Get the balance right and England can beat France in Euros opener

We all know that England are in the toughest group and playing France is the most difficult game they could begin with. But I’d probably prefer to play them first because you have had the longest period of time to prepare for them. That will be what they have worked on since their send-off game against Jamaica. It will be their sole focus whereas they will have a quick turnaround for the games against the Netherlands and Wales.

As a player, you literally focus on that next game. You don’t even really think about who is going to be the toughest opponent. I know that sounds really stupid, but it’s just a case of being in meetings and analysing the opposition. As a left winger, I would be looking at the opposition right-back thinking what’s she good at and what’s she not so good at. Then on the training field, you’re working on different patterns of play to beat them. You don’t think that this is going to be our toughest game. It’s more about what’s my job within the team and then working on that.

The importance of winning the first match is key in terms of the expectations that England have as the holders and one of the favourites. Going back to when I played, that expectation was just not there. England would turn up and do as well as we possibly could.

Winning that first game can be a confidence boost for the rest of the tournament. However, sometimes in tournaments unexpected things happen.

In 2009, when we reached the Euros final, we lost our first game against Italy. It was an absolute nightmare. We had expected to win it, we had done all of our preparations, and then Casey Stoney got sent off after 28 minutes. I ended up playing at wingback and we lost 2-1.

I remember us all coming off thinking that the tournament was over and we were all really down. But it was probably one of the best things that could have happened to us because we ended up missing the likes of Germany and Norway en route to the final. So that shows that losing your first game doesn’t have to be the end of the world.

I actually looked at the different routes through the knockout stages and if England finish second in the group, they could avoid Spain until the final. But you can’t think like that. As a team you have to focus on winning everything and finishing as high as you possibly can. Sarina and the team will be focused on winning the group.

My worry against France is in the midfield area and the balance there. Someone has to play alongside Keira Walsh. When you’re playing against a lesser side, you can have her as the holding player and play two further ahead. But France are very good at pressing and if Walsh gets caught in possession, they will be straight on our defence. So we need someone with her for protection defensively and also as another option. Getting that balance is key, whether it is Georgia Stanway, Grace Clinton or someone else.

I just feel against France, they are going to have to be a little more conservative. I love watching free-flowing attacking football but they’re going to have to make sure that they’re defensively sound and organised off the ball. You could see even against Jamaica, there was a little bit of vulnerability at the back when they broke. That’s something that France could exploit.

France can play in a lot of different ways. They can play possession football and play through the thirds, but they are also frightening on the counter. Striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto is someone our backline is going to have to be aware of. If France create chances for her, she will take them. She’s capable of scoring so many different types of goals.

France are coming into this tournament in brilliant form. They have won their last eight games and are scoring loads of goals. You would think they have to be one of the favourites. But then when they go to tournaments, they don’t seem to be able to get to finals, let alone win finals. That’s got to be a psychological thing.

England, on the other hand, have a little bit of swagger now from winning the Euros. You have a group of players who believe they can beat anyone. Maybe that was from Sarina coming in with a different mindset, or that the girls are so used to doing it at club level. But now they know how it feels to have won a tournament. That makes such a difference.