Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Stadion Letzigrund

Huge selection decision by England manager Sarina Wiegman who has named Lauren James in her starting XI.

James played 30 minutes as a substitute against Jamaica - her first match since picking up a hamstring injury in April.

Alex Greenwood starts at centre-back and is making her 100th appearance, while Ella Toone drops to the bench to make way for James, who will play in the number 10 position.

England XI: Hampton, Bronze, Walsh, Greenwood, Williamson, James, Stanway, Mead, Hemp, Carter, Russo.

Subs: Charles, Toone, Le Tissier, Moorhouse, Clinton, Morgan, Agyemang, Kelly, Beever-Jones, Park, Keating, Wubben-Moy.

It's an intriguing selection from France as Alice Sombath and Elisa De Almeida are in defence - one will likely play centre-back and the other right-back.

Griedge Mbock is in the squad but will not play, as confirmed by manager Laurent Bonadei, due to a calf injury.

Chelsea duo Sandy Baltimore and Oriane Jean-François are in the starting XI, while Manchester United's Melvine Malard and Everton's Kelly Gago are on the bench.

France XI: Peyraud-Magnin, Lakrar, Sombath, De Almeida, Karchaoui, Geyoro, Katoto, Bacha, Baltimore, Jean-François, Cascarino.

Subs: Lerond, Picaud, Samoura, Toletti, Malard, Majri, Diani, Mateo, Gago, N'Dongala, Mbock, Bogaert.

The England XI is out - and the headline news is that Lauren James does start.

It is the same England side which beat Jamaica 7-0 in their warm-up friendly last weekend - but with James replacing Ella Toone.

Full team news to follow.

England XI: Hampton, Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood, Carter, Walsh, Stanway, James, Mead, Russo, Hemp.

Izzy Christiansen
Former England midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

France haven't been successful in recent years and looking at their squad, they kind of should be successful.

The fact that Wendie Renard (168 caps) has been stripped of the captaincy and left out of the squad, I just think it's crazy.

However, you have to respect the manager's decision because he thinks it's the right decision.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Lucy Bronze was "shocked" that France did not select Wendie Renard in their Euro 2025 squad and thinks they could be "weakened" without her.

Chelsea defender Bronze won three successive Women's Champions League trophies between 2017 and 2020 alongside Renard, who was captain of their Lyon side.

However, France manager Laurent Bonadei said he went with "a different selection" that was "not made in the spur of the moment" when explaining his reasoning for rejecting 34-year-old Renard, who has made 168 international appearances and had been captain.

"Wendie is a good friend of mine. She's the epitome of what I would describe as a captain figure," said Bronze.

"When I was at Lyon, everything she did as a person and as a player, there was nothing you could fault. I'm sure she will be devastated not to be part of the Euros.

"The manager went a different way. That's how football works sometimes. It's a big shock.

"I want to play against Wendie. For me, not taking someone like that could weaken the French team. I want to play against the strongest French team."

France have never won a major trophy but they have an impressive group-stage record, progressing in each of their past eight major tournament appearances.

And Laurent Bonadei's team have form on their side. They are on an eight-game winning run and have only conceded two goals since February while they last tasted defeat in December - to world champions Spain.

Les Bleues left-back Selma Bacha also said she is "very happy" to play England first, adding: "That's going to put us straight into the thick of things for the Euros."

However, this will be the first time since 2005 that France have been at a Euros or World Cup without both Wendie Renard and all-time leading scorer Eugenie le Sommer, who were controversially left out of Bonadei's side.

These nations have been very evenly matched in recent meetings - of the previous six, three have been won by England and three by France.

They were in the same qualifying group, and each won one match - both away from home, both by a 2-1 score line.

There have been two previous meetings between France and England at the Women’s Euros. Les Bleus won 3-0 in the group stage in 2013, but the Lionesses triumphed 1-0 in the 2017 quarter-finals thanks to a goal from Jodie Taylor.

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport at Stadion Letzigrund

Meet Jennifer and Nikita - a mother and daughter duo who have made the short trip to Zurich from Lausanne, Switzerland.

But they won’t be supporting their home nation at Euro 2025. Instead, they are rooting for the Lionesses.

“I fell in love with England at the age of six and I have visited many times,” Nikita said.

“This is my first game watching them so it is super special. I didn’t sleep the whole night.

“It would mean the world to see England lift the trophy in my country. I think I would be annoying the Swiss people for the rest of my life.”

England midfielder Keira Walsh on what a fully fit Lauren James brings to the squad: “The better question is: what doesn’t she bring? She’s incredible.

"She could go on and be the best player in the world.

"Some of the things she does, nobody else can do it in the game. For us having her here is an incredible boost.

"I always think if I was coming up against her and I saw her in the starting line-up or in the squad for another team, I would be nervous. No pressure on LJ, but she’s got all the talent in the world and in her feet.”

Image source, Getty Images

Izzy Christiansen
Former England midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

There is a possibility Lauren James can start the game.

It is a possibility that Sarina Wiegman could catch France out by starting her and we have seen that before from the England boss.

But my gut feeling is she won't start.

This game is going to be tight, this game is going to be direct, and England need to nullify France first.

Fran Kirby
Former England forward, speaking to 5 Live Breakfast

Keira Walsh has to be in there. She’s always going to be a player to play with her technical ability, unique style of play, intelligence.

Georgia Stanway. The French midfield are very technical, very comfortable on the ball, we need someone to break up the play.

Grace Clinton because she can cover the distances. Then look to bring on Ella Toone and Lauren James in the second half when the French are tired.

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport in Zurich

Most England fans seemed to have arrived into Zurich on Friday and they have taken to the streets in their shirts today.

Plenty of bars in the city centre have flags draped outside and there has been a good atmosphere with some fans playing football in the streets together and others taking to the karaoke booth near the fan park.

A few groups that I spoke to were planning to stick around the fan zone to watch Wales before making the short trip to Stadion Letzigrund.

We would really love to hear from you today - where are you watching the Lionesses? At home, in the pub, or are you a lucky duck out in Switzerland?

And of course, your score predictions please!

Get in touch using the details above - and make sure you include your name in the body text of all correspondence. Charlotte Coates and Adam Millington may allow anon texts to slip through, but I run a tight ship.

Three years ago.

That Ella Toone chip. That Chloe Kelly celebration.

Jill Scott swearing. Sarina Wiegman jumping for joy. The crowds at Wembley, the joy, the atmosphere. Oh, that atmosphere!

England won the European Championship on home soil three years ago. Today, they begin their defence of that crown in Switzerland.

It's a very, very tough start against France - but right now, before the campaign begins, you think anything could happen.

What will happen? Let us find out together.