Mansfield Woodhouse midfielder Jo Potter watches on as England lose to France
A tight game, in which the Lionesses managed only one shot on target, was settled by a Eugenie Le Sommer strike on 29 minutes.
The French are ranked third in the world and England have not beaten them since 1974.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdEngland are back in action in Group F on Saturday when they take on Mexico at 9pm.
The 30-year-old Potter will be hoping to add to her 21 appearances for her country, 19 as starts and two from the bench.