Good summing up, but I pesonally do not see this team getting better. Losing Walsh is a huge blow, as it was to MCFC ladies.Right, okay, but it's still all relative, isn't it?
Women's football's a different sport to the men's game but knockout tournaments aren't really about quality at the early stages, they're just about getting through each game and then hoping it falls your way when the time comes. England will get better as the tournament goes on. The last few World Cup winners in the men's game and the women's game have all had relatively shaky starts by their standards before picking up momentum in the early knockout rounds (except for the US women in 2019).
Spain in 2010. Lost their opening game.
Germany in 2014. Drew 2-2 against Ghana in the group stages.
France in 2018. Drew 1-1 with Denmark in the groups.
Argentina in 2022. Lost to Saudi Arabia in the groups.
Germany in 2007. Drew 0-0 against England in the groups.
Japan in 2011. Finished 2nd in their group behind England.
USA in 2015. Drew 0-0 against Sweden in the groups.
It's about getting a rhythm going. That isn't always possible in the first couple of games, especially with the major injuries England have got in the squad. They're basically through the groups now so they can start worrying about performances in a week or so when they get into the knockouts. For now it's just about learning how to play with each other again and getting the results over the line.
I was quite surprised that it was Coombs who came on for the injured Walsh and not the ragette Zelem. Thought she would be seen as the natural replacement rather than moving Stanway into the more restricted DM role.Good summing up, but I pesonally do not see this team getting better. Losing Walsh is a huge blow, as it was to MCFC ladies.
Yeah, Stanway has one specific position which brings out her best. The days she had playing full back for us did nothing but suffocate he creative quaities. It might be that Zelem didn't figure 'cps the two Ragettes already on were doing very little!I was quite surprised that it was Coombs who came on for the injured Walsh and not the ragette Zelem. Thought she would be seen as the natural replacement rather than moving Stanway into the more restricted DM role.
Stone cold penalty. VAR checked it as well.Oooh that's as much a pen as the first and it's being ignored! Co-commentator saying "It looked clumsy!' It looked like a blatant push in the back!
So's this one for Haiti. Classic case of holding the player down. Come on, that's holding. I think she even had a handful of the Haitian girl's hair. That's two clear and obvious pens both chalked off for what were penal offences. Shitty reffing, shitty VARing! But I must say I'm not surprised.Stone cold penalty. VAR checked it as well.