 and captain Millie Bright (Picture: PA) England's opening group game at the World Cup was not the breezy beginning that many expected. While countries like Germany and Brazil put on a show to kick-start their tournaments, England struggled against Haiti and can perhaps consider themselves fortunate to get the win. It was Georgia Stanway's retaken penalty that ensured England did take all three points. It means the Lionesses have not scored a goal from open play in any of their past four matches. However, it would be a mistake to write off England's World Cup campaign on the back of this result. The opening game at the Euros was a 1-0 win against Austria at Old Trafford which certainly had its own moments of discomfort. In fact, the result against Haiti demonstrated how important it is to have your whole team prepared to step up when needed. With the frontline misfiring, goalkeeper Mary Earps showed why she was named the best in the world last year, making three excellent saves to keep England in the lead. Credit should also be given to Haiti for their performance. Nineteen-year-old Melchie Dumornay showed exactly why French champions Lyon rushed to sign her back in January. They would be fighting quite a few more clubs based on even one performance at this World Cup. Her speed caught the eye but the way she marked Keira Walsh out of the match was even more impressive. It is easy to expect bigger nations to simply breeze through these kinds of tests and in the past perhaps that was true in the women's game. Many feared that the expansion of this year's World Cup to 32 teams would only highlight the gap but if anything it has done the opposite. Minnows causing upsets That is because it isn't just England who have been caught unawares by lower-ranked opponents. In the opening game, New Zealand won their first ever World Cup match at the 16th attempt after they defeated a Norway side that contained Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg. Yet){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
England’s opening group game at the World Cup was not the breezy beginning that many expected.
While countries like Germany and Brazil put on a show to kick-start their tournaments, England struggled against Haiti and can perhaps consider themselves fortunate to get the win.
It was Georgia Stanway’s retaken penalty that ensured England did take all three points. It means the Lionesses have not scored a goal from open play in any of their past four matches.
However, it would be a mistake to write off England’s World Cup campaign on the back of this result. The opening game at the Euros was a 1-0 win against Austria at Old Trafford which certainly had its own moments of discomfort.