England Ladies Team

Match Reports:
Holland Ladies v England Ladies
Hungary Ladies v England Ladies

Thursday September 20, 2007
England Ladies Update & Quarter Final Preview

The Womens' World Cup Finals in China are reaching the business end of the competition and England are still in there scrapping. Here we look back at some of the talking points from our successful mission to qualify from the group stage and look ahead to Saturdays' quarter final tie against the United States (Boo, Hiss).

And because we think the only thing with almost as high a feelgood factor as womens football is 1980's music we are linking everything to some classic tunes from that magnificent decade.

England's opening game against Japan was always going to be crucial to their hopes of qualifying and the game was almost unbearably dramatic.

Losing 1-0 with ten minutes to go, having missed a host of chances, it looked as though England's World Cup adventure was going to be over before it had really started. Then two quickfire Kelly Smith goals seemed to have all but secured qualification only for the Japanese to stun us with a last gasp free kick equaliser.

Phew!

After this incredible game the main talking point became Kelly Smith's goal celebrations. Apparently manager Hope Powell was not impressed by her star player drawing attention to herself having just singlehandedly rescued her nation from an instant World Cup exit.

Football England has to take issue with Hope on this one. Surely if you score for England in the World Cup finals it is obligatory to celebrate in the most elaborate way possible.

Hope shouldn't have had a go at Kelly for her celebrations, she should have got all the other forwards together, ordered them to think up a celebration of their own, demanded that they score during the tournament so they could show it to the world and promised a prize for the one she thought the best.

It's a serious business but the girls do still want to have some fun, Hope. Party pooper.

Goody Two Shoes; Adam Ant, May 1982 no. 1

Just in case you missed Kelly's magnificent celebrations we'll run them by you now.

Having stroked home England's equaliser with the steel nerved calm of a professional hitwoman La Smith removed her left boot in the blinking of an eye, tenderly kissed it and then held it aloft for the world to admire.

Good stuff.

When she then slammed England ahead two minutes later, this time with her right foot, she whipped both her boots off for us all to admire.

Goody two shoes.

I presume the only thing stopping her from completing her hat trick was the lack of a third foot/boot.

As I say, this apparently didn't impress her manager but my only worry would have been whether it was advisable to play football in boots that come off so easily.

System Addict; Five Star, Jan. 1986 no. 3

So we were a bit disappointed in Hope for nipping Kelly's goal celebrations in the bud, she was probably sulking against the Germans and therefore didn't bother scoring against them, but we forgave the England manager after she masterminded a fantastic draw in the next game against the world champions.

Hope doesn't really change her formation at any stage but she is more than willing to shift players around within her preferred system. Against Germany she got it absolutely right.

Four strong, committed defenders stood firm against the German juggernaut and basically stopped it in its' tracks. Three tireless, combative midfielders harried and chased the opposition to distraction.

Her forward trio threatened a breakthrough in the first half and then rolled their sleeves up and pitched in to the team effort after the break as England secured the best result in their international history.

Hope Powell must have been delighted. All that and not a goal celebration in sight.

The Bitterest Pill (Fara Ever Had To Swallow); Sept. 1982 no. 2

So we went into the final game against Argentina and, amazingly, we were brimming with confidence that an England side would qualify without any real problem. This faith was justified as England cantered to a 6-1 victory but the game was not without its' down sides.

First and foremost there was the ludicrous booking picked up by Football England favourite Fara Williams, her second of the tournament, which rules her out of the quarter finals.

Fara had picked up her first caution in the Germany game for scything down one of the Hun as she raced towards the England penalty area. Fair enough, well done Fara.

Throughout the Argentina game, however, Fara had been on her best behaviour. Refusing to commit herself to any challenges unless she was absolutely certain that the ball was hers she had dutifully got herself goalside of her opponents all night and just jockeyed them into passing to ensure she did not collect that dreaded second yellow card.

Typically the Argentinians were too devious for her. Fara had not considered the possibility that she might be in danger when she actually had possession herself.

Never underestimate the Argentinians, however. Or referees from Guyana.

Fara's tragic moment came when she received possession with a couple of opponents in close attendance. She tried to weave her way between them but was sent flying by the first one with a blatant barge in the back. As she went sprawling Fara inadvertently brought down the second Argentinian.

Free kick to England you could hear the whole world saying in unison. The typhoon that has since hit China was probably caused by this spontaneous reaction.

Dianne Ferreira-James didn't hear it, however. The hapless official not only saw the incident as a free kick to Argentina but deemed it a bookable offence.

Well done you fool. Now Fara has to sit out the biggest game of her life. Brilliant.

