France Triumphs Over Netherlands 5-2 in UEFA Women's Euro 2025

In a thrilling encounter on July 13, 2025, France secured a decisive 5-2 victory against the Netherlands in the UEFA Women’s European Championship, held at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland. This win not only solidified France's position at the top of Group D but also set the stage for a quarterfinal clash against Germany on July 19.

The match began with an electrifying pace, showcasing the attacking prowess of both teams. France took an early lead through Sandie Toletti, who scored in the 22nd minute after a setup by Marie-Antoinette Katoto. However, the Netherlands quickly responded, with Victoria Pelova equalizing in the 26th minute, capitalizing on a rebound from French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. Just before halftime, the Dutch took a surprising lead when French defender Selma Bacha inadvertently scored an own goal, leaving France trailing 2-1 at the break.

The second half saw a remarkable turnaround for France, driven largely by Delphine Cascarino's standout performance. In the 61st minute, Cascarino assisted Katoto to level the score. Just three minutes later, she put France ahead with an outstanding solo effort, slicing through the Dutch defense to score. Cascarino added another goal shortly after as her strike followed a shot from Katoto that had hit both posts. Finally, Sakina Karchaoui sealed the victory with a penalty in stoppage time, bringing the final score to 5-2.

France finished the group stage with a flawless record of nine points from three matches, well ahead of second-placed England, who also advanced after a 6-1 victory over Wales. The Dutch, despite their previous success in the tournament, found themselves eliminated after finishing third in the group.

Laurent Bonadei, the French head coach, praised his players for their resilience and attacking style. "A match is made up of two halves. We started well, then we got a bit scared. At halftime, the players remobilized, they had a bit more bite. We had a great second half with some nice goals, it's the football we love, focused on attack," Bonadei remarked during a post-match interview.

Historically, France's women’s national team has been on an upward trajectory, demonstrating significant progress in recent tournaments. Their strong performance in this match reflects their growing stature in women's football, particularly as they aim to challenge for the championship title.

In contrast, the Netherlands, who were reigning champions from the 2017 tournament, faced criticism for their defensive collapse and failure to capitalize on opportunities. Experts suggest that this early exit may prompt a reevaluation of the team's strategies and coaching methods under head coach Andries Jonker.

As the tournament progresses, France will aim to build on this momentum as they head into the knockout stages, while the Netherlands will need to regroup and address the issues that led to their disappointing exit.