When France and England meet in women’s football, expectations are high. These are two of Europe’s strongest programmes, often overlapping in tournaments, producing tight, entertaining, and sometimes dramatic matches. With EURO 2025 underway, their rivalry is again commanding attention.
Historical Head-to-Head
A look at the statistics reveals a rivalry that is competitive, though somewhat tilted toward France overall:
Metric Stats / Notes
Total Matches Roughly 28 matches have been played between the two in all competitions.
Wins for France ~ 14 wins (about 50%) across these meetings.
Wins for England ~ 5 wins (≈ 18%)
Draws Roughly 9 of those matches ended in draws.
UEFA Women’s EURO tournaments They’ve met in EURO finals/knock-out or group stages more than once. France has won more in that context.
So while England have had success — particularly in recent years — they are behind in the overall head-to-head record.
Key Moments & Recent Matches
Some of the more decisive / memorable fixtures in recent years:
EURO 2025 Group Stage (5 July 2025): France beat England 2-1 in their opener (goals from Katoto and Baltimore for France; a late goal by Keira Walsh for England) in Zurich.
EURO 2025 Qualifiers (June 2024): The two teams traded home wins — England won 2-1 away in Saint-Étienne; France had earlier beaten England 2-1 in Newcastle.
EURO tournaments history:
• In 2013, France won 3-0 in the group stage.
• In 2017, England won their quarter-final meeting 1-0 (Jodie Taylor scored).
World Cup meetings: They have also met in FIFA Women’s World Cups (e.g. 2011 quarter-final, which ended in penalties after a 1-1 draw) and group stages (e.g. 2015).
Trends & Dynamics
From these matchups and recent form, several patterns emerge:
1. France has the edge historically,
especially in earlier eras. They tend to win more often over longer stretches, especially when matches are away or neutral.
2. England are catching up.
Especially in recent qualifying and tournament matches, England have become more competitive, snatching wins and pressing France to their limits.
3. Small margins, big stakes.
Many of their meetings are close — 1-2 goal margins, sometimes needing extra time or penalties. In tournaments, the psychological factor, momentum, and set-piece moments tend to matter a lot.
4. Home / away influence.
France have often benefited from home advantage, but England has shown they can win away to Les Bleues (e.g. in June 2024).
EURO 2025 & What It Means
With EURO 2025, several things are at play in this fixture:
England are defending champions (they won EURO 2022) and thus come into the tournament with momentum and expectations.
France remain one of the few strong European nations yet to win a major international women's tournament, which adds extra hunger.
The opener match between these two was important, as it sets tone, group dynamics, confidence. France’s win in the opener gives them a boost.
Looking Ahead: What to Watch
In upcoming encounters (or later stages of EURO 2025), here are key factors that could decide who comes out on top:
Defensive solidity: England will need to tighten up at the back, especially against France’s pace and ability to exploit wide areas.
Midfield control: Possession and transition play, especially controlled by players like Keira Walsh (Eng) or France’s midfielders, will be pivotal.
Clinical finishing: Given how tight many matches have been, converting chances is decisive.
Set pieces and strategy: Corners, free kicks, and tactical substitutions can shift momentum.
Mental strength: Managing pressure in tournament settings, coping with setbacks, exploiting any slide in confidence.
Conclusion
The France vs England women’s fixture is a classic European rivalry — built on history, competitiveness, and rising stakes. While France have the upper hand across the long span, England are narrowing the gap, with recent results showing their capacity to win in tough situations. EURO 2025 will likely add another memorable chapter.
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