Player ratingsEnglandAlessia RussoJessica CarterEuropean ChampionshipWomen’s footballFEATURES
Goals from Georgia Stanway and Alessia Russo saw England stun France on Tuesday night as the Lionesses enjoyed a first win away at Les Bleues since 1973, beating them 2-1 in Saint-Etienne. After losing the reverse fixture in Newcastle on Friday night, Sarina Wiegman’s side looked much sharper and more threatening on the attack in this game, punishing France’s sloppiness to reassert themselves in their Euro 2025 qualifying group.
Russo, Ella Toone and Beth Mead all had decent opportunities for England before Stanway broke the deadlock midway through the first half when she connected sweetly with Lauren Hemp’s cutback and struck it beautifully beyond Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. Soon enough, after seeing the France goalkeeper deny her moments before, Russo made it two with a clever header, giving Hemp another deserved assist after a brilliant cross.
The hosts had some moments, Kadidiatou Diani firing just wide when the game was goalless before Marie-Antoinette Katoto uncharacteristically missed from close range just before the break, and they got back into the contest when Diani converted a penalty that came from some sloppy England play. From there, momentum switched completely as Les Bleues pushed hard for an equaliser, but a heroic save from Hannah Hampton at the death ensured a well-needed victory for the Lionesses.
GOAL rates England’s players from Stade Geoffroy-Guichard…
Goalkeeper & Defence
Hannah Hampton (8/10):
Didn’t have a save to make until the final moments when she came to the rescue with a huge stop. Distribution got England on the front foot often.
Lucy Bronze (7/10):
A real asset for her team in the final third as they constantly got down France’s left.
Millie Bright (6/10):
Leah Williamson (6/10):
Played some great passes to feed the attack. Gave away the penalty after finding her out of position following a poor loss of possession by England in midfield.
Jess Carter (8/10):
Reliable as ever on both sides of the ball.
Midfield
Keira Walsh (6/10):
Looked in danger of being marked out of the game early on but grew into it without standing out.
Georgia Stanway (7/10):
Ella Toone (5/10):
Deep runs from midfield were great and caused problems. Gave the ball away cheaply in the phase that led to France’s penalty, though, and made some poor decisions in the final third.
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Attack
Beth Mead (5/10):
Some nice moments on the attack but was also let down on a couple of occasions by a poor touch or wrong decision.
Alessia Russo (7/10):
Strong in her hold-up play, clever in her movement and produced an excellent finish for her goal, though she could’ve had a couple more.
Lauren Hemp (8/10):
Two great assists in different ways. Lively throughout.
Subs & Manager
Chloe Kelly (N/A):
Replaced Mead with 15 minutes to play and did her bit to see the game out.
Fran Kirby (N/A):
On in stoppage time.
Sarina Wiegman (6/10):
Decision not to make changes from Friday, other than the enforced switch in goal, was a surprise given how poor the Lionesses were in Newcastle but she trusted her players to deliver an improved display and they did that in the first half. Needs to address the all-too-common drop in level that came in the second period.
