Women’s Euro 2025: What makes England and Wales’ Group D so tricky?

France have by no means gained a significant trophy however they’ve a formidable group-stage document, progressing in every of their previous eight main event appearances.And Laurent Bonadei’s workforce have kind on their aspect. They’re on an eight-game profitable run and have solely conceded two objectives since February whereas they final tasted defeat in December – to world champions Spain.England full-back Lucy Bronze says Saturday’s opening match between the edges is to not be missed.”Each groups are stuffed with thrilling attacking expertise and I feel it is the sport everybody goes to be watching as a result of it is absolutely essentially the most thrilling group sport coming right into a Euros,” right-back Bronze mentioned.Les Bleues left-back Selma Bacha additionally mentioned she is “very joyful” to play England first, including: “That is going to place us straight into the thick of issues for the Euros.”Nevertheless, this would be the first time since 2005 that France have been at a Euros or World Cup with out each Wendie Renard and all-time main scorer Eugenie le Sommer, who have been controversially omitted of Bonadei’s aspect.”The expertise and the quantity of caps that Renard and Le Sommer have is completely enormous,” mentioned former England ahead Ellen White.”To have that utterly wiped out of your squad is a extremely attention-grabbing dynamic to enter this event.”Former Scotland defender Jen Beattie mentioned: “They’ve clearly seen one thing and made a giant determination, and so they have been additionally quoted saying ‘madness is doing the identical factor over and over and anticipating completely different outcomes’.”