France will put on a united front when they play England in their Women's Euro group opener in Zurich on Saturday, the team said on Friday, despite former captain Wendie Renard and record goal-scorer Eugenie Le Sommer being left out of the tournament squad.

Lauren James, who was a major doubt ahead of Sarina Wiegman’s squad selection, played her first match since April when she came on as a 63rd minute substitute in Sunday’s pre-tournament friendly — a 7-0 thrashing of Jamaica. And Wiegman said James could even start when the Lionesses kick off their title defense against France on Saturday in Zurich.

European Women’s Championship got under way this week and the four teams in Group D will get their campaigns under way later. The standout fixture sees France take on England, the