Fran Kirby’s penalty was England’s only reward as they lost 3-1 to France in an entertaining friendly.
Goals in each half from Sandy Baltimore and Viviane Asseyi put the hosts in control in Caen.
Kirby’s spot-kick reduced the deficit with 11 minutes remaining, but Marie-Antoinette Katoto’s close-range effort three minutes later sealed victory.
Nikita Parris and Beth Mead also had chances well saved by France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
A minute’s silence was held before kick-off and the England players wore black armbands to mark the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
France expose England’s defensive weakness
In world number three side France, England faced a team ranked in the world’s top 10 for the first time since March 2020.
Temporary boss Hege Riise, who is also leading Team GB at this summer’s Olympics, is likely to have taken a lot from their attacking display, with the Lionesses creating a host of chances only to be denied by a fine performance by goalkeeper Peyraud-Magnin.
However, they looked vulnerable at the back without the injured Steph Houghton and Lucy Bronze.
Kadidiatou Diani had already gone close before her fine run and cutback set up Baltimore to power the ball into the top corner from the left side of the penalty area for the opener.
In the second half, Diani’s looping long-range effort hit the bar before Rachel Daly tangled with Elisa de Almeida as they chased the rebound to concede a penalty.
Asseyi, who had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes, sent Ellie Roebuck the wrong way to double France’s lead.
Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp impressed as a substitute and won a penalty which Kirby confidently converted, but another rapid breakaway from France resulted in Katoto tapping home from yet another dangerous low cross from the impressive Diani.
England’s next match is against Canada in Stoke on Tuesday, a match you can watch live on BBC Four, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
Line-ups
France
Formation 4-4-2
- 21Peyraud-Magnin
- 4TorrentBooked at 77minsSubstituted forPérissetat 85′minutes
- 5Tounkara
- 22De Almeida
- 23Morroni
- 11DianiSubstituted forDaliat 85′minutes
- 8Geyoro
- 14PalisBooked at 58minsSubstituted forJaurenaat 60′minutes
- 17Baltimore
- 12Katoto
- 13GauvinSubstituted forAsseyiat 59′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Durand
- 2Périsset
- 3Thibaud
- 6Jaurena
- 7Jean-François
- 9Le Sommer
- 10Khelifi
- 15Dali
- 16Picaud
- 18Asseyi
- 20Fleury
- 24Deslandes
- 25Kazadi
England
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Roebuck
- 2DalyBooked at 90mins
- 5Bright
- 6WilliamsonSubstituted forWubben-Moyat 64′minutes
- 3GreenwoodSubstituted forCharlesat 45′minutes
- 8ScottSubstituted forNobbsat 73′minutes
- 4Walsh
- 7ParrisSubstituted forKellyat 45′minutes
- 10Kirby
- 11MeadBooked at 17minsSubstituted forHempat 64′minutes
- 9WhiteSubstituted forEnglandat 74′minutes
Substitutes
- 12Charles
- 13MacIver
- 14Turner
- 15Wubben-Moy
- 16Toone
- 17Kelly
- 18Nobbs
- 19England
- 20Stanway
- 21Telford
- 22Bardsley
- 23Hemp
- 24Morgan
Live Text
Match ends, France 3, England 1.
Second Half ends, France 3, England 1.
Attempt missed. Chloe Kelly (England) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Millie Bright (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Millie Bright (England) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
Corner, England. Conceded by Viviane Asseyi.
Attempt missed. Perle Morroni (France) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Sandy Baltimore (France) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner, France. Conceded by Lauren Hemp.
Rachel Daly (England) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Rachel Daly (England).
Viviane Asseyi (France) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Lauren Hemp (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Viviane Asseyi (France).
Foul by Millie Bright (England).
Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, France. Ãve Périsset replaces Marion Torrent.
Substitution, France. Kenza Dali replaces Kadidiatou Diani.
Foul by Rachel Daly (England).
Kadidiatou Diani (France) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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