🔎🇫🇷 France at EURO 2025: Time to end big stage underperformance? | OneFootball

With so much talent and so much promise, could this be the summer France finally reach a final?

📚 What's the story?

📸 SEBASTIEN BOZON - AFP or licensors

France are entering a new era, with legendary names no longer a part of the side: Wendie Renard, Eugénie Le Sommer and Kenza Dali — with 444 international caps between them — have suddenly been omitted, with manager Laurent Bonadei (formerly assistant to ex-boss Herve Renard) looking to inject some fresh impetus.

Those were shock decisions but they haven't been wholly controversial and France arrive in Switzerland in good form, having won all nine of their games (with seven clean sheets) in 2025 so far.

France are flexible in terms of formation and play with the intention to dominate the game. For years now it's felt like they could be on the brink of finally winning something on the international stage but since 2012 they have just one semi-final appearance to their name, in the last EURO, across this competition, the World Cup and the Olympics.

⭐️ Star player

📸 Catherine Steenkeste - 2025 Getty Images

It's hard to overlook Grace Geyoro, but France are strong enough in midfield that the key is likely to be how clinical they are further forward. It's time for Marie-Antoinette Katoto to finally have a summer to shout about.

The striker wasn't picked for the 2019 World Cup despite being the top scorer in France that season, then played just twice at EURO 2022 before rupturing her ACL and that injury kept her out of the 2023 World Cup.

The 26-year-old has everything to be a superstar but timing and luck have not been on her side at international level. She did score five goals in four games at last summer's Paris Olympics and a repeat of that sort of form would be no surprise at all.

Katoto is a threat in behind and in the air, can pull off all types of finishes and is always alert and ready to react sharply in the box. Defenders will have their hands full containing her.

👀 One to watch

📸 ANNIKA BYRDE

Before 2024, Clara Mateo had four goals in 29 appearances for France. Since the start of 2024, she has three in eight.

The 27-year-old has been a solid performer for Paris FC at club level for years but has gone to a new level in 2024/25, scoring 18 goals in 19 league appearances, a total she added seven assists to as well.

Likely to compete with Katoto for a place up front, she could emerge as one of the stars of the tournament.

Likely 1️⃣1️⃣

(4-2-3-1): Peyraud-Magnin; De Almeida, Mbock Bathy, Lakrar, Bacha; Geyoro, Toletti, Karchaoui; Diani, Katoto, Baltimore

Can they win it? 🏆

France are in a tough group but they will still be expected to qualify for the knockout rounds. If they do navigate the group stage safely, it should give them the confidence to take on whoever comes next. If England and Spain are the standout favourites, France are likely the next in line.

📸 SEBASTIEN BOZON - AFP or licensors