Luck was not on the side of the French women's team on Monday in the draw for Euro 2025.
Laurent Bonadei's team opens that tournament against defending champion England on July 5 in Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland. Les Bleues follow that up by facing Wales four days later before wrapping up the group stage against 2017 European champions Netherlands on July 13.
The latest FIFA rankings have the Lionesses in fourth place, with the Netherlands at #10, one place above France. Only the top two teams progress beyond the group stages, with the French women claiming a bronze medal at this event in England three years ago, their best ever finish at the European Championships. The previous four additions to that tournament saw them progress past the group stages and finish top of their group above Belgium, Iceland and Italy in 2022.
As well as being the two previous women's teams to win the European Championship, England and the Netherlands have also finished second in each of the last two Women's World Cups, with the Lionesses reaching the final a year ago and the Netherlands reaching the final. that phase that France hosted in 2019.
France lost the final of the UEFA Women's Nations League to reigning world champion Spain (2-0) at the end of February. The new season of that tournament starts on February 21, when Les Bleues host Norway at the Stadium de Toulouse.
The French women are on a 10-match unbeaten run in European Championship group play, with their last defeat at that stage coming in 2009 against Germany (5-1).
GFFN | Joel Lefèvre
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