France qualify for women's Euros, England close in

NORWICH, England : France secured their spot at Euro 2025 with a 2-1 win over Sweden and reigning champions England are within touching distance after a 2-1 home win over Ireland in the penultimate round of League A group games on Friday.

The top two teams in each of the four groups in League A will join hosts Switzerland in the finals, while the remaining pairs go into a series of playoffs for the seven remaining spots. 

With 10 points from their five games so far, France can finish no worse than second in Group 3 and England only need a draw away to the Swedes, who have seven points, to go through. 

The French took the lead with a stunning strike from distance from Sakira Karchaoui and Johanna Rybrink brought the Swedes level after the break, but Marie-Antoinette Katoto grabbed a winner to send the French through.

On a rainy night in Norwich, Alessia Russo broke the deadlock for England in the fifth minute, latching on to a superb through-ball from Beth Mead and rounding keeper Courtney Brosnan before slotting home. 

Rooted to the bottom of the group after four straight defeats, the Irish improved as the game went on but the concession of a penalty early in the second half snuffed out any hope they may have had of a comeback, with Georgia Stanway scoring from the spot. 

However, Ireland never gave up, and they grabbed their first goal of the campaign in second-half stoppage time as substitute Julie-Ann Russell rifled home. 

Earlier in the evening, Spain suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to the Czech Republic in Group 2, but they remain top, three points ahead of Denmark, who beat Belgium 3-0. 

Germany also suffered a surprise reverse, losing 3-0 away to Iceland, but they too remain top on 12 points, with the Icelanders three