Since the start of 2024, Sarina Wiegman's side have lost just three times - including twice in the last five matches - and will undoubtedly be installed as one of the favourites to go all the way once more and reach their third consecutive final.
France Women in top form
However, they have the toughest of openers against the French who have won all five of their most recent games and kept clean sheets in four of them, and that could set the tone for the rest of the competition.
In their last five against each other, England have won two (4-1 and, in their most recent encounter in June 2024, 2-1), and France have triumphed in the other three (2-1, 3-1 and 1-0).
Wiegman will be aware that she's been unable to motivate her side to victory in the last four games that the Lionesses have played abroad, though she may lean into the fact that their last such win on foreign soil was that 2-1 win over France last summer.
It was Les Bleues' first defeat in 59 major championship qualifying games as well as being England Women's first away win in France in 51 years.
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England looking to extend group stage record
It's also worth pointing out that England Women hold the record of most consecutive group stage games won at major tournaments (14), and in Beth Mead, they have a player that has either scored or assisted in three of her past four matches as well as providing four assists in her last six European Championship games.
Lauren James and Ruby Mace are reportedly not yet at full fitness so may not be risked in this one.
With Fran Kirby having retired from international football last month after learning that she wouldn't be part of the squad, and Mary Earps also stepping away from England duty, there'll be a slightly different look about this Lionesses side.
Not to mention that Chelsea defender, Millie Bright is missing also missing from this tournament after ruling herself out in a controversial move, suggesting that she needed to prioritise her physical and mental well-being.
Two of her club teammates might well be the protagonists for their various teams too.
All change for Les Bleues
Sandy Baltimore was France's top scorer in the Nations League scoring five goals and will almost certainly lead their line with aplomb, whilst England's Aggie Beever-Jones scored four goals in five games in the same competition, as well as nine goals in 12 league matches for Chelsea in 2024/25.
The Lionesses have scored first in seven of their previous eight games, and gaining an early upper hand again needs to be part of Wiegman's game plan.
Some big names for the French will be missing such as their incomparable captain, Wendie Renard. The experienced 34-year-old, who had won 168 caps for her country, was dropped by Laurent Bonadei along with all-time leading goalscorer Eugenie Le Sommer (96 goals in 200 appearances).
It's a bold move that's sent shockwaves through French Women's football and Bonadei, a replacement for Herve Renard, who only stayed in the job for a year after taking over from Corinne Diacre, has appeared to distance himself from any criticism that has come his way, even quoting Einstein to defend his decision.
“These are tough choices,” he said. “They are difficult to make and difficult to announce to the players. It’s a decision that’s hard to hear, hard to understand and almost impossible for them to accept because they’re legendary players for the French team.
“I didn’t make this decision on the spur of the moment. You’d think, given the timing, that this is crazy but it’s not. As Einstein said: ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.’ I want different results for this team so I have gone with a different selection.
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about since the start of the season. When I announced that everyone had a chance, that no one was indispensable, in my mind it wasn’t just about giving young players a chance but also players who had suffered psychologically after the Olympic Games and making sure that everyone was involved.”
Tough to choose a winner
With the French never having won a major tournament it's a risky strategy from Bonadei, however, if his side are able to hit the ground running against England, the shock factor might quickly be forgotten.
It's tough to choose a winner between the two sides, but whoever emerges victorious will give themselves a platform from which to build as they go through the tournament.
