Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Looked like it tanked it down before kick off. hope you had your brolly

Rain wasn't forecast, so just my raincoat.

only saw bits of last night's game, but what I did see had the feel of the early morning hair of the dog, after the big night out against USA

It was on but I only looked up now and again. The Czech's looked well organised and scrapped for everything, including first and second balls.

See the Irish Girls chanting pro IRA songs.....

Is it 1977 again?

everything else feels like 1977 atm, so perhaps

decent game last night, I thought

4-0 victory for the lionesses over former world champs Japan. England dominated for long spells despite being a much changed side compared to the one that won the European Cup. Japan really struggled against the high press and couldn't seem to get themselves going.

no Williamson, Greenwood or Bronze, all out with injury, so the always versatile Daly switched to right back and two players I don't know came in, Morgan and Charles. Both did well. Russo up front after a long injury layoff didn't look anywhere near her best. Toone got a rare start alongside Stanway in the absence of the injured Kirby. Mead on the right and Kelly in for the injured Hemp on the left. Kelly was excellent, I thought. She kept whipping in really dangerous crosses which Russo failed to capitalise on, although she did head onto the post at one point. After England spurned chance after chance up front, the goal came from Daly who latched onto a loose ball which came from another Kelly cross and fired it in past the keeper. Kelly charged in from the left to pick up the pieces after Russo failed to get onto a great ball from Mead and deservedly scored early in the second half. After that it was straight forward. Toone scored the third after spurning a couple earlier and after the introduction of Ebony Salmon and Lauren James, who were both excellent, Jess Park came on with 2 mins to go for her international debut and scored with her first touch. James covered almost half the length of the pitch like the road runner chasing a long ball into the corner, muscled off the defender and thumped the ball across the face of the goal for Park to tap in. Terrific work

Good game. I enjoyed it

worth noting that Germany also beat the USA 2-1 on Thursday evening

USA have a bit of work to do ahead of next year's world cup

Ellie Roebuck gets a rare opportunity and gifts 10 player Norway a late equaliser with a howler. She rushed out to clear a hopeful longball, beat the attacker to it, but took her eye off the ball and air kicked it, leaving the attacker to roll the ball into an empty net.

I heard a stat that said she has only ever had one clean sheet in an England shirt, although I don't know how true that is. I'm sure she's a good keeper, but she does seem to be a bit calamitous at times.

England dominated throughout even before the late sending off, but were guilty of profligacy in front of goal. Shot after shot flew high and wide, with one nearly clearing the stand behind the goal. Rachel Daly, who scored again, played up front today and then dropped to right back late on when Russo came on.

Nearly every time I see Roebuck play, she makes a howler. It doesn't always contribute to a goal but she is a liability. Even the free kick save looked a bit dramatic.

Gingerfinch wrote:Nearly every time I see Roebuck play, she makes a howler.

tbh, I didn't want to say that, because I wasn't terribly sure of my facts, but yes... I agree

England unbeaten throughout the whole of 2022, I understand. Quite an achievement

I watched the lionesses take on S Korea last night. It was a match they were strong favourites to win and they did so comfortably

They were a long way off their best though and looked very rusty. A lot of their passes were either too short or too heavy and it was clear that Sarina was using the match to give game time to the next generation, so there was an almost continual shuffling around of personnel. Still, they got the job done, scoring 4 and hitting the woodwork 3 times

It was the first time I've had the chance to take a proper look at Lauren James and she looks a real prospect. Easily the best player on the pitch last night. She has great control and great strength when dribbling, and she's very direct which usually frightens defenders. Once she's on a run she looks like the only way to stop her is to bring her down or tug her back. Very impressive performance against admittedly low quality opposition

the Canada players are not very happy

Durhamfootman wrote:I watched the lionesses take on S Korea last night. It was a match they were strong favourites to win and they did so comfortably

They were a long way off their best though and looked very rusty. A lot of their passes were either too short or too heavy and it was clear that Sarina was using the match to give game time to the next generation, so there was an almost continual shuffling around of personnel. Still, they got the job done, scoring 4 and hitting the woodwork 3 times

It was the first time I've had the chance to take a proper look at Lauren James and she looks a real prospect. Easily the best player on the pitch last night. She has great control and great strength when dribbling, and she's very direct which usually frightens defenders. Once she's on a run she looks like the only way to stop her is to bring her down or tug her back. Very impressive performance against admittedly low quality opposition

We went last night.

The first game was decent. Thought Italy were a little unlucky to lose.

England were decent but Korea worked their socks off for 90 minutes. James did play well. Strong like her brother. I was a little disappointed with Hemp, when she came on. She normally drives with the ball but played the easy pass too often.

Durhamfootman wrote: It was the first time I've had the chance to take a proper look at Lauren James and she looks a real prospect. Easily the best player on the pitch last night. She has great control and great strength when dribbling, and she's very direct which usually frightens defenders. Once she's on a run she looks like the only way to stop her is to bring her down or tug her back. Very impressive performance against admittedly low quality opposition

I dont know if she has changed, but the first time I seen her play, it struck me that she was more than a little overweight for a professional footballer.