Sarina Wiegman’s defending champions step into the unknown at Euro 2025 with a crunch opening match against France

Lauren James, who was a major doubt ahead of Sarina Wiegman’s squad selection, played her first match since April when she came on as a 63rd minute substitute in Sunday’s pre-tournament friendly — a 7-0 thrashing of Jamaica. And Wiegman said James could even start when the Lionesses kick off their title defense against France on Saturday in Zurich.

England head into this summer's tournament in Switzerland as reigning champions after their victory on home soil at Euro 2022.

World champions Spain make an impressive start to their Euro 2025 campaign with an emphatic victory over Portugal in Bern.

Portugal and Spain players observed a period of silence before their game on Thursday in memory of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.

Spain showed why they are favourites to win Women's Euro 2025 by hammering Portugal 5-0 in their Group B opener on Thursday as both teams paid tribute to Portuguese men's international Diogo Jota who was killed in a car crash.