled slightly, but their preparations for their opening game have come amid extreme heat warnings as the tournament begins.

England did not alter the time of their training on Tuesday, which took place at midday and in around 34C conditions in Zurich, but followed special procedures in an attempt to keep players’ body temperatures down during their session and afterwards to aid their recovery.

Four years into the England job, and on the eve of her third major tournament in charge of the Lionesses, Sarina Wiegman reflects on how her role has changed, and how it has changed her. “My approach is the same. I just worry a little bit less,” Wiegman says, appearing relaxed and in a typically open and honest mood at England’s Euro 2025 base camp at the five-star Dolder Grand hotel, perched like a medieval castle above Lake Zurich in Switzerland.

Prince William has delivered an inspiring good luck message to the Lionesses ahead of Euro 2025.

The Prince of Wales visited England’s women’s football squad at the St George’s Park national football centre in Staffordshire on Monday, June 30th.

During his visit, William spoke to the England manager, Sarina Wiegman, and then presented all 23 members with new match jerseys.

In his speech to the team, William stated, “I know how you are going to play – you are going to play with freedom, you are going to play with camaraderie and teamwork.”