I can't believe FIFA haven't looked at the decision and seen sense.

Walls Come Tumbling Down; Style Council, May 1985 no. 6

The other disturbing thing to come out of the Argentina game was the fact that they scored against us. This might not seem so bad, especially as we scored six, but the fact that this was the third free kick to fly past Rachel Brown in the tournament gives some serious food for thought.

Two of the three have been fine strikes but it is still a worry and England need to look at the positioniong of their walls, who they put in the wall and where Brown herself is standing. Maybe they should start putting someone on the post?

Maybe they should start selecting Lianne Sanderson just so she can go in the walls. I've never been able to convince Hope Powell to play her for her attacking qualities. Maybe this idea will do the trick.

Get The Balance Right; Depeche Mode, Feb. 1983 no.13

Having qualified England now face the prospect of a quarter final tie with the joint favourites America. Obviously Hope Powell has another massive challenge ahead of her.

It would appear as though her team picks itself other than in the three forward positions.

Given that the American attack is built along similar lines to that of the Germans' then it seems safe to assume that Powell will stick to the back four that coped so brilliantly with the Hun.

Faye White and Anita Asante were giants in the centre of defence and were ably assisted by the solid full back pairing of Mary Phillip and Casey Stoney.

With Fara Williams suspended it also seems certain that Katie Chapman will return alongside Jill Scott in a predominantly defensive midfield role while Kelly Smith is employed as an attacking midfielder.

Who gets the nod up front is more difficult to call and whether the options offer England the necessary balance between attack and defence is debatable.

Alex Scott seems sure to play and will not let anyone down. When she plays up front, however, she tends to make England more durable still, not more threatening. She is probably more dangerous as an attacking full back. In the Japan game she started several dangerous moves with her pace and anticipation.

England have not had that impetus in the two other games they have played. It would be a bold move but I think playing Scott at full back, and she is a more than capable defender, does give England a better balance between defence and attack.

Eni Aluko has probably done enough to secure her place after an improved performance against Argentina but she is still finding it impossible to hit the net. She is getting closer though.

Rachel Yankey also improved on her performance against Japan in the game against Argentina but it seems hard on Karen Carney to lose her place to players who did more against Argentina than she managed against the mighty Germans.

Personally I think Carney should start. Unilke Yankey she definitely has the bottle to take on the biggest and the best and will never go missing in action.

Whoever she selects, however, Powell does need to try and improve the balance between attack and defence. The draw against Germany was magnificent but now it is the knockout stages there has to be more of an emphasis on trying to hurt the opposition.

Having watched the Americans I think there is no reason to believe they cannot be beaten.

Buffalo Gals; Malcolm McClaren, Dec. 1982 no. 9

Beating America will certainly not be easy. They are ranked number two in the world and are joint favourites to win the competition. They are also used to and expected to do well at these events.

Physically they will offer a huge challenge. They are big and strong all over the pitch and they play to those strengths. Long balls, long throws, corners, free kicks, lunging tackles.

It's a bit like playing one of Sam Allardyce's teams.

If the England defence can stand firm to the battering they are likely to receive then there is no reason why our forwards can't cause problems to the strapping American back four.

Big and strong are words to fit the American defenders but cumbersome might apply also. If Kelly Smith gets enough of the ball she will cause them big problems but it is important that England's smaller forwards also make their presence felt.

Carney, Aluko, Yankey and Alex Scott all have it in them to turn and outpace the opposition. If one or two of them really join Kelly Smith at the party then England must have a good chance of progressing further.

North Korea put two past the Americans and could have had more. Nigeria's Perpetua Nkwocha, a very pacy player, caused their defence plenty of problems with Cat Whitehill, a genuine Buffalo Gal, struggling to keep up on several occasions.

Whilst England will no doubt have a lot of defending to do and need to get that area of their performance right it is vital that we look to pose a threat whenever possible and get at the American defence.

Favourite Shirts; Haircut 100, Oct. 1981 no. 4

One other thing might just work in England's favour as well. With China suffering from typhoons and the like it might just benefit England if it's pouring down again when we take on the Americans.

This is not for any footballing reasons but simply because our kit is likely to hold up better than theirs.

Against Nigeria, when it was leathering down, the Americans ended up looking like drowned rats with their shirts and shorts getting completely waterlogged.

Not only did this look extremely uncomfortable, kit plastered skintight to their bodies, but they might have been getting worried about whether or not they were still decent.

If the same happens again it could just prove to be the difference as we carry on as normal in out nice, sensible shirts.

In conclusion all I can say is COME ON ENGLAND!

Saturday January 28, 2006

Destination Ewood For England Ladies Mission