Half-time pep talk sparks Delphine Cascarino heroics as France storm back to beat Netherlands

BASEL – France forward Delphine Cascarino turned up the heat when it mattered most, scoring twice and creating another goal as her side roared back from a 2-1 deficit to thrash the Netherlands 5-2 on July 13 and book a Women’s Euro 2025 quarter-final clash with Germany.

France took an early lead through Sandie Toletti but found themselves trailing at half-time after conceding twice via Victoria Pelova and a Selma Bacha own goal at St Jakob-Park.

Enter Cascarino, who delivered a second-half masterclass that propelled France to victory in Group D ahead of second-placed England, who demolished Wales 6-1 to also advance.

“She’s a star, and at some point you have to light the fire, so she can show her full potential,” said France coach Laurent Bonadei. “At half-time I told her she was able to do more and better, that went for the whole team too... I liked Delphine’s reaction.”

Cascarino took her coach at his word, setting up Marie-Antoinette Katoto to equalise in the 61st minute, and she then scored two quick-fire goals herself to sink the Dutch and secure top spot in the group. Sakina Karchaoui rounded off the scoring with an added-time penalty.

“Laurent said we lacked aggression, and it was true. We were behind 2-1, we were making less effort in the defence, that was clear,” Cascarino told reporters.

“The Dutch were able to take advantage of our weakness, but we didn’t let go. We showed aggression in the second half, and that really helped to get us over the line.”

Dutch coach Andries Jonker added: “We went through the wall today, we gave it all today. Unfortunately we gave away the 2-2 and then something broke in the team, so I will not look at the end result – of course, it was disappointing.”

France now face Germany in Basel on July 19, a prospect that does not faze the confident Cascarino, despite her team’s past struggles against the Germans.

“When it comes to Germany, it’s a very big nation,” she said. “They won several trophies and they have already knocked out others, so we know it’s going to be a great game, a big game and a difficult game. And we’re going to try to find the cracks and to win the game.”

Meanwhile, England will face Group C winners Sweden after hammering Wales via goals from Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones. Hannah Cain netted for the Welsh.

Sweden, who lost to England in the semi-finals at Euro 2022, were barely challenged in the group stage, winning all three of their games by a combined score of 8-1.

England finished second in their group, which means, provided they get past Sweden in the quarters, they will avoid world champions Spain in the semi-finals.

Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman played down the idea that England may have benefited by not winning the group.

“I think that in tournaments, that’s really tricky to think, ‘Oh, we want to go that way, because, then we might have this and this’,” the Dutchwoman said.

“If you start thinking like that, that’s very tricky. You’re trying to just win every game, and then see where you finish in the group, and then you play who’s in front of you.

“If you want to be successful in the tournament, you should be able to win every single game. So that’s how we approach it.” REUTERS