Published: 2025-07-09 22:08:50 | Views: 9
Key events
Jess Fishlock: “I am extremely proud of these girls tonight. There were moments for most of the game where we were in it, we were doing what we expected to do. The biggest learning point is that in the little moments we need to be better. We were so close, I am so proud.
“We have the best fans in the world, they come out here, they are loud and proud .They know this is hard and we are giving everything we can. Thank you to the Red Wall and everyone out here supporting us.”
More Tom Garry content.
ITV are putting a big sell on England v Wales.
So … Wales are not officially eliminated from the tournament but need to beat England by a 10-goal margin and hope France defeat the Netherlands.
Dafydd Iwan is going to need to put in a big shift there.
Some extra England content, courtesy of the great Tom Garry.
Wales got their moment when Fishlock scored their first major tournament goal but, in truth, they were outclassed from start to finish by France. Mistakes at the back did not help their cause but they put all of their effort into their match.
90+2 mins: The French flags are flying in the stands. Both sides seem quite happy for this to end.
90 mins: Four minutes added on.
88 mins: The Welsh fans are still giving it their all.
86 mins: Karchaoui cuts in from the right and fires off a shot from 25 yards but Middleton-Patel moves to her right quickly, allowing her to palm clear.
Final change for Wales as Ingle replaces Fishlock.
84 mins: VAR has a check; the ball is kicked onto N’Dongala thigh rather than hand by the looks of it and no penalty is awarded, much to Wales’s chagrin.
82 mins: Jones wins Wales a corner on the right. The Wales fans are behind that goal and they are giving it their all, getting behind their team. Holland chips it in, the goalkeeper loses it and there is a bit of pinball. The ball hits a hand and Wales want a penalty. It looks a good shout to me …
80 mins: Yeah, it’s basically all about substitutions at the moment.
Holland is booked for pulling back N’Dongala. At least she did not get booked for giving away the penalty earlier.
If you like really pointless bookings, then Gago going into Joel about two seconds after the ball had gone is really up there.
78 mins: Jones and Joel on, Ffion Morgan and Rowe off for Wales. Toletti off, Karchaoui on for France.
76 mins: Mateo and Geyoro off, Katoto and Baltimore on for France.
74 mins: Wales have the chance of a break but James’s pass is overhit and straight to the France goalkeeper.
72 mins: France have a corner on the left. Majri whips it in buy Wales deal with the situation easily.
France come back at Wales and the move concludes with a powerful strike from Geyoro but it is straight at Middleton-Patel.
70 mins: Wales can’t get anything going here …
68 mins: It is all France here. Wales will not be definitely out after this defeat but they will need to beat England about 48382-0 in the final game … and hope France beat the Netherlands.
Middleton-Patel makes a decent save down to her left after a jabbed effort from Majri.
66 mins: France changes … Gago and Bogaert on, Bacha and Malard off.
64 mins: Barton and Woodham off, Roberts and Cain on for Wales.
GOAL! Diani crosses from the right, Middleton-Patel comes to claim but completely misses the ball and Geyoro taps home.
Game, set and match.
62 mins: The Wales energy levels are dropping. I would suggest this is a good time to make some changes as they are struggling to press effectively.
60 mins: Malard twists and turns on the left and fires a cross into the box. Green is there and makes enough contact to deceive the French attackers.
58 mins: A poor pass backwards from Malard is seized upon by Holland inside the area. She takes a poor first touch but still has a chance to shoot, albeit from a tight angle. Her shot takes a deflection and Wales win a corner.
56 mins: Oh Wales! Architects of their own downfall. They have worked so hard but bad decisions see them two goals behind.
GOAL! Wales were messing about with the ball at the back. Middleton-Patel took far too much time to clear it and lost the ball, allowing Majri to whack into an almost empty net.
Dreadful play from Middleton-Patel gifts the goal.
51 mins: Holland whips the free-kick it and Fishlock tries to take possession on a couple of occasions but it just will not stick at her feet.
France break down the other end and pass over the top could cause a problem but Middleton-Patel comes to claim.
49 mins: Holland bursts into the box but a couple of French bodies are waiting for her, taking the ball back as the Wales midfielder tumbles.
James then wins a free-kick on the left after being pulled back. This is what Wales need.
47 mins: France are enjoying the early possession and will be eager to maintain this for the next 43 minutes.
Here we go again!
Konrad (from Germany) emails: “I saw Wales singing the anthem with the same fervour as the Brazilians did before the semifinal in 2014. Thus, I am surprised by the very good performance of the Welsh team in the first half, despite conceding two goals so far. Go on, Cymru!”
Half-time reading.
Wales worked so hard to get back into the game but then threw it away with the late first-half penalty. There is plenty to be encouraged by and they know they can level up again, if they can reach their best level.
45+4 mins: Wales get a corner on the right thanks to the hard work of Ffion Morgan. Woodham swings it in but France are untroubled.
45+2 mins: Wales will just want to get into the break now one goal behind.
45 mins: Six minutes added on.
The penalty goes down the middle, hitting Middleton-Patel’s feet and trickling into the net.
44 mins: PENALTY TO FRANCE! A silly challenge from Holland on Mateo gifts France the chance to take the lead.
43 mins: Wales needlessly play themselves into trouble with some bizarre passing it around at the back. France close them down and win the ball but it ricochets away from anyone in blue.
42 mins: There was a brief penalty check after the most recent France corner. I think the ball bounced up in the vicinity of an arm but that were to be given as a penalty, we might as well all pack up now.
Bacha is booked for catching Barton in the back of the head. It was a weird attempt to win a header from the French player.
40 mins: A few hearts in mouths as Middleton-Patel dives feet first at the feet of Malard but she times it perfectly, giving away a penalty only.
The corner bounces around a bit until Majri pings a shot over from the edge of the box.
38 mins: Geyoro chips a cross to the back post but it is Woodham waiting there without a French player in sight. She takes a touch and whacks it clear. Wales are currently defending with 11 players behind the ball.
Middleton-Patel is down and wants treatment. I wonder if there is currently some tactical instructions are being offered to her teammates.
