England v Argentina

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England v Argentina

England Advance To Knockout Phase

by Jeremy Ruane

England became the latest European nation to advance to the knockout phases of the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals in front of 20,294 fans at the Stade Oceane in Le Havre, easing past Argentina 1-0 on 14 June, a scoreline which flattered the beaten team.

But for the exploits of "Albiceleste" goalkeeper Vanina Correa, England would have won by a far greater margin. They set out their stall inside the first thirty seconds, with Jill Scott, Fran Kirby and Nikita Parris combining to present Lucy Bronze with the chance to execute a diving header - it flew past the post.

Beth Mead caused Argentina all sorts of problems down the left, and from one raid, a cross from Bronze was headed straight at Correa by Scott, whose physical presence was something which the Argentines tried to contend with, but ultimately couldn't.

"Albiceleste" set out their stall in much the same fashion as that which they used to hold Japan to a scoreless draw, a defensive wall through which England tried to penetrate via all sorts of methods, even using the defenders themselves on occasions - witness Aldana Cometti turning the ball past her own post in her bid to clear a Kirby header.

Just shy of the half-hour mark, England were presented with a great chance to open the scoring when Steph Houghton's ball forward picked out Mead in behind the defence. She slipped the ball inside to Alex Greenwood, who was tripped from behind in the area by Ruth Bravo.

Chinese referee Qin Liang didn't hesitate in pointing to the penalty spot, but Parris' attempt to open the scoring fell foul of a fabulous save to her left by Correa, the 'keeper tipping the ball onto the post. Jodie Taylor was following in, but steered the rebound wide of the target.

Buoyed by their goalkeeper's exploits, Argentina went into their challenges with renewed vigour. A fine tackle by Agustina Barroso foiled Mead in the area in the 34th minute, while after Scott sent a twenty-five yarder soaring over the bar, the offside trap caught out Taylor after Scott headed Kirby's free-kick towards the target five minutes before the interval.

Immediately afterwards, Kirby's through ball left Mead with just the 'keeper to beat, but Correa produced a superb save with her legs to deny the flank player, then punched a Kirby free-kick to safety on the stroke of half-time.

The pattern of play continued into the second spell, five minutes into which Correa produced yet another spellbinding save to keep the scores level. Greenwood fired in a free-kick to the far post, where Jade Moore headed the ball down for Parris to let fly through the gathered throngs.

Correa saw the ball late on, if she even saw it at all, and somehow managed to turn it to safety - a truly magnificent save which, allied to her penalty denial in the first half, made choosing the game's Player of the Match award an absolute doddle!

Correa was in action soon afterwards, with Taylor directing a header at the keeper after Kirby, Scott and Parris had combined to engineer the opening. But in the 61st minute, England finally found a way through Argentina's defensive wall.

Scott and Kirby linked up in midfield, with the ball being played wide to Mead. Her low cross arrowed across the goalmouth to the far post, where Taylor was on hand to steer the ball home to the undisguised delight of the scorer, her team-mates, and the vast majority of the supporters in the stands - due to Le Havre's proximity to England, many had made the trip across the water to support "The Lionesses".

The sense of relief that the goal brought was palpable, but further English attempts to build on their advantage proved fruitless, with Scott the biggest culprit, twice directing headers over the bar upon receipt of deliveries from Mead and Greenwood.

England were comfortable 1-0 winners, with Argentina mustering just one shot of note in the entire match - a 76th minute effort from substitute Mariana Larroquette which gave the hitherto unoccupied Carly Telford something to do twixt the sticks.

You can guarantee whoever's in goal for England in their next match in five days' time will be busier, with the winner of the Japan - England affair set to top the group heading into the knockout phase.

England: Telford; Bronze, Houghton, McManus, Greenwood; Scott, Moore (booked, 45), Kirby (Carney, 89); Parris (Daly, 86), Taylor, Mead (Stanway, 81)

Argentina: Correa; Sachs, Barroso (booked, 69), Cometti (booked, 39), Stabile; Bonsegundo, Bravo, Mayorga, Benitez (Santana, 77), Banini (Larroquette, 68); Jaimes (Oviedo, 90))

Referee: Qin Liang (China)

Group Matches