France defeat England to take control of Ireland's group

France took control of the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2025 qualifier group, with Marie-Antoinette Katoto claiming the winner against defending champions England at St James' Park.

Beth Mead had given the Lionesses a 30th-minute lead in head coach Sarina Wiegman's 50th game at the helm, but Elisa De Almeida levelled before the break to set the stage for Paris St Germain striker Katoto to secure a 2-1 win in front of a crowd of 42,561.

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The defeat leaves England in third place in Group A3 behind the French and Sweden, who beat the Republic of Ireland 3-0 in Dublin, and knowing that anything less that a win in the reverse fixture in St-Etienne on Tuesday night could scupper any lingering hopes of finishing top.

A battle between the sides ranked second and third in the world by FIFA was always likely to be tight, but ultimately it was the French who came out on top in a game of fine margins.

Wiegman was able to deploy the Leah Williamson-Millie Bright central defensive partnership for the first time since February last year on a night when keeper Mary Earps won her 50th cap.

But Earps' landmark evening lasted less than eight minutes when, having earlier undergone lengthy treatment on the pitch after scuffing a first-minute clearance, she limped off to be replaced by Hannah Hampton.

After an even start, French keeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin could only look on as Lauren Hemp made the most of Russo's foraging to cross to the near post, where Ella Toone steered her first-time shot just wide of the far upright.

Russo fired over from a narrow angle on the turn as the Lionesses continued to press, and they took the lead on the half-hour mark when Mead slotted home from close range after Georgia Stanway had collided with