Match Centre: England 1-2 France

Beth Mead’s first-half strike was not enough as England fell to a 2-1 defeat against France in their third game of UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 qualifying.

The Lionesses lost Mary Earps to injury in the opening minutes but rallied well and took the lead when Mead put the finishing touch to a fine move which started inside her own half.

But France hit back just before the break through Elisa De Almeida and struck the killer blow 20 minutes from time when Marie-Antoinette Katoto swivelled well inside the box, extending Les Bleues’ lead to five points at the top of the group.

England sit third following Sweden’s victory over Republic of Ireland but can make amends quickly, with a revenge mission set for Saint-Etienne on Tuesday.

England’s night got off to the worst possible start and a cruel ending for goalkeeper Earps on what was her 50th international appearance.

The Manchester United star winced after playing a routine pass to Millie Bright and though initially soldiering on, she was replaced after just eight minutes by Hannah Hampton.

After an inauspicious start, England settled around the 20-minute mark and the best chance of the early stages fell to Ella Toone, who met Lauren Hemp’s cutback with a sweeping effort which crept agonisingly wide of the far post.

It was another Hemp cross which led to the opener on the half hour, as former Sunderland player Mead gathered the ball following a scramble in the area before calmly slotting home her 33rd Lionesses goal to move joint-sixth on the all-time scorers list.

It was then England’s turn to do some defending and substitute Hampton was at full stretch to parry away a header from Maelle Lakrar.

Katoto then guided over Delphine Cascarino’s dangerous cross from close range before France produced a deserved equaliser five minutes before half time.

Right back De Almeida turned a poor corner into a great one, meeting the ball on the volley and looping a stunning effort over the helpless Hampton.

England re-asserted themselves before the break and the final chance of the half fell to Mead but her curling effort was tipped behind brilliantly by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.

France forward Cascarino then side-footed wide early in the second half just moments after the ball refused to sit for Leah Williamson at the other end.

Just as in the first half, a set-piece proved England’s undoing and they were punished for failing to clear their lines, as forward Katoto atoned for her earlier miss, firing home a shot on the turn via the far post.

England looked to salvage a point late on but despite some lively moments from substitute Chloe Kelly, France held on for victory in Sarina Wiegman’s 50th game in charge.

England: 1 Mary Earps (Manchester United), 2 Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), 3 Jess Carter (Chelsea), 4 Keira Walsh (Barcelona), 5 Millie Bright (Chelsea), 6 Leah Williamson (Arsenal) (c), 7 Beth Mead (Arsenal), 8 Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), 9 Alessia Russo (Arsenal), 10 Ella Toone (Manchester United), 11 Lauren Hemp (Manchester City)

Substitutes: 13 Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) for Earps 8’, 14 Fran Kirby (Chelsea) for Stanway 79, 16 Chloe Kelly (Manchester City) for Mead 79

Substitutes not used: 12 Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), 15 Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), 17 Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), 18 Grace Clinton (Manchester United), 19 Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), 20 Jess Park (Manchester City), 21 Khiara Keating (Manchester City), 22 Esme Morgan (Manchester City), 23 Millie Turner (Manchester United)

Goals: Mead 30

Bookings: Carter 45+1

France: 16 Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, 5 Elisa De Almeida, 2 Maelle Lakrar, 3 Wendie Renard, Selma 13 Bacha, 14 Sandie Toletti, 7 Sakina Karchaoui, 15 Kenza Dali, 11 Kadidiatou Diani, 9 Marie-Antoinette Katoto, 20 Delphine Cascarino

Substitutes: 6 Amandine Henry for Cascarino 69, 22 Eve Perisset for De Almeida 86, 12 Louna Ribadeira for Katoto 90+1, 10 Lea Le Garrec for Dali 90+1

Substitutes not used: 1 Solene Durand, 21 Constance Picaud, 4 Estelle Cascarino, 19 Thiniba Samoura, 8 Grace Geyoro, 17 Sandy Baltimore, 23 Ines Benyahia, 18 Julie Dufour

Goals: De Almeida 41, Katoto 68

Bookings: Lakrar 70