England's Rocky Start at Euro 2025

England's national women's football team, the Lionesses, faced a disappointing start to their Euro 2025 campaign with a 2-1 loss against France. This marked the first time a defending champion lost their opening match in the next tournament of the Women's Euros.

Sarina Wiegman's Critical Role

Former England midfielder Fran Kirby emphasized the importance of manager Sarina Wiegman's analysis following the defeat. Kirby stated, "This analysis probably has to be one of the most important ones of Sarina's managerial career." Wiegman, who has previously led the Netherlands to European glory, is now tasked with steering England back on track.

Kirby's Insights on the Defeat

Kirby, who retired from international football just before the tournament, shared her observations on the match. "There were too many errors, too many sloppy passes, defensively we looked shaky and disjointed. It was really tough to watch," she told BBC Radio 5 Live. Kirby highlighted the need for a thorough review to address the issues that led to the defeat.

Upcoming Challenge: Netherlands

England's next match is against the Netherlands, who secured a 3-0 victory over Wales in their opener. Kirby stressed the importance of this game, stating, "The next game is must-win." England will need to significantly improve their performance to advance from Group D.

Williamson's Honest Reflection

Captain Leah Williamson described England's errors in the France defeat as "some cheap sort of emotional defending." Kirby appreciated Williamson's honesty, noting that such candid reflections are rare in the women's game. She expects the team's review to be productive rather than fiery.

Walsh's Consolation Goal

Keira Walsh's goal in the 87th minute was England's first shot on target, providing a small consolation in an otherwise challenging match. Kirby emphasized the need for collective improvement, stating, "Everyone could have done better. Everyone has to reflect on their performance as a collective because everyone has to improve."

Team Selector Challenge

Fans are invited to pick their England starting XI for the crucial match against the Netherlands. The selected formation is 4-3-3, and fans can choose players for each position to form their ideal lineup.

Related Topics

• England Women's Football Team
• UEFA Women's EURO
• Football
• Women's Football