England Girls captain Leah Williamson stated the Lionesses “weren’t ok” as they misplaced their Euros 2025 opener to France.

England had been the primary defending champions to misplaced their opening recreation of a following match, crushed 2-1 by the spectacular French in Zurich.

There have been varied points within the Lionesses recreation, together with defending on each wings that led to targets from Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore.

Reflecting on the explanations behind England’s below-par efficiency, Williamson instructed ITV Sport: “We misplaced a recreation. Low-cost defending one-vs-one. Not ok. We could not maintain it within the areas we would have liked to maintain it.

“We discovered from these errors in equity and grew into the sport, however on the ball we weren’t ok. We received higher as they drained, we took benefit of that, however not sufficient.

“Typically that occurs, the constructive is that I’ve not seen us like that when it comes to turning the ball over a lot for some time now. It is actually irritating, I feel that is how we take it, however tomorrow we’re again on it.

“I feel all people takes accountability for themselves as we speak, take a look what was the world that they might have had an influence on the sport extra.

“I’ll, however I feel then tomorrow we’ve got a brand new recreation plan, completely different areas out there, completely different sort of opposition.”

Wiegman: We performed ourselves out of the sport

For her half, England head coach Sarina Wiegman didn’t imagine the defending down both wing was England’s largest situation, including that total sloppiness additionally contributed to the outcome.

She instructed ITV Sport: “I am very dissatisfied concerning the outcome. I believed we began very well, scored a aim and sadly, it did not rely.

“Then we performed ourselves out of the sport by enjoying brief passes, which actually helped them and never being tight sufficient. We wanted to get out of that first press and skip and I feel that harmed us a bit.

“The extensive areas weren’t the largest downside. We began very well after which we began enjoying brief passes, and that is what they wished, as a result of they wished to press. So we would have liked to get in behind them and attempt to skip the press, however we misplaced. We had been too sloppy and that did not assist us – it helped them.

“Then we all know how good they’re within the counter-attack. They’re highly effective and quick gamers. That is what they did very well.”

England should now win their subsequent Group D recreation in opposition to the Netherlands on Wednesday to maintain themselves within the working for a spot within the knockout rounds.

Wiegman is aware of her aspect cannot afford any extra errors, however should transfer on shortly with one other recreation in 4 days.

“I feel we are able to do higher,” she added. “France are actually good however we induced a little bit of our personal issues and and we might have scored within the first minutes.

“We will do higher, positively, and we’ve got to make it slightly bit simpler for ourselves. We will not afford to make any extra errors going ahead? That is right.

“These are the details, we’ve got to step up, and tomorrow we assessment, we recuperate, after which it is straight to the sport in opposition to the Netherlands on Wednesday. Now we should stick collectively, do the restoration and transfer on.”

Bonadei stunned by England method

France head coach Laurent Bonadei, who took over the staff final 12 months from former coach Herve Renard, stated his staff had been stunned by England’s method.

“England are a extremely good staff,” he stated. “They’re fifth on this planet rankings and gained the final Euros so we’ve got to respect this staff.

“They began very well and put strain on us from kick-off. We had been slightly bit stunned as a result of usually they play with build-up from Keira Walsh in midfield so it was actually onerous as a result of we had been beneath strain, and we conceded. Fortunately for us it was dominated out.

“Then slowly, step-by-step, we got here again with our ahead gamers and had our improbable aim on the right-hand aspect. Bodily, it was not straightforward for the England staff as a result of we performed extra direct in midfield. We saved calm and scored a second aim.

“Within the second half, we managed the sport as a result of they solely had two photographs on the right track. On the finish of the sport, you might see England might rating at any time and we performed beneath strain for the final 5 minutes. My gamers did very well and saved the outcome.”