MATCH REPORT | Netherlands 2-5 France: Delphine Cascarino stars as Les Bleues reach quarter-finals in style | OneFootball

France fought from behind against the Netherlands to seal their progression to the quarter-finals of Euro 2025 after a stunning second half brace from Delphine Cascarino fired Les Bleues to a vital win at St Jakobs Park in Basel on Sunday evening.Les Bleues were in a strong position going into the final group game against the Netherlands in Basel on Sunday evening, they knew that by avoiding a loss they could guarantee their spot to progress to the quarter-finals, following wins over England and Wales which gave them a three-point buffer as they faced the Dutch at St Jakobs Park.

Laurent Bonadei’s side got off just on the right foot when Sandie Toletti took responsibility and popped up on the edge of the box to volley home precisely to open the scoring for Les Bleues and maximise qualification chances in the opening half-hour (21′). But the lead didn’t last long. The Dutch, who were backed by a big support in St Jakob’s Park on Sunday evening found a quick-fire response through Pelova, who picked up on a rebounded strike which was initially saved superbly by Peyraud Magnin but was arrowed into the top right corner on the follow-up (26′). Whilst France looked like they controlled proceedings for a period of the first half, Les Bleues would be chasing the game going into the second period.

A narrow defeat would do no harm, but by two or more goals would see Bonadei’s side take the short trip over the border back to France. Les Bleues had the perfect chance just as the minute struck 50, when Delphine Cascarino spurned a strike way over the bar from the six-yard box. Yet when Cascarino picked up the ball only minutes later, she only had one thing on her mind. Driving into the Dutch half, the winger beat two defenders before unleashing a long-range strike into the left top corner to get Les Bleues level in emphatic style (63′). She wasn’t finished there. It only took three more minutes for the San Diego Wave attacker to grab her second of the game. This time she composed herself on the edge of the box as the ball rebounded off the right post, and she struck first-time into an open far left corner to grab her second of the game (66′).It seemed from then on that the Oranje couldn’t get back into the affair. Marie-Antoinnette Katoto blasted over the bar as France had a late surge following a prolonged spell of Dutch possession. But the final blow would come as Sakina Karchaoui stepped up to convert a penalty just as the clock turned 90 to complete a confidence-boosting comeback in Basel.GFFN | George Boxall – Reporting from St Jakobs Park, Basel.