All week Sarina Wiegman has insisted her team are more than ready to defend their title.
Switzerland is a springboard into a new frontier, the chance to win a major tournament on foreign soil, the Dutch coach and her deputy Leah Williamson confidently exclaimed.
And yet, when the full-time whistle blew here, hands went on hips and stayed there.
Wiegman’s perfect record at the Euros – six wins in charge of the Netherlands, six wins at England’s – had finally come to an end. France found a chink in the armour and twisted the knife.
This result does not necessarily mean it is the end of England’s title hopes but given the way that the Netherlands inflicted a heavy blow on Wales earlier in the night, it is not going to be easy.
And it will be impossible if they continue to play like this. All game the Lionesses looked overwhelmed by the occasion. Alessia Russo was the bright spark in a largely abject in attack and Lucy Bronze was numerously outpaced by her Chelsea teammate Sandy Baltimore on England’s right wing.
It wasn’t until after the 80th minute that they came to life, and by then, it was too late. Keira Walsh managed to pull one back to spark a late surge but ultimately England had been outplayed and outmuscled.
The journey to get to this point has been one of the most tumultuous in the Wiegman era.
Three high-profile withdrawals – Millie Bright, Mary Earps, and Fran Kirby – stripped the squad of key experience. Coupled with inconsistent form and a string of injuries, England’s build-up to the tournament has been anything but smooth.
Chief among the concerns has been managing the fitness of James. The 23-year-old winger, who emerged as a vital attacking force during the 2023 World Cup, had played just over 40 minutes of football since suffering a hamstring injury in April – returning in the friendly against Jamaica last weekend.
James was named by Wiegman in the starting line-up in a huge statement of intent from the England manager.
Their opponents have strong European pedigree, having won their previous ten group-stage matches in this competition, yet their path to the Euros has, in many ways, mirrored England’s in terms of upheaval.
Head coach Laurent Bonadei made headlines with his controversial decision to omit three senior players from the squad: captain Wendie Renard, vice-captain and all-time appearance leader Eugénie Le Sommer, and seasoned midfielder Kenza Dali. ‘I want different results for this team,’ he said. ‘So, I’ve gone with a different selection.’
Two tournament heavyweights facing off in a ‘group of death’ – by the time the ball was finally kicked, the sense of anticipation was palpable.
Even with a 9pm kick-off local time, the sold-out stadium in Zurich simmered in the lingering grip of a continent-wide heatwave, turning the pitch into a sweltering furnace.
Thomas Tuchel was watching on from the stands as Wiegman’s side came out hard. James was presented with an early opportunity, the goal opening up for her on the edge of the six-yard box, but she lacked her usual composure and sent it flying over the cross bar.
Moments later James was involved again, sending a ball into the penalty area but it was too high for Alessia Russo to reach.
The Lionesses thought they had found an opener when Lauren Hemp’s shot was saved – only for Alessia Russo to make a wonderful reflex follow-up shot.
The England fans erupted but a lengthy VAR check showed Beth Mead was inches offside in the build-up, and the goal was struck off.
After this early spell, the game grew cagey, and England struggled to keep a hold of possession.
The nerves seeping through the England midfield, Georgia Stanway gave the ball away and France capitalised. Delphine Cascarino charged down the right flank and Lauren Hemp was caught out of position, sending in a low-driven ball for lethal striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto to tap in.
Moments later, France doubled their lead. Sandy Baltimore managed to outmuscle her Chelsea teammate Lucy Bronze, and fire past Hannah Hampton. VAR checked for a foul on Russo in the build-up, but the referee gods were not looking down on England, and the goal stood.
England were stunned and their play suffered. Balls were being sent wayward and the fluidity that Wiegman had been praising all week was virtually non-existent.
The second half picked up where the first had been left off and a loose ball from Beth Mead back to Keira Walsh almost cost the Lionesses a third after the resumption.
Hampton, who has had such a storied introduction into her first major tournament to start between the sticks following the departure of Earps, got down low and saved the tame shot.
Sixty minutes were yet to pass before Wiegman decided she had seen enough, and Ella Toone, Chloe Kelly and Niamh Charles were sent in.
With three minutes left to go of normal time England won a free-kick and Keira Walsh sent the goal bulging. For the first time, they had rattled France.
Michelle Agyemang, the 19-year-old wildcard who had been sent on late in the day, wreaked havoc to their defence, and Clinton also came close, but to no avail.
