France vs Wales Preview & Prediction | UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 | Group Stage
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In the so-called ‘group of death’, France are in with a real shout of winning it and winning the tournament as they kick on against tournament rookies Wales at the AFG Arena.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – ITV platforms / US – Fox Sports & ViX
France team news: Fully fit France
Ahead of their clash with the Welsh, France have a fully fit and available squad so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven for this one, and that is to be expected after a strong performance against England the other day.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Pevraud Magnin; De Almeida, Lakrar, Sombath, Bacha; Geyoro, Francois, Karchaoui; Cascarino, Katoto, Baltimore
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Wales team news: No injuries from crash
The Wales team bus was involved in a crash on Wednesday but no injuries have been reported from that. However, Liverpool midfielder Ceri Holland is a doubt after picking up an injury late on in their defeat to the Netherlands the other day.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Clark; Roberts, Evans, Morgan; Green, James-Turner, Ladd, Woodham; Barton, Fishlock, Cain
Unavailable:
Questionable: Holland (Injured)
Key stats
- France have won the last five international matches between these teams, since a 1-1 draw in their first encounter in a friendly match in Wales in June 1978.
- The most recent meetings between France and Wales were in the qualifying campaign for the 2023 World Cup when the French won 2-0 at home and 2-1 in Wales.
- France are unbeaten in their last 11 Women’s EURO final tournament group stage matches (W7 D4), since a 5-1 defeat against Germany in their second fixture at the 2009 finals.
- France have won their last nine international matches – all in 2025.
- France have only failed to score in one of their last 14 Women’s EURO final tournament matches.
- France are aiming to start a Women’s EURO group stage with successive wins for the third time, having previously done so in 2013 and 2022.
- Grace Geyoro could become the 12th player to make 10 Women’s EURO final tournament appearances for France. Sakina Karchaoui and Kadidiatou Diani both reached the milestone on Matchday 1.
- Wales are aiming for their first positive result in a Women’s EURO final tournament match having lost 3-0 against the Netherlands on their debut on Matchday 1.
- Four players in France’s squad are currently based in England, where most of the Wales squad play their club football. Sandy Baltimore and Oriane Jean-François are team-mates of Sophie Ingle at Chelsea, Kelly Gago plays with Hayley Ladd at Everton, and Melvine Malard is a club colleague of Safia Middleton-Patel at Manchester United.
- Jess Fishlock played in France on loan at Lyon in 2018/19 alongside Amel Majri, Selma Bacha, Griedge Mbock Bathy and Delphine Cascarino.
- Bacha scored her first goal for France in a 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier against Wales in Guingamp on 30 November 2021, which the hosts won 2-0.
- Ingle scored for Wales against France in the return fixture in Llanelli on 8 April 2022 but could not prevent a 2-1 defeat in which Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto registered for the visitors.
France vs Wales prediction
Under the management of Herve Renard, France underwhelmed but, since the appointment of Laurent Bonadei, they have been much-improved. They began their group stage campaign with an impressive 2-1 defeat of defending champions England, thanks to goals from Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore.
They now face a Wales side that have surpassed expectations by simply being in Switzerland, having qualified for their first ever women’s major tournament. The gulf between Wales and the rest of this extremely tough group was on show as they suffered a 3-0 loss to the Netherlands the other day.
If France win this one then the Dutch can eliminate champions England with a victory in the game before this one – and a French victory is to be expected.
France vs Wales tip: France to win -1 handicap
