25 July 2024
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FIFA World Cup: England secure spot in last eight

July 6, 2024

England booked their place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-finals last night, with a 2-0 victory over Japan landing them top of Group B.

Women's-World-Cup-logoA first-half Ellen White lob flew perfectly into the back of the net to open the scoring while Rachel Yankey doubled their lead in the second half with a neatly chipped finish.

Whilst a point would have been enough to guarantee their progress, the win puts England at the top of Group B meaning they now face Group A runners up France on Saturday. Germany, who topped Group A, are to meet Japan, who finished as runners-up to England.

It was an altered England side that greeted Japan in Augsburg. Four changes were made to the side that beat New Zealand on Friday, with Fara Williams and skipper Faye White rested and replaced by Anita Asante and Sophie Bradley respectively. Jess Clarke and Karen Carney came in for Rachel Yankey and Eniola Aluko.

After a scrappy start it was Japan’s Kozue Ando who had the first real chance of the match with a shot from the edge of the box testing Karen Bardsley in the England goal.

Conscious not to let Japan fall into the short passing game for which they are renowned, England created a few chances of their own with White coming close when she connected with fellow debutant Sophie Bradley’s long throw.

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But just minutes later and this warm-up exercise made way for the real thing when White broke the deadlock after 15 minutes.

A looping ball from Karen Carney made its way through the Japan defence to find the young Arsenal striker, who put in a superb lob which sailed over Ayumi Kaihori and into the net.

With both sides stepping up their game it was 20 minutes until the next real chance arose, and this time it was Japan’s turn to pile on the pressure. An Aya Miyama and Aya Sameshima combination could have made it level if Bradley hadn’t shuffled her feet well to clear off the line.

Moments later and White almost doubled England’s advantage with an acrobatic overhead kick from Clarke’s chipped centre, but Kaihori back tracked well to tip the ball on to the bar.

Japan almost drew level just minutes after the restart when the unmarked Yuki Nagasato prodded Miyama’s free-kick from close range, but she could only take it wide.

Japan continued to press but the well-organised England defence kept any real chances at bay. Moments later and a Powell substitution paid off as Yankey, who replaced Clarke at the break, doubled England’s advantage on 66 minutes.

Taking control of a Rachel Unitt cross, Yankey clipped the ball neatly over Kaihori to find the back of the net.

Japan attempted to respond throughout the closing moments, but Bardsley’s dominance of her penalty area together with a controlled England defence kept the Asian side at bay.

Elsewhere in Group B and New Zealand fought well to score twice in stoppage time to earn a 2-2 draw with Mexico in Sinsheim and secure their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup point.

The final two games for Group A saw Nigeria defeat Canada 1-0 to claim their first FIFA Women’s World Cup win since 1999, whilst Germany emerged 4-2 victors over France in the battle for top spot.

Jessica Whittington, Sportsister
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