Lionesses Must Shape Up Quickly to Avoid Early Exit

England's loss against France has put their progress in peril but Sarina Wiegman's team have a habit of bouncing back

- Tom Garry

The England fans in Zurich have a new favourite song, replacing the word "Tequila!" with "Sarina!" It is a fun twist on a 1950s number from the Champs, written by the American saxophonist Chuck Rio. If the band's name is fitting, for a few more days at least, for England's status as defending champions, by full time at the Stadion Letzigrund against France the artist's name was more in keeping with the mood among supporters, because Sarina Wiegman's side are in genuine danger of being chucked out of Euro 2025.

England will point to Alessia Russo's goal at 0-0 being ruled out for an offside that did not seem conclusive even from zoomed-in video assistant referee images, yet the simple truth is this: if England do not improve markedly when they face the Netherlands on Wednesday, they will probably be out before they face Wales in their final group match. Defeat would spell the end unless France lose to Wales later in the day.