SheBelieves Cup 2020

Here we go again with match reports on #Lionesses matches. They are my own opinions and views. If you’ve missed the actual match you can get a feel for it here and decide whether it’s worth watching on catch-up TV or not.

England vs Japan SheBelieves Cup 8th March 2020

I’m watching on iPlayer as I’ve been out all day. I don’t know the result….I get to 30 minutes and start wondering if I can fast forwards to any goals. It’s just not good from either side. I could watch the USA vs Spain match live instead…There are some England substitutions at 60 minutes but I’m not really watching any more. I can hear high pitched screaming so Parris must be on…It’s a big error from Japan that allows White to score for England. We can’t rely on other teams making basic errors, the best teams won’t do this. We win 1-0 but it’s not good football. I don’t even watch to the end….

England vs USA 6th March 2020, midnight KO, report written at 2.15am…..!

It’s a halfway decent first half that ends 0-0. Chances at both ends but neither team dominate. Some good passages of play from England, lots of playing out from the back that makes me nervous at times but I do admire their confidence to do it. Jill Scott & Ellen White are struggling to get on the ball as much as I’d like, I can hear Nikita Parris screaming at the referee from here but she hasn’t had any impact on the game yet.

We almost concede a goal early in the second half from a corner, I seem to recall poor defending at corners is a recurring problem of ours. Just when I was wondering why Christen Press isn’t playing for USA she pops up on the edge of our penalty area to score a curler, top bins…she’s done nothing all game, except score. Two minutes later we leave Carli Lloyd unmarked in our penalty area & she scores. A poor spell of marking and we’re 2-0 down.

Chance for Parris but she takes it too close to the GK and it’s saved. The game is more open now. Scott off, Nobbs on and immediately she’s bustling & bossing the midfield. Duggan on for Stanway, personally I thought Stanway was having a great game. White off Beth England on but only 13 minutes left, not enough time to do anything really. Almost immediately she has a good chance in front of goal but it’s over the bar. Kelly on and Parris off but with only 2 minutes left what’s the point?

Good performances from Telford, Stanway, Hemp & Walsh. Some others were disappointing.

OK, we lost 2-0 because we fell asleep for 5 minutes in the second half and we didn’t create many scoring opportunities but we weren’t outclassed at all.