France have by no means gained a significant trophy however they’ve a formidable group-stage document, progressing in every of their previous eight main event appearances.
And Laurent Bonadei’s group have type on their aspect. They’re on an eight-game successful run and have solely conceded two targets since February whereas they final tasted defeat in December – to world champions Spain.
England full-back Lucy Bronze says Saturday’s opening match between the edges is to not be missed.
“Each groups are filled with thrilling attacking expertise and I believe it is the sport everybody goes to be watching as a result of it is certainly essentially the most thrilling group sport coming right into a Euros,” right-back Bronze mentioned.
Les Bleues left-back Selma Bacha additionally mentioned she is “very blissful” to play England first, including: “That is going to place us straight into the thick of issues for the Euros.”
Nonetheless, this would be the first time since 2005 that France have been at a Euros or World Cup with out each Wendie Renard and all-time main scorer Eugenie le Sommer, who had been controversially unnoticed of Bonadei’s aspect.
“The expertise and the quantity of caps that Renard and Le Sommer have is totally big,” mentioned former England ahead Ellen White.
“To have that fully wiped out of your squad is a very fascinating dynamic to enter this event.”
Former Scotland defender Jen Beattie mentioned: “They’ve clearly seen one thing and made a giant resolution, they usually had been additionally quoted saying ‘madness is doing the identical factor over and over and anticipating totally different outcomes’.”
