Vulnerable Lionesses tormented by second-string France side

England suffered a first defeat under interim head coach Hege Riise after a poor night defensively against an under-strength France in Caen.

The friendly was the Lionesses’ penultimate match before Riise selects her 18-strong Team GB squad for the Olympics next month, but many players will have missed their opportunity to impress. The match was to have been shown live on BBC Four but, following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, the match was moved to the Red Button service and iplayer.

England wore black armbands as a mark of respect, a minute’s silence was observed before kick-off, and the Lionesses did not conduct post-match interviews.

England were facing a nation who had not lost in 15 games since the 2019 World Cup, but this was a second-string French side, with none of their players from European champions Lyon involved following a Covid-19 outbreak.

However, Paris St-germain winger Sandy Baltimore used her pace to torment a weakened England defence missing captain Steph Houghton and Fifa player of the year Lucy Bronze through injury.

Baltimore opened the scoring with a sweet strike into the top corner. Substitute Viviane Asseyi rolled in a penalty for France’s second after a clumsy challenge in the area by Rachel Daly, before England improved in the latter stages.

Substitutes Lauren Hemp and Jordan Nobbs brought fresh impetus, and Hemp’s good run won a penalty, placed into the bottom corner by Chelsea’s Fran Kirby.

Keira Walsh then hit a post as England pressed for an equaliser, but moments later France’s third was tapped in by Marie-antoinette Katoto, giving Riise plenty to ponder before Tuesday’s home friendly against Canada.

France (4-4-2) Peyraud-magnin; Torrent (Perisset 85) Tounkara, De Almeida, Morroni; Diani (Dali 85) Geyoro, Palis (Jaurena 60), Baltimore; Gauvin (Asseyi 59), Katoto.

Booked Palis, Torrent.

England (4-2-3-1) Roebuck; Daly, Bright, Williamson (Wubben-moy 64), Greenwood (Charles 45); Scott (Nobbs 73), Walsh; Parris (Kelly 45), Kirby, Mead (Hemp 64); White (England 74). Booked Mead, Daly.

Referee Sara Persson (Sweden).