Second-Half Surge Sees France Storm Into Knockouts

UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 — Group D

Netherlands 2–5 France

St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland

Sunday 13 July 2025 – Kick-Off: 8pm BST

Match Preview

Before kick-off, anticipation was high for the clash between France and the Netherlands — two of Europe’s finest teams. Both sides showcased top attacking talent and solid defensive units, setting the stage for a high-quality, intense contest.

France went into the game in a strong position, needing just a point to secure qualification for the knockout stages and likely finish top of their group. They approached the match with confidence, knowing a draw would be enough to progress.

The Netherlands faced a tougher challenge. They had to win to keep their hopes alive and were relying on other results to give them a chance of advancing. That urgency added an extra edge to their performance going into the game.

Team News

Both teams made several changes from their previous matches ahead of tonight’s encounter. France saw Élisa De Almeida come in at right-back for Melween Ndongala, with Oriane Jean-François replacing Grace Geyoro in midfield. Sakina Karchaoui was introduced in place of Amel Majri, while Delphine Cascarino and Sandy Baltimore started on the wings, replacing Kadidiatou Diani and Melvine Malard. Up front, Marie-Antoinette Katoto led the line instead of Clara Mateo.

The Netherlands also made four changes. Lynn Wilms replaced Esmee Brugts, likely at right-back, with Kerstin Casparij shifting to left-back. Sherida Spitse returned at centre-back for Veerle Buurman, and Daniëlle van de Donk came into midfield for Wieke Kaptein. Up front, Lineth Beerensteyn started instead of Vivianne Miedema.

First Half

The Netherlands came out of the blocks with real intensity. Victoria Pelova teed up a strike from just outside the area, forcing French keeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin into a sharp stop low to her right, following a nice set-up by Chasity Grant. It was a bright start from the Dutch, full of tempo and intent.

France responded with a spell of possession, but the Netherlands continued to look lively. A foul from Van de Donk handed France an early free-kick, which Bacha delivered — but the Dutch defence cleared it with ease.

France began to grow into the game, particularly down the right through Cascarino. She showed great skill to cut inside Casparij and unleashed a powerful shot that Van Domselaar did well to save, reacting late. The danger wasn’t over, as the rebound fell to Karchaoui, who also forced a strong save from the Dutch keeper.

As the half settled, the game took on the feel of a tight, tactical contest — just as expected. France, knowing a point would be enough, looked calm in possession, while the Netherlands carried the urgency of a side who knew they needed a win to survive.

Spitse created a decent opportunity with a lovely cross from the right, finding Van de Donk in the box, but her header sailed over. France then had a golden chance as Jean-François worked her way down the right and cut the ball back to Katoto, who completely scuffed her shot well wide.

Then came the breakthrough. In the 22nd minute, France pressed high and won the ball from a Dutch throw-in deep in opposition territory. Bacha found space on the left and curled in a perfectly weighted pass to Katoto. Holding off her marker smartly, she laid it off to Toletti, who took one touch to set herself and fired a low strike into the bottom corner. A brilliant finish — and a massive goal.

But the Dutch responded instantly. Just four minutes later, in the 26th minute, Peyraud-Magnin made a save to deny Grant after a dangerous cross from Pelova, but the ball bounced back out to Pelova herself. With one touch to settle and one to strike, she bent a beautiful curling effort into the far corner to bring the Netherlands level. It was a deserved equaliser, full of quality and composure.

The momentum briefly swung the Netherlands’ way. Van de Donk powered into space and got a shot off after the Dutch pressed high up the pitch, but again Peyraud-Magnin was equal to it. Beerensteyn soon rose highest to meet a Casparij delivery but couldn’t direct her header on target.

More half-chances came and went — Spitse delivered another teasing ball, and France had a brief flurry following a corner where Katoto saw a header fly just wide. But then came another big moment.

In the 41st minute, Pelova once again found space on the byline and dug out a low ball into the area. Beerensteyn managed to get a vital touch, nudging it past the French keeper. The ball ricocheted off Bacha, who couldn’t adjust her feet quickly enough, and trickled over the line for an own goal — the Netherlands had turned it around.

At half-time, the Netherlands led 2–1 after an intense and competitive first half. Both teams carved out several chances and showed glimpses of attacking quality, but the Dutch proved slightly more clinical when it mattered most. Their sharp finishing and timely response after going behind gave them the edge as the game headed into the break.

Second Half

France came flying out in the second half. Just minutes after the restart, Bacha’s cross created chaos in the Dutch box, and Cascarino found herself with the goal gaping — but blazed over from close range. It was a massive chance, and the Dutch were hanging on.

But France weren’t done. In the 61st minute, Cascarino was involved again, this time skipping past two challenges before sliding a precise ball through to Katoto. The striker made no mistake, keeping her cool and placing her finish with her left foot into the far corner. France were level again — and had found their rhythm.

Moments later, in the 64th minute, they were in front. Cascarino collected the ball in midfield and surged forward with purpose and power. She beat one, then let fly from distance — a rocket of a strike that flew past Van Domselaar and into the top corner. It was a moment of magic, and suddenly the game had turned.

France were relentless. Baltimore, on the edge of the area, delivered a wonderful outside-of-the-foot ball into Katoto, who was so unlucky to see her shot crash off both posts. But Cascarino was there once again, calmly slotting home the rebound to score her second and France’s fourth in the 67th minute.

It was all France by this point. Their quality was overwhelming, and the Dutch had no answer. Katoto nearly had a second after some clever work down the right, but Van Domselaar was equal to it. Mateo tested the Dutch keeper from a tight angle, and Baltimore was denied from close range minutes later.

The Netherlands, who had started with so much purpose, had faded. France weren’t just clinical — they were controlled, disciplined, and utterly dominant. Defensively, they gave little away in the second half, managing the game expertly.

Geyoro went close after a quick French counter but couldn’t keep her shot down. Then, as the clock ticked into stoppage time, substitute Ndongala was brought down in the box by Casparij, awarding France a late penalty. Karchaoui stepped up and confidently slotted it home in the second minute of added time, sending the keeper the wrong way.

It was the final act of a commanding French performance. The final whistle blew on a night that saw France show their class and seal a 5–2 victory.

Post-Match Analysis

France underlined their quality with a ruthless second-half display to book their place in the knockout stages in style. After a shaky first half, they regrouped, showed composure, and turned on the class — with Cascarino at the heart of it all. The Netherlands started brightly and gave themselves a platform, but couldn’t live with the wave of pressure after the break. For the Dutch, it’s the end of the road in Euro 2025, while France march on with confidence. In terms of Group D as a whole, it is England who will join France in the knockout stages after they kept their end of the bargain, beating tournament newcomers Wales 6-1 in the other fixture. 

Player of the Match: Delphine Cascarino

Delphine Cascarino was simply outstanding. Electric on the ball, tireless in her runs, and clinical in front of goal — her brace was the difference-maker. Whether skipping past defenders or firing in unstoppable strikes, she led France’s turnaround with style and conviction. A performance full of flair, heart, and match-winning quality.