France Women are leading the way in Group A3 of qualifying for next year’s European Championships after two rounds of matches but England Women could leapfrog Les Bleues with a win at St James’ Park on Friday.
However, the Lionesses have lost two of their three meetings with the French and a tricky tussle looks likely on Tyneside. Goals have been a feature of recent England outings, though, and that may be the best route to a winning bet in the fixture.
Team news
Niamh Charles has had to return to Chelsea with a calf injury, so Maya Le Tissier has been brought in from the standby list as her replacement.
Birmingham goalkeeper Lucy Thomas has also joined the squad on standby to replaces the injured Kayla Rendell, who is recuperating from an ankle injury.
Both Charles and Rendell will continue to be assessed prior to the July international window.
Lotte Wubben-Moy, as previously announced, will undertake a period of recuperation during this international window because of a foot injury.
Herve Renard reported no injury concerns when naming a 24-woman French squad for this trip to Newcastle
The stats
France Women have won two of their three meetings with England Women
Five of France Women’s last six matches have seen one team fail to score.
England’s last five competitive matches averaged four goals per game, while there were 15 goals scored in two friendlies in February.
France have kept clean sheets in both of their qualifying matches so far
Prediction
France have taken early control of their Euro 2025 qualifying group but reigning European champions England will be keen to leapfrog Les Bleues with a victory on Friday.
There has been a degree of control about recent French performances but the goals are fancied to flow on Tyneside, as is often the case in England matches.
The last five of the Lionesses’ competitive outings have seen 20 goals scored with 14 of those coming for England, who have found clean sheets hard to come by.
Sarina’s Wiegman’s side have shut out just three of their last 13 opponents, including friendlies, and that spells trouble against a French side who have scored in eight of their last 10 matches.
And France have enjoyed past success against the Lionesses, winning two of their three previous meetings, but England edged home 1-0 the last time these two locked horns in 2017.
Clean sheets have been commonplace in recent French fixtures but this could be one occasion when goals could flow.
An exhausting domestic campaign is likely to have taken plenty out of the legs in both camps, while England’s determination to secure a vital victory could see them leave openings at the back for Les Bleues to exploit!
