Lauren James was spared the Full Beckham by the belligerence of the remaining Lionesses, but England must be better than this to go far in the World Cup...
This was a wretched performance from England, really. The only elements to be praised were the tenacity and perseverance and the composure of the final four penalty-takers. England were slower, more ponderous and less sure of themselves in every area of the pitch than a quite brilliant Nigeria side.There was mitigation for England’s apparent sloppiness and carelessness with the ball in the sheer excellence of Nigeria’s pressing. England never had a second to think.
Nigeria’s attacking play was good, but before the sending off changed the tone, their defending was if anything even more impressive. With Rachel Daly at left wing-back and Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp operating ahead of James the counter-attacking threat was always there, but only ever nascent. Nigeria snuffed everything out. There were glimmers of possibility a couple of times in the first half when Hemp found some space out on the left, but only fleetingly.
. But at least he was stupid and suckered in by Diego Simeone, a man who has gone on to prove himself an elite shithouse. Perhaps the finest in the game’s history.
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