21/06/2019

FIFA Women's World Cup - England 2-0 Japan - England top the group win three wins from three

Ellen White scored a brace to help England to the top of the table in their final group match against Japan.
Photo from Manchester Evening News
Phil Neville made eight changes from the win over Argentina to face 2011 champions Japan.
One of those changes was Ellen White, who showed her striker's intelligence in scoring her 30th and 31st goals for her country, both from clever through balls.
Neville's style of play had a stuttering start once again, against the 2015 finalists who beat the Lionesses at the semi-final stage four years ago.
England did impress on the counter-attack, but struggled to play out from the back and were sloppy in possession at times.
Karen Bardsley tipped an early Kumi Yokohama 35-yard free kick onto the bar, with Japan controlling the midfield.
Substitute Yuika Sugasawa twice came closest to an equaliser, firstly when she stretched to meet a left-wing cross but poked inches wide with Bardsley struggling to cover.
Bardsley then made a superb last-ditch save to deny Sugasawa once more.
England suffered a second half slump, but Japan - who lost 3-0 to England in the SheBelieves Cup in March - couldn't capitalise and finished second in the group.
Topping the group leaves England in the half of the draw containing hosts France and potentially the holders the USA.

Georgia Stanway made her first World Cup start against Japan, peppering Ayake Yamashita with two early shots showing her comfort on the biggest stage, before making White's first goal.

And it was Stanway's replacement Karen Carney who slipped the ball through for the Manchester City forward thrid of the tournament.
Rachel Daly started in place of Nikita Parris, and impressed despite being in an unfamiliar position on the right wing.
Parris is likely to return for the last-16 match against Cameroon, but Daly complemented Lucy Bronze and was full of energy down the right.

Knockout Draw
Section One
Norway vs Australia - 22 June, 20:00, Nice
England vs Cameroon - 23 June, 16:30, Valenciennes
France vs Brazil - 23 June, 20:00, Le Havre
Spain vs USA - 24 June, 17:00, Reims
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Section Two
Italy vs China PR - 25 June, 17:00, Montpellier
Netherlands vs Japan - 25 June, 20:00, Rennes
Germany vs Nigeria - 22 June, 16:30, Grenoble
Sweden vs Canada - 24 June, 20:00, Paris
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