England through to Euro 2025 quarter-finals in spite of disaster start – was loss to France actually a good thing? | Football News

The Euros campaign in England has started painfully against France. At the time of this defeat in punishment a little over a week ago, there were very few positive points to glean and the atmosphere was dark.

Sarina Wiegman has been criticized, by myself and many others, for an unbalanced selection and the players exploded for erroneous performance. France published ordinary England, stripping them of the status they won as champions in 2022.

A prolonged title defense seemed improbable – no, impossible.

How, then, have we reached a point nine days later when the lionesses are in the most advantageous position that we could have hoped for?

Fortune and fate seem to have conspired to help the cause of England. Although this loss against France was a humiliating experience, its by-products have been extremely positive, as if it were always to happen in this way.

As Wiegman pulled the strings throughout.

There was a brief period during the categorical victory of England on the Wales country where they led group D. Wiegman, and she is right, that to go out at the top of tournament football, you must beat the best at a given time, but there is no dispute of the road from England to the final became easier by finishing second.

Instead of meeting Germany in the quarterfinals and almost certainly in Spain in the semi -finals – third and second in the world ranking of FIFA respectively – they play Sweden and then (potentially) the winner of Norway VS Italy. No guarantee will be granted to England and the dangers of Sweden, which have won their three games in group C, are clear, but recent history is favorable.

“If you want to succeed in the tournament, you should be able to win each match. So that’s how we are approaching,” said Wiegman as possible on Sunday. “So you will play who is in front of you and that’s what it is.”

Those who remember in 2022 with tenderness will have particularly lively memories of victory in the semi-final 4-0 against the Swedes on the way to the champion crown-the choice of strikes being this remarkable heel of Alessia Russo. The simple mention evokes goosebumps.

It is an opposition for which England carries a factor of fear, although it was held in a draw both at home and outside during the qualifications for this tournament. Confidence crosses the camp, better summarized by the declaration of Ella Toone: “Sweden should be frightened.”

England was embarked by the involvement of an early outing. Clarity has replaced confusion. And suddenly, a consecutive European silverware race seems reasonable.

It’s funny how simple football can be, isn’t it? Talk to Sky Sports In the mixed area after defeating Wales, Toone described defeat against France as “a rocket”. His inclusion in the departure XI, having been left out on the opening evening, is undoubtedly the best thing to get out of this unworthiness.

Toone should have always started. I have joined many writers’ colleagues to hit the pre-turnroi Toone Drum. His performances against the Netherlands and Wales have actually made a little mockery of the selection chosen to face France, or rather the layout of this line.

“We have shown in these last two games in what we are, we are really entering our flow,” she commented, who carefully directed the conversation on her personal contribution. “It is good for me per minute. I worked hard to be able to give the best of this tournament and the awards are bearing fruit.”

The midfielder of the UTD man lit a spark for England, marking twice and recording four assists on 120 minutes of football. She has been the only player since the record starts in 2013 to score, help and complete 100% of the passes (21/21) in a match in the final in euros. Wiegman describes it well as “the connector”.

“She worked hard on so many things after such a difficult year,” Russo radiated. “It’s really nice to see her flourish on the big stage.” There is no doubt that a player equipped to define moments.

The shuffle to welcome Toone also had a deep effect on Lauren James’ ability to have an impact on the game, pushed to the right wing, where it prospered in a more free role. It is now like a team that is satisfied with their duties, playing with each other and for each other.

Toone could have been disappointed to be replaced at halftime against Wales, but his work was done. It was time for Beth Mead to take advantage of his opportunity, marking 27 minutes after being presented despite the loss of his place as a starter. England now resembles the sentence that Wiegman used to describe France on the first day: “an appropriate team”.

Of the eight contenders always to this tournament, four have already raised the Euros trophy. The chances of the holders to reach the final increased to 43.46%, according to OPTA, considerably increased by the prediction before the tournament which offered England 28% of them to arrive at the Master game in Basel on July 27.

England itself will expect to be there. Standards require it. History requires it.

Let the knockouts start.