Women's football

[Gingerfinch]

I reckon Aylesbury Utd would take Latvia to the cleaners. Women against girls comes to mind.

Talking of Aylesbury. Our very own Ellen White broke the England goal scoring record.

[sussexpob]

Obviously its a total mismatch, but its important women are able to represent their countries... maybe the embarrassment might force some changes in how their countries fund the game.

[alfie]

Rather a ridiculous mis match , I'm afraid. When I first saw the score on the BBC site I had to check it wasn't actually referring to a Rugby match

Still I guess the only way the smaller countries can ever improve is with exposure at the top level. As you say , Sussex , funding is important.

[Gingerfinch]

Rather a ridiculous mis match , I'm afraid. When I first saw the score on the BBC site I had to check it wasn't actually referring to a Rugby match

Still I guess the only way the smaller countries can ever improve is with exposure at the top level. As you say , Sussex , funding is important.

You could argue that San Marino have regressed in the last 30 years. On the flip side, I remember England beating Turkey 8-0, then 15 years later, Turkey had a good team and came third in the 2002 world cup!

[Gingerfinch]

Just got back from the Cup final. To say Arsenal were disappointing is a massive understatement. Chelsea were good and got off to a flier but Arsenal never really took risks and seemed quite happy to pass it around.
A good day though even in the cold.

[Durhamfootman]

I watched the second half. Given the quality of Miedema, Mead, Little et al in the Arsenal line up, it was surprising to see how utterly dominated they were by Chelsea. It was real women v girls stuff. The second Kerr goal was genuine quality

It took a speculative volley from Duggan for Everton to see off the Durham wildcats 1-0 in the league cup

[Durhamfootman]

Odd game tonight against Canada

First half looked all England despite them only having two players on the pitch.... the rock at the back that every Canadian wave crashed against in Millie Bright and the attacking dynamo that is Lauren Hemp (how good is she becoming btw?).

Second half..... all Canada. Tactical changes at half time that completely neutralised England's most potent attacking threat, while England faffed about endlessly at the back trying to play out of their back third under pressure and prevaricated in midfield, under pressure, looking for a ball to Hemp that was never there. In the end they had to take Hemp off and try something else that didn't work. England were so hopelessly flapping around at the sudden change of tactic from Canada that for a while I thought Eddie Jones must have taken temporary charge of another England team.

In the end the 1-1 result rather flattered England, I think, which is a bit worrying given that the Canada players who play in the US will have been blowing off the cobwebs, while the roses are at their mid season peak

They'll have to be better than that against Spain and Germany, or 1-1 might be their best result in this tournament

[Durhamfootman]

decent enough match today. I missed the first half hour, but I enjoyed what I did see.

I'm usually a critic of Keira Walsh... she always feels to me as though she sucks the life of any forward intent, but England were in danger of being overrun when she came on and her arrival coincided with a marked upturn in England's play, so her worth was there to be seen today.

Spain, obviously, dominated possession, but my problem with England atm is their lack of team understanding. When Spain move the ball around, they know where the players are around them and they all seem to know what everyone is going to do or where they're going to be. England don't seem to have that understanding, so a lot of passes were played behind or went straight out because no-one seems to know what others are doing, or where they are going to be. That's probably because this is a much changed England with a lot of players coming in and out of the side. Something to work on, but it does feel to me as though the main players need to play together more often amid the merry go round of team selection. I completely understand the new coach trying new players, new player combinations and formations, btw. Bronze is very obviously working her way back into match sharpness, White looked as though she was running in treacle tonight, Kirby seems shorn of all confidence and never seems to want to shoot these days. Hemp is in and out of the side and when she is in she's constantly being switched from one side to the other. She nearly scored within 30 secs of coming on, but the woodwork came to Spain's rescue

I'm liking Jess Taylor. I've seen her a couple of times playing for Chelsea, although I'm sure she was at right back for them, but she seems assured, composed and aware. Not so keen on what I've seen from Russo and Toone and very surprised to see Jill Scott back in the side. Good to see Nobbs back in an England shirt after all her time out with injury, but also a little surprising.

The star of the night for me was the goalkeeper Hampton. I have no idea who she is or who she plays for, but it was a terrific debut against a technical side like Spain. She made the saves she needed to make, her positioning was good and she looked competent and confident on the ball........ and she's a catcher, not a puncher.... how very old fashioned, but how very refreshing. Even when she had to dive full length to her bottom corner she clung onto the ball and snaffled out any chance of Spain getting onto the rebound. Looks very young too, but had a debut to be proud of.

Germany up next mid week

[Gingerfinch]

Hampton was excellent. Looked calm and distribution was good.

Too many sideways passes for me. Easy to see on the TV but Spain were quite flat and open at times but the midfield were happy to play the safe pass.

A draw tonight will make it even more interesting in the last round of matches.

[Durhamfootman]

I'm liking Jess Taylor.

Jess Carter, of course. I have no idea where Taylor came from

[Gingerfinch]

I'm liking Jess Taylor.

Jess Carter, of course. I have no idea where Taylor came from

We call her Anna. She look exactly like a girl my daughter plays Football with, though Jess is a bit older of course!

[sussexpob]

In what must be a first, New Zealand defender Moore scores a perfect hat-trick of own goals against USA.

I mean, its hard enough to score the perfect hattrick in your oppositions net, so this is really special.

[Durhamfootman]

Hegerberg has made herself available to play for Norway again after a 5 year hiatus

I'm guessing this will please SP

[Durhamfootman]

that 3rd goal for England was a cracker

Hemp is on fire atm. Credit to Williamson for the drive and the through ball that set it up

[Gingerfinch]

Had a great day at the FA Cup final. I thought City were slightly better but three individual mistakes cost them. A double double for Chelsea though