England vs France LIVE: Latest updates from Euro 2025 qualifying

“I suppose on paper we are defending champions of this competition but it’s easy to forget we are still in qualifying. France are a top team and I see it as fairly even.

“If that’s the tag we have to take then it’s not a bad place to be.”

Leah Williamson is back in the England squad after recovering from a long-term injury and the captain is excited to get back on the pitch with the Lionesses.

She said: “We’ve had a lot of rotation but because of the way we play and the quality we have we’re afforded the luxury of keeping our style whoever plays.

“It’s easier for other players to step in to a role because there’s a good understanding between us. So I’d hope that anybody stepping in would go well, including Millie [Bright].

“She’s [Aggie Beever-Jones] confident but she’s very respectful which I like about her. I hope she knows she deserves her place here and I was joking with her today that she’s not afraid to leave one on us in training.

“She’s got quality and she looks at home. I think she’s further ahead in terms of how she’s fitting compared to when I came in as a youngster.”

Kerry Davis, the first black woman to play football for England, hopes “brilliant” forward Lauren James will never let racist abuse stop her from stepping into a well-earned spotlight.

Like other trailblazers, Davis has attracted renewed attention in the wake of England’s Euro 2022 triumph and a corresponding run of overdue recognition, from her induction two years ago into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame to receiving, in March, Football Black List’s Keith Alexander Award for outstanding contributions to the game and community.

James has emerged as one of Chelsea and England’s most dynamic talents, finishing joint runner-up in the Women’s Super League top-scorer charts this season and last summer scoring three times and adding as many assists in her maiden World Cup.

“I think they’ve always been really good. We haven’t analysed them really well at the Euros and World Cup because we were not playing them but we’ve been following them all the time.

“They are very athletic, they have players who always want the ball. They’ve had some small tweaks in their style of play but we know they want the ball and they want to go forward.

“And they’re not scared to go a little bit direct either.”

England will be playing away from Wembley for this qualifier with the match taking place at St. James’ Park in Newcastle. It’s a decision that makes attending the match more accessible for those outside of London and Sarina Wiegman is excited to be back in the North East.

“It’s very nice to be in this area again,” she said, “We’ve played at Sunderland and now at Newcastle. I have never been in the stadium before and I hear it’s a great stadium.

“In every place in the world we want to grow the game and we want people to enjoy it. I want to get to know more areas of England but I think my family know a lot more because they have time to go around whereas we’ve always got games.

“I hope to do more and get to know it better.”

The England boss spoke about her decision to bring Jessica Naz into the full squad for the games against France saying: “Jess deserves it.

“All of the standby players are like sponges, they really want to learn quick. I told them that they are equals now and they should go for it.

“It helps they are from the Under-23s and they are used to being around. I see good things from them and it helps that they have very good players around them.”

The 22-year-old attacker reported for international duty with a foot injury and has had to admit defeat in her efforts to prove her fitness ahead of Friday night’s Group A3 fixture at St James’ Park and the trip to St-Etienne which follows on Tuesday.

Wiegman, who confirmed Tottenham’s Jess Naz had been drafted into the squad from the stand-by list as a result, said when asked if everyone was fit: “No, not everyone is available for selection.

Chelsea star Lauren James has picked up another injury meaning she is going to miss tonight’s match against France. Sarina Wiegman confirmed James’ absence in the pre-match press conference saying:

“Lauren James hasn’t made it, so she is not available for selection for tomorrow.

“She already had some foot issues from the club season and we hoped we could build it up for tomorrow but it’s just too early. She will miss the game in France as well and she’s going to get prepared for July.

“Jessica Naz will take her place in the full squad.”

England are ranked number two in the world with France just behind at number three. That only shows that this match will be a tough one and a closely fought for affair.

Les Bleus will know that a win tonight would put them on the verge of automatic qualification while England need to gain back some momentum lost during their draw with Sweden.

The match could go either way and as a result it’s likely to end in a draw.

Here’s how we see the two teams linig up tonight:

England XI: Earps; Bronze, Williams, Bright, Greenwood; Stanway, Walsh; Kelly, Toone, Hemp; Russo.

France XI: Peyraud-Magnin; Lakrar, Mbock, Renard, Bacha; Dali, Geyoro, Toletti; Diani, Cascarino, Katoto.

And here are the latest odds for the game: