Two countries. One English Channel. Decades of "Le Crunch" tension that usually belongs to rugby, but honestly, the football version has become way more interesting lately. If you think England’s Lionesses just steamroll everyone because they won the Euros a few years back, you haven’t been watching their matches against France.
France is basically the "final boss" that England can’t quite figure out how to beat consistently.
The St. James’ Park Wake-Up Call
Let's talk about May 31, 2024. England shows up at Newcastle’s St. James’ Park. It's Sarina Wiegman’s 50th game in charge. The script says England wins, right? Wrong. Beth Mead put England ahead at the 30-minute mark, and for a second, it felt like business as usual. But the French aren't interested in scripts.
Elisa De Almeida scored this absolutely ridiculous volley from a corner. Then Marie-Antoinette Katoto—who is a pure nightmare for defenders—swiveled and buried a second goal in the 68th minute. England lost 2-1 on home soil. People were stunned.
It exposed a massive flaw: set pieces.
Wiegman was visibly annoyed after that one. She talked about "unnecessary" losses and "second balls." Basically, France was more physical and more alert. They didn't just play better; they played harder.
What the History Books Actually Say
Most casual fans assume England dominates the head-to-head record because of their recent trophies. They don't. Historically, France has been the dominant force in this rivalry.
👉 See also: Who Do the Seahawks Play on Sunday: Everything You Need to Know After the 49ers Beatdown
Since their first meeting in 1973, they've played about 28 times. France has won 13 of those. England? Only 5.
Think about that. For a team as good as the Lionesses, having only five wins against a European neighbor is kind of wild. There’s this weird mental block that happens when they face Les Bleues. Even in the 2025 Euro qualifiers, it was a back-and-forth slugfest. England managed to get a 2-1 win in Saint-Etienne in June 2024 to settle the score, but it was scrappy.
- France’s Win: May 2024 (2-1)
- England’s Revenge: June 2024 (2-1)
- Euro 2025 Opener: July 5, 2025 (France 2-1 England)
That July 2025 match was particularly painful for England fans. It was the tournament opener in Zurich. Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored again (seriously, she is inevitable), and Sandy Baltimore added a second before halftime. Keira Walsh pulled one back late with a screamer, but it was too little, too late.
Why France is So Hard to Beat
France plays a "heavy metal" style of football. It’s high intensity.
Hervé Renard (the guy who led Saudi Arabia to that shock win over Argentina in the men's World Cup) brought a specific kind of swagger to the French women’s team. They don't just pass you to death; they physically overwhelm you.
Players like Kadidiatou Diani and Delphine Cascarino are incredibly fast on the wings. If England’s full-backs—usually Lucy Bronze and whoever is on the left—push too high, France kills them on the counter-attack. In that July 2025 loss, Jess Carter had a nightmare of a first half because France kept overloading her side.
And then there's the Wendie Renard factor. She’s like a skyscraper in the box. Even when she’s not scoring, her presence on corners causes pure chaos for England's zonal marking system.
The Wiegman Philosophy vs. Reality
Sarina Wiegman is known for being stubborn. She has an "identity," and she sticks to it. She doesn't like changing her starting XI, and she definitely doesn't like changing her tactical setup.
But against France, that stubbornness sometimes feels like a liability.
In 2024, England struggled with "unpredictability." Wiegman herself said she wouldn't "throw everything overboard" just to be unpredictable. She wants her team to be so good at what they do that it doesn't matter if the opponent knows what's coming. The problem? France knows exactly what's coming, and they have the athletes to stop it.
They press Keira Walsh. They know if you stop Walsh, you stop England’s heart. In the 2025 Euro opener, Grace Geyoro basically lived in Walsh’s shadow, and England’s build-up play looked totally broken for 70 minutes.
Key Players You Need to Know
If you’re watching France vs England women’s football, these are the names that actually matter:
- Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France): She missed the 2023 World Cup with an ACL injury. Since she’s been back, she has been a wrecking ball. She’s a textbook "number nine" who only needs one half-chance to score.
- Keira Walsh (England): The midfield conductor. When she’s on, England is world-class. When she’s pressed, England panics.
- Sandy Baltimore (France): She’s been lights-out for Chelsea and brings that same energy to the national team. Her goal against England in 2025 was a masterclass in positioning.
- Lauren James (England): The X-factor. She’s the only England player who can create something out of absolutely nothing. However, her fitness has been a recurring issue in big games.
The Myth of the "Lioness Dominance"
We need to stop pretending England is the clear favorite in this matchup. Honestly, as of 2026, they aren't. France has won three of the last five meetings.
The gap in technical ability has closed, but the gap in tactical flexibility might be widening in France's favor. England often looks like they're playing a 2022 style of football in a 2026 world. They rely heavily on crosses from Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead, but France’s center-backs (Maëlle Lakrar and Wendie Renard) are too good in the air for that to be the only plan.
What Really Happened in the Recent Qualifiers?
The 2025 Euro qualifying cycle was a rollercoaster. England finished that group in a precarious spot.
They lost at home to France, then won away. It showed that the Lionesses have the grit to bounce back, but the "aura" of invincibility they had after winning Euro 2022 is gone. Teams aren't scared of the white jersey anymore. They see a defense that can be rattled by a high press and a team that struggles when they can't dominate possession.
Actionable Insights for the Next Matchup
If you're betting on or analyzing the next France vs England women's football clash, look for these three things:
1. The "Walsh Shadow": Watch the first 10 minutes. If a French midfielder is man-marking Keira Walsh, England is going to have a long night. If Wiegman hasn't dropped a second pivot (like Georgia Stanway) deeper to help, the Lionesses will struggle to progress the ball.
2. Set-Piece Defense: England’s "dead-ball disease" is real. If France wins more than five corners, they will likely score. Pay attention to how England lines up on those—if they're still static, Katoto or Renard will punish them.
✨ Don't miss: Fulham FC vs Ipswich Town: What Most People Get Wrong
3. The Substitute Timing: Wiegman is notoriously late with her subs (often waiting until the 70th minute). France tends to use their bench earlier to keep the press intense. If the game is tied at 60 minutes, the advantage usually swings to the French depth.
France vs England women's football isn't just a game; it's a chess match where France currently has the better moves. England has the trophies, but France has the blueprint to beat the champions.
To stay ahead of the curve for the next meeting, monitor the health of Lauren James and the goal-scoring form of Marie-Antoinette Katoto in their respective domestic leagues, as these two individuals almost always dictate the outcome of this specific international rivalry. Check the UEFA official match coefficients to see how these results impact seeding for the upcoming 2027 World Cup cycle.