France scored three goals in seven minutes as they rallied to a classy 5-2 triumph over the Netherlands at women’s Euro 2025 on Sunday to clinch a quarter-final berth along with title holders England, who trounced Wales 6-1.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto in the 61st and a quickfire brace from Delphine Cascarino in the 64th and 67th, before captain Sakina Karchaoui converted a stoppage time penalty, saw France reverse a 2-1 half-time deficit, and finish atop Group D with maximum points.
Sandie Toletti had opened the scoring for Les Bleus on her 30th birthday in the 22nd minute but the 2017 champions Netherlands kept up their dim knock-out round hopes when they went ahead 2-1 from Victoria Pelova in the 26th and a Selma Bacha own goal in the 41st.
The French would have none of it, though, and advanced together with England who were 4-0 up in St Gallen against Wales at half-time from Georgia Stanway’s penalty and Ella Toone then scoring before setting up Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo.
Substitutes Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones wrapped up matters in the 72nd and 89th as England got their second big win following a 4-0 over the Dutch, after an opening 2-1 defeat against France.
England will now face Sweden in the quarter-finals on Thursday, while France play record champions and 2022 runners-up Germany on Saturday.
Both games are rematches of the 2022 semi-finals won by England and Germany, but France and Sweden have looked very strong in Switzerland.
The other quarter-finals are Norway v Italy on Wednesday and hosts Switzerland v world champions and top favourites Spain on Friday.