Sarina Wiegman has big decisions to make as the European champions' title defence begins in Zurich on Saturday
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The 2025 European Championship is well under way, and the reigning champions will kick-off their campaign on Saturday, as 2022 winners England face a France team that has regularly reached the latter stages of major tournaments, albeit without ever having won one. Les Bleues look good coming into this summer, though, with them winning every single game so far in 2025 to mark themselves out as a real contender for the trophy in Switzerland.
It's not long since these two last met, as they were in the same qualifying group for this very tournament last summer. In that, they traded blows, with France winning 2-1 in Newcastle before England were victorious by the same scoreline in Saint-Etienne just four days later. Those recent meetings only emphasise the widespread belief that this instalment will be another extremely tight and competitive affair.
There is little room for margin for either team, too, as the Netherlands – as well as Wales – are also in this group. It means at least one genuine challenger for this Euros title is going to go out in the first round, making a good start in Saturday's game all the more important for the Lionesses. So, who will head coach Sarina Wiegman put her faith in from the start as England's title defence begins? GOAL takes a look at how the European champions line up in Zurich…
Getty Images SportGK: Hannah Hampton
There are a lot of places in this England team that are just not up for debate, and it starts in goal, where Hannah Hampton will make her major tournament debut on Saturday. After being in a fierce competition with Mary Earps for the No.1 shirt for the last year or so, Wiegman reportedly decided that she had won that race before Euro 2025 began – and it was her place as second-choice that prompted Earps to retire from international duty so suddenly.
It's vital that Hampton plays well and is consistently available through this tournament, too, as neither Anna Moorhouse nor Khiara Keating – England's other two goalkeepers in the squad – have even got a senior cap to their name.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportRB: Lucy Bronze
Another position that is seemingly nailed on for the entire tournament is right-back, where Lucy Bronze will be integral for the Lionesses for a sixth time at a major tournament. No one has more caps and, with them, experience in this squad than the Chelsea defender, who heads to Switzerland in some quite impressive attacking form, actually, after returning two goals and an assist in her last three England outings.
There will be particular emphasis on her defensive work in this fixture though, with France boasting an electric left-side which features Sandy Baltimore, her Chelsea team-mate, and Selma Bacha, the attack-minded left-back.
GettyCB: Leah Williamson
After having to miss the 2023 Women's World Cup due to a devastating ACL injury suffered only three months before it began, Leah Williamson will be relishing the honour of leading her country out at a major tournament once again this summer.
The Arsenal icon was a star of England's Euro 2022 triumph and she will hope to showcase similar form this time around, something she will surely be confident of doing after ending her 2024-25 season in such wonderful fashion by helping the Gunners win the Champions League.
Getty ImagesCB: Alex Greenwood
Williamson will have a different centre-back partner at Euro 2025 when compared to 2022, as it is likely to be Alex Greenwood alongside her this time around. That comes off the back of Millie Bright's decision to withdraw from selection this summer, but it is also a well-deserved berth, given the Manchester City star has been one of the best players in her position in England and, really, the world over the last few years.
Greenwood was excellent as the Lionesses reached the Women's World Cup final in 2023 and she'll be keen to prove her worth again on a big stage. It starts with quite a challenge, too, with her likely to be lining up against Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Paris Saint-Germain's all-time top goal-scorer.
