LES BLEUES GET PARIS GAMES BOOST

They prepare for gold bid with England win; holders’ Euro qualification hopes in danger

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LONDON France coach Herve Renard believes his team's performance on May 31 has given an "important signal" to their rivals, as they came from behind to beat England 2-1 in Newcastle in a pivotal Women's Euro 2025 qualifier.

Reigning European champions England had gone ahead on the half-hour mark at St James' Park when Arsenal's Beth Mead fired home after the ball broke to her in the box.

But Les Bleues equalised before the break as Elisa de Almeida hooked in a volley from a corner, and they stunned the home crowd by going in front midway through the second half thanks to a fine finish from Marie-Antoinette Katoto.

France then held on to make it three wins out of three as they sit top of Group 3 in League A, from which the top two will progress directly to the European Championship in Switzerland.

The result potentially complicates the holders' chances of making the Finals, with England now level on four points with Sweden, who won 3-0 away to Ireland in Dublin.