Set-Piece Struggles Cost Lionesses In Crucial Euro 2025 Qualifier Against France

England's Euro 2025 qualifying campaign faced a setback as the Lionesses suffered a 2-1 defeat to France at St James' Park. This loss marks England's first home defeat in a qualifying match since October 2002, with France being the last team to achieve this feat.

The reigning European champions had an opportunity to top Group A3 but were hindered by defensive lapses during set-pieces. Despite losing goalkeeper Mary Earps early in the match, England took the lead through Beth Mead's goal after half an hour.

However, France capitalised on set-piece opportunities in both halves, with goals from Elisa De Almeida and Marie-Antoinette Katoto securing the win for the visitors. This result drops England to third place in Group A3.

England manager Sarina Wiegman expressed her frustration over the team's performance during set-pieces. Speaking to ITV Sport, she said, "I think we played pretty well, but we conceded two goals from set plays, which we have to do a lot better on."

Wiegman acknowledged that while England created multiple chances in the first half, they only managed to score once. She emphasised the need for improvement in making the final pass and dealing with set-pieces more effectively.

Captain Leah Williamson echoed Wiegman's sentiments, stating, "We’re really disappointed; the game was there to be won. It was a fantastic occasion. The fans have never let us down, so it’s a shame not to give them a win as well."

Looking Ahead

The Lionesses will travel to Stade Geoffroy-Guichard for the return fixture against France on Tuesday. Both Wiegman and Williamson are optimistic about improving their performance and addressing the issues that led to their defeat.

"We will be better on Tuesday," Williamson assured, highlighting the team's determination to bounce back and secure a win in their upcoming match.

Match Statistics

The Lionesses will need to address their defensive vulnerabilities and capitalise on their attacking opportunities if they hope to advance in the Euro 2025 qualifiers. The upcoming match against France will be crucial for their campaign.