OUI WERE TOO WIEK

Holders England fall to France in painful opener

- BY TOM VICTOR

ENGLAND were left licking their wounds after France left the Euros holders on the ropes with a one-two punch in Zurich.

Sarina Wiegman's team thought they had the lead midway through the first half, only for VAR to intervene and chalk out Alessia Russo's strike.

France took full advantage after the let-off, scoring two quickfire goals through Marie Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore to go in 2-0 up at the break.

There were bright sparks from an England perspective, not least in the performance of Lauren James, but they weren't able to get on the scoresheet until the 87th minute and Keira Walsh's effort into the top corner came too late to spark an unlikely comeback.

The Lionesses will need to pick themselves up quickly, with Wednesday's game against the Netherlands now looking like a must-win fixture.