Euro 2025 live: England build up to opening game against France and Lauren James update | OneFootball

The two sides of Sarina Wiegman’s approach driving the ‘noise’ around England

England are preparing for their opening game of Euro 2025 against France as the Lionesses kick off their title defence in Zurich.

The holders have been battling the heat this week but temperatures are likely to cool ahead of their Group D clash against Les Bleues on Saturday evening. The big selection decision is likely to be around Lauren James and Sarina Wiegman has suggested James could start England’s opening match of Euro 2025 against France, or could at least play a significant role in the game, after the forward recovered from a hamstring injury to be fit for the tournament.

Elsewhere at the Euros, the action continues with Group C as Germany take on tournament debutants Poland and Sweden and Denmark clash. Last night, world champions Spain opened their Euros bid with a 5-0 win over Portugal, who were mourning the death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in an emotional evening in Bern.

Why blockbuster Euro 2025 opener is a huge moment for a ‘new England’

England may be the defending European champions, but this very much isn’t a squad hoping that old approaches - or that reputation - carry them through. Sarina Wiegman was unequivocal on the eve of her team’s Euro 2025 opener against a dangerous France team.

“We call it a new England,” the manager said.

This intent obviously explains a lot of the ructions in the build-up to this tournament, since transition rarely comes without friction. It’s also just as well, as England do actually need something new.

They need to immediately find their feet, and actually start a tournament well.

Why blockbuster Euro 2025 opener is a huge moment for a ‘new England’

Sarina Wiegman’s defending champions step into the unknown at Euro 2025 with a crunch opening match against France

Miguel Delaney4 July 2025 18:28

How England’s new game-changers can ‘surprise’ the group of death at Euro 2025

Spain may be world champions but England are still to beat at Euro 2025. For the past three years, the Lionesses have had a target on their backs as European champions, though it has not always been easy to wear. So, at the start of the year, when Sarina Wiegman gathered her players for the start of their title defence, she began by telling them that there was nothing to defend. “It's a new challenge,” Wiegman said. “We call it the ‘new’ England.”

But talk of the ‘new England’ may be more of a motivation tactic than a reality.

How England’s new game-changers can ‘surprise’ the group of death at Euro 2025

There may be few signs of the ‘new England’ in their starting line-up against France but Sarina Wiegman once again has the options to change the Lionesses from the bench

Jamie Braidwood4 July 2025 18:01

France coach quoted Einstein before dropping captain Wendie Renard from Euro 2025 squad

France’s captain Wendie Renard and all-time leading goalscorer Eugenie Le Sommer were dropped by head coach Laurent Bonadei before Euro 2025, leaving Les Bleues without their two most experienced players as they play England, Wales and Netherlands in Group D.

Renard and Le Sommer were left out by Bonadei for France’s Nations League games against Switzerland and Iceland before the Euros and did not return to make his 23-player squad.

Centre-back Renard, 34, has played 168 times for France and captained her country at last summer’s home Olympic Games in France, while Le Sommer has scored a record 94 goals in 200 appearances.

France have never won a major international tournament and Bonadei, who was assistant to Herve Renard at the 2023 World Cup and Olympics before taking the reins, defended his decision by saying it had been planned for some time.

France coach quoted Einstein before dropping captain from Euro 2025 squad

Renard and all-time leading goalscorer Eugenie Le Sommer were left out of France’s 23-player squad

Jamie Braidwood4 July 2025 17:45

Sarina Wiegman: 'It's a new challenge, we're the new England'

Sarina Wiegman has told her players to not focus on defending their European title, but to instead challenge themselves to go out and win another major trophy at Euro 2025.

There are seven England players who will be making their first appearance at a major tournament and Wiegman, who has won the last two Euros with the Netherlands and the Lionesses, has looked to motivate her squad by drawing a line under their past achievements.

“We absolutely cherish what we have done before,” Wiegman said. “We’ll never forget it and it was the experience of a lifetime for us and for our families and also for the fans, but you have to move on and you have to be on top of it.

“Things are changing very quickly, things are developing very quickly, so we have to do too. And we came together, it was actually in February and then we came to, to this day we said, yeah, it's a new challenge The approach was there anyway, but we call it the ‘new’ England.”

(PA Wire)

Jamie Braidwood4 July 2025 16:58

Leah Williamson reveals injury ‘anxiety’ ahead of leading England’s Euros defence

England captain Leah Williamson has revealed she held some “anxiety” ahead of leading England’s Euro 2025 campaign in Switzerland after being ruled out of the last World Cup with a serious knee injury.

Williamson captained the Lionesses to their historic victory at Euro 2022 three years ago but played no part in their run to the World Cup final in 2023 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury just weeks before the tournament.

On the eve of England’s opening game against France in Zurich, Williamson said she was “excited” and “intrigued” to experience another Euros but admitted the pain of missing the World Cup had weighed on her mind before the tournament.

Leah Williamson reveals injury ‘anxiety’ ahead of leading England’s Euros defence

The Lionesses captain was ruled out of the 2023 World Cup but is back lead a ‘new challenge’ in Switzerland

Jamie Braidwood4 July 2025 16:56

England handed Lauren James boost ahead of crunch Euro 2025 opener against France

Sarina Wiegman has suggested Lauren James could start England’s opening match of Euro 2025 against France, or could at least play a significant role in the game, after the forward recovered from a hamstring injury to be fit for the tournament.

James played the final 30 minutes of England’s 7-0 send-off win against Jamaica on Sunday, in what was the Chelsea forward’s first appearance in three months, and Wiegman said the 23-year-old “can play more than that” in Zurich against France on Saturday night.

“She’s in a good place,” Wiegman said. “She came on the pitch in against Jamaica last week and she's ready to get more minutes tomorrow.”

When asked if James could start, Wiegman was tight-lipped but replied: “I'm not going to give you the line-up, but she played 30 minutes last week, so she can play more than that, so I think that will say enough.”

(The FA via Getty Images)

Jamie Braidwood4 July 2025 16:55

The two sides of Sarina Wiegman’s approach driving the ‘noise’ around England

For the seven England players enjoying their first ever tournament call-up, there is a new sense of wonder at being part of a team that is a genuine cultural force. A giddy excitement could be sensed around some of the Euro 2025 advertising campaigns, which you can now see all over England.

“Admire England,” one starts, but “Fear the Lionesses.” The campaign goes on to say, “Chloe’s calm, Kelly’s chaos”, “Leah charms, Williamson commands”.

It might be an apt theme on a few levels, some unintended. Because, when you speak to people around Sarina Wiegman’s camp, there are almost two sides to most discussions around the team.

The two sides of Sarina Wiegman’s approach driving the ‘noise’ around England

While many England players are still in awe of the two-time Euros-winning coach, an unusually tumultuous build-up to Euro 2025 has led others wondering if Wiegman’s abrupt style is having the same effect, writes Miguel Delaney

Miguel Delaney4 July 2025 15:35

England’s Euro 2025 squad: Guide to every Lionesses player

A “new” England heads to Switzerland for Euro 2025 look to defend the title they won on home soil three years ago.

There have been plenty of changes and seven players, from 19-year-old striker Michelle Agyemeng to the uncapped 30-year-old goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, will be taking part in their first major international tournament.

But several winners from Euro 2022 will be back again under Sarina Wiegman, with captain Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze and Beth Mead bringing the experience and setting the standards as England look to retain their crown.

“I think we’ve got a good blend and everyone has earned the right to be here,” Mead said when assessing the 23-player group. “They all bring something different.

“I think you can see the energy some of the young girls have going into a tournament for the first time and also the girls who have a bit more experience who can help them on that journey as well.”

England’s Euro 2025 squad: Guide to every Lionesses player

Seven England players will be heading to their first major tournament as the Lionesses look to win Euro 2025 in Switzerland

Jamie Braidwood4 July 2025 15:05

How England are battling the heat at Euro 2025

England players are wearing cooling vests during training sessions, filling their drinks with crushed ice, and using cryotherapy chambers for recovery to combat the scorching temperatures in Switzerland ahead of their opening game of Euro 2025 on Saturday.

The Lionesses kick off their title defence against France in Zurich, when temperatures across the country are likely to have cooled slightly, but their preparations for their opening game have come amid extreme heat warnings as the tournament begins.

How England are battling the heat at Euro 2025

Sarina Wiegman is not concerned by the heat in Switzerland ahead of England’s opening match against France on Saturday

Jamie Braidwood4 July 2025 14:35

'We're still building her': What Wiegman said about James fitness

“We’re still building her. She’s worked so hard to be here where she is now. At Chelsea first, but then the last two weeks in training camps, she could do every single training session and did really well.

“Now this is the first time she could get minutes and we hope next week we can keep building her going into France.

“Also there is a lot of competition going on upfront and in midfield so we’ve figured out over the last couple days how we will start.”

Jamie Braidwood4 July 2025 14:05