Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor deployed Baltimore in a more advanced role on the left-hand side during the latter stages of the season, a position which she also occupies for France.

Baltimore scored nine goals and created six assists in 29 games (2,060 minutes) for the Blues this season, meaning she effectively averaged a goal or an assist every game and a half for Chelsea during the 2024/25 campaign (137 minutes).

Having scored just four times for her country between her debut in December 2020 and February 2025, the Blues star then netted five goals in five consecutive UEFA Nations League matches between February and June of this year.

As the European Championship began in early July, Baltimore knew she would have to face several of her Chelsea team-mates in a tough clash with England in the opening Group D match, but unfazed, her form continued.

Baltimore delivered a hammer blow to England, scoring just three minutes after France’s opening goal. She had now bagged six in as many competitive international appearances, becoming the first player to do so for Les Bleues since Marie-Antoinette Katoto in November 2021. It was also the winger's first in a major tournament.

‘It wasn’t an easy game; England are a great team,’ Baltimore said after that win. ‘We managed to stay calm and win the game, but it’s only the first game. So, let’s not get carried away; there are still two games to play in the group. We’ll see what happens.’

After that opening win, two more followed. A 4-1 triumph over Wales and a 5-2 victory against the Netherlands saw Les Bleues top the group with a 100 per cent record.

Baltimore’s playing time was managed. Over 167 minutes in the group stage, she scored one goal, had two shots on target and created two opportunities for her team-mates, while contributing defensively with a tackle, a clearance and an interception, and 53 successful passes.

Her style is combative yet elegant, a mixture of winning the ball back and running at opponents down the wing, and we know she can score goals too.

Up next is a tough quarter-final clash against Germany on Saturday evening, but the Chelsea number 17 is feeling confident.

‘I feel very good, the team feels very good too,’ she said in a press conference. ‘I think there's a great atmosphere, things are going very well with lots of smiles and moments of joy.’

That joy was evident when Baltimore and France team-mate Salma Bacha erupted into fits of laughter during that same press conference. Together since the days of playing in the Under-17 side, a question was posed to the pair in English.

The interviewer was speaking too fast to be understood, which sparked the initial hilarity and prompted Baltimore to say ‘slowly, bro!’ to the journalist. Cue more laughter, and lots of shares on social media too.

The France national team reporter at the tournament reinforced the idea of a light mood in the camp, describing it as ‘striking the right balance between focus and good spirits’ on the UEFA website.

Laurent Bonadei’s side will certainly be ready to work come Saturday’s kick-off in Basel. The memories of being knocked out by Germany in the semi-final at Euro 2022 will still be in the back of their minds, although France can take heart from a more recent 2-1 win over the same opponent in the UEFA Nations League semi-final in 2024.

Baltimore will come up against Chelsea team-mate Sjoeke Nusken, who has started all three of Germany’s matches so far in the tournament, and Blues fans can look forward to an epic battle between the two sides.

What's for certain is that Sandy Baltimore will be looking to get herself on the scoresheet for her country once more.

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