France vs England LIVE: Lionesses result and final score from vital Euro 2025 qualifier
France 1-2 England: The Lionesses revived their chances of claiming an automatic qualification spot for Euro 2025 as they held on to victory in Saint-Etienne
England claimed a stunning win in France to spark life into their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign with a vital 2-1 victory in Saint-Etienne.
The Lionesses were beaten by France in Newcastle on Friday but manager Sarina Wiegman’s decision to play an unchanged outfield line-up was rewarded with an improved display from the European champions.
Georgia Stanway’s stunning strike gave the Lionesses the lead midway through the opening half, before Alessia Russo met Lauren Hemp’s excellent cross to double England’s advantage.
Russo, in particular, deserved her goal following a brilliant all-round display leading the line, but the second half was a different story for England as France took control in search of an equaliser.
The hosts were given hope as Leah Williamson caught Grace Geyoro in the box and Kadidiatou Diani sent Hannah Hampton the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Hampton then made a stunning save to deny Marie-Antoinette Katoto in the dying moments, as England held on and France suffered their first home defeat in five years.
Follow all the reaction below as England claimed their first win away to France in 51 years
France 0-2 England
40 mins: France are shell-shocked. Russo beats Lakrar AGAIN and almost finds Hemp with a cross, the ball just running away from the winger.
Lakrar is not going to want to see Alessia Russo again after this first half.
GOAL! France 0-2 England (RUSSO 34’)
It’s a great cross from Hemp and brilliant forward play from Russo.
Interesting that the Lionesses are grabbing the ball from the net... they want GOALS in this qualifying group.
GOAL! France 0-2 England (RUSSO 34’)
JUST WHAT ENGLAND AND RUSSO DESERVED!
The Lionesses doubled their lead after a brilliant spell! France are stunned! They’ve been dominated at home!
Hemp and Mead had just switched wings a couple of minutes ago. Hemp sets the ball onto her left and swings in a stunning cross, which beats Lakrar.
Russo peels off the back and powers the header down and in! How about this?!
France 0-1 England
31 mins: This has been a brilliant first half from Russo, who is bullying the France defender Lakrar. Russo turn Lakrar and bursts into the box, before France can recover.
Moments later, Mead bursts forward and puts in a ball that narrowly evades Russo and almost falls to Hemp.
France 0-1 England
29 mins: CHANCE! Ooooh it should be two! What a move from England, with Bright picking out Bronze down the right, great run and better pass.
Bronze knocks it across and it lands to Russo at the back post. The striker stoops but can’t direct it back across goal with enough power.
Peyraud-Magnin keeps it out.
France 0-1 England
26 mins: That will settle England down, but they had started to do just that in truth before that Stanway strike. They took the lead on Friday, however, only for France to come from behind, so the Lionesses will need to keep up this intensity they’ve started to build.
Mead slips Stanway in after good build-up play from Russo. Renard gets the block in.
GOAL! France 0-1 England (STANWAY 22’)
Sweet as you like from Stanway. What a way for England to take the lead.
GOAL! France 0-1 England (STANWAY 22’)
ROCKET FROM STANWAY!
Whooosh! What a goal from the Bayern midfielder! Similar to her strike against Spain in the Euros quarter-final. It’s brilliant work first of all from Hemp, barging her opponent aside to lay the ball back to Stanway on the edge of the box. Stanway lets it come across her body and then unleashes a stunning strike, rising into the corner and leaving the France goalkeeper with no chance!
France 0-0 England
21 mins: SAVE! Great play from England. Russo holds up the ball on the halfway line and then Toone releases Mead with a lovely pass. Mead drives forward but her shot is saved from the angle.
France 0-0 England
19 mins: Ah, frustrating for England as the Lionesses aren’t able to work the ball into the box: Mead’s pass was cut out as she looked for Toone, and then Walsh found a dead-end too.
The Lionesses have had the better of the past 10 minutes, though. France probably edged the first spell.
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