Lionesses have mountain to climb as France beat England in Euro 2025 qualifier

Marie-Antoinette Katoto left defending European champions England with a steep uphill battle to qualify for Euro 2025 as France came from behind to secure a crucial victory in their qualifier at St James' Park.

Beth Mead had initially put the Lionesses ahead in the 30th minute, which marked head coach Sarina Wiegman's 50th game in charge. However, Elisa De Almeida equalised before half-time, paving the way for Paris St Germain striker Katoto to clinch a 2-1 win in front of a crowd of 42,561.

This loss leaves England third in Group A3, trailing behind France and Sweden, who triumphed over the Republic of Ireland 3-0 in Dublin. Now anything short of a victory in the return match in St-Etienne on Tuesday could dash any remaining hopes of finishing first.

A showdown between the teams ranked second and third globally by FIFA was bound to be close, but ultimately, it was the French who emerged victorious in this tightly contested match.

Wiegman managed to field the Leah Williamson-Millie Bright central defensive duo for the first time since February last year, on a night when goalkeeper Mary Earps earned her 50th cap.

However, Earps' milestone evening was cut short less than eight minutes in when she had to leave the pitch due to injury, having received extensive on-field treatment after botching a clearance in the first minute. She was replaced by Hannah Hampton.

The match began evenly, with French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin watching as Lauren Hemp capitalised on Russo's efforts to cross to the near post, where Ella Toone narrowly missed her first-time shot.

Russo took a shot from a tight angle as the Lionesses kept up the pressure, and they secured the lead when Mead scored from close range after Georgia Stanway collided with Selma Bacha in an attempt to reach Hemp's cross.

The game was far from over, with Hampton managing to block Maelle Lakrar's goal-bound header from a 34th-minute Bacha corner, maintaining England's lead.

However, France equalised just before half-time when defender De Almeida volleyed over Hampton from Kenza Dali's corner, quieting the home crowd.

Mead could have regained England's lead in stoppage time after Russo and Bronze made a quick break, but her curling shot was expertly saved by the goalkeeper.

Keira Walsh and Stanway began to assert themselves in the midfield battle, which had been dominated by Sakina Karchaoui and Sandie Toletti before the break, giving the Lionesses renewed momentum.

However, they were lucky when Cascarino bypassed Walsh and entered the penalty area, only to miss her 54th-minute shot.

The home team had to exercise patience as the French side defended deeply and in large numbers. However, they were taken by surprise in the 68th minute when Katoto seized an opportunity from Bacha's corner kick, which was not fully cleared, and sent the ball past Hampton.

Stanway attempted a long-range shot that went over the bar with just 14 minutes left on the clock, and substitute Chloe Kelly came close to scoring towards the end of the match, but there was no comeback for the hosts.