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England set for the knockout stages!

Womens World Cup England

by Claire S - BBC Sport (U1199647) 14 September 2007

England's draw against Germany means the side are now in a great position to qualify from their group, which would be a huge step forward for the game in this country.

I thought England looked really solid - Faye White (one of my three players of the match along with Katie Chapman and Rachel Brown) led by example with some staunch defending but every player chipped in.

And while it was clear Germany were a bit off-colour with Birgit Prinz not really getting a sniff, the England side can take a lot of credit for forcing that through their tenacity.

Actually, it would have been interesting to see what would have happened had England had to go all out to win that game - it seemed clear to me Hope Powell had told her players to front up to the Germans - but not to gamble needlessly.

Quite often they struggled to get numbers up to Kelly Smith (who got so used to having to do it all herself she forgot how to pass the ball when she did have support..).

Indeed with hindsight England will realise Germany were there for the taking and a win was eminently achievable - so I truly hope the side now qualify for the knockout stages where we will get to really test the senior players belief that on their day, England can be a match for any side in the world.

(Although did you see Abby Wambach's finish for USA v Sweden? Blimey she/they looked good)

In theory England will be home and dry if they beat the Argentines by more than one goal.
They might not need to if Germany beat Japan - but all four teams play at the same time on Monday so they'll have to assume a good win is required.

However, there is one nightmare scenario - if Japan get a 0-0 with Germany and England only win 1-0 against Argentina, on the basis that England would be level with Japan on points, goal difference and goals scored, as far as I can make out from the official rules www.fifa.com/mm/document/tou... qualification would be decided on the number of yellow cards issued (and if that was level, they'd draw lots..).

Anyway, as people may have gathered, I am something of a pessimist so let's hope that does not happen.

Let's hope Germany coach Silvia Neid gives her players a rocket and they stuff