France vs Netherlands Thriller: Cascarino Brace Lifts Les Bleues

France vs Netherlands final group clash in Women’s Euro 2025 qualifying served up a seven-goal spectacle as Les Bleues overturned an early deficit to beat the Dutch 5-2 and leapfrog England to first place in Group D.

France vs Netherlands — First-half fireworks

A raucous Utrecht crowd initially believed they were in for a home celebration. Jill Roord’s crisp 11th-minute finish and Lineth Beerensteyn’s opportunistic header put the Oranje 2-1 ahead after an early Kadidiatou Diani opener. The tempo was relentless; tackles flew, transitions were rapid, and both coaches urged their sides to press boldly. Yet even during that frantic spell, the technical superiority of Hervé Renard’s midfield suggested the tide could turn.

Cascarino takes centre stage

Delphine Cascarino, restored to the right flank after injury, altered the narrative completely. On 38 minutes she darted inside, traded passes with Grace Geyoro, and rifled into the top corner. Level at the break, France emerged even sharper. Five minutes after the restart, Cascarino produced the evening’s signature moment: a dazzling solo run past Dominique Janssen before clipping a deft curler beyond Daphne van Domselaar. The brace not only tilted the scoreboard but drained Dutch belief.

Tactical switches that swung momentum

Renard’s decision to drop Sakina Karchaoui into inverted full-back zones invited overloads in midfield, squeezing the Netherlands’ passing lanes. Meanwhile, captain Wendie Renard marshalled a high line that repeatedly caught Beerensteyn offside. Mark Parsons answered with a double change—introducing Victoria Pelova for Danielle van de Donk—but by then France’s press was humming and turnovers multiplied.

Clinical finishing seals the comeback

The third France vs Netherlands momentum shift arrived on 67 minutes when Eugénie Le Sommer pounced on a miscued clearance to notch her 93rd international goal. Substitute Selma Bacha iced the contest late with a swerving 25-yard free-kick that nestled inside the far post. France ended with five different attackers on the pitch, underlining the depth that now makes them genuine Euro contenders.

Group D standings and England’s fate

England’s earlier 3-0 win over Belgium momentarily placed the Lionesses atop Group D, yet the France vs Netherlands result rendered those celebrations short-lived. Les Bleues finish on 13 points, two clear of Sarina Wiegman’s side, while the Dutch slide to third and must now negotiate a tricky play-off path. With group winners seeded for the final qualification draw, France have secured an enviable route toward the Euro 2025 finals in Switzerland.

Numbers behind the narrative

• Shots: France 18, Netherlands 11
• Expected Goals (xG): France 3.4, Netherlands 1.5
• Possession: 54% France vs Netherlands 46%
• Key passes: Cascarino 6 (match-high)
• Tackles won: Wendie Renard 5/6

Voices from the pitch

Cascarino beamed afterwards: “We showed character. Going behind twice away from home and still scoring five proves how hungry we are.” Dutch skipper Sherida Spitse lamented missed chances: “At 2-1 we needed to manage the game better. France punished every mistake.”

What this means for Euro 2025

For neutrals, the latest France vs Netherlands duel was further evidence that Group D is the tournament’s de facto ‘group of death.’ England remain favourites on paper, yet France’s capacity to conjure goals from wide areas—Diani, Cascarino, Bacha—makes them arguably the most balanced side in Europe. The Dutch, runners-up in 2019, face a rebuilding job but retain enough firepower to trouble any opponent if the defence tightens.

Next fixtures

France host Germany in September looking to cement seeding status, while the Netherlands travel to Portugal for a must-win play-off. English fans, meanwhile, will watch keenly; another France vs Netherlands showdown later in the tournament would be box-office.

Opinion: Les Bleues announce themselves

Cascarino’s return gives France the one-v-one dynamism they previously lacked on the right. Combine that with Le Sommer’s poaching instincts and Bacha’s set-piece venom, and Renard’s squad suddenly feels complete. Yes, defensive lapses still appear, but if they replicate the second-half control displayed here, France will not just top qualifying—they will arrive in Switzerland as favourites to lift the trophy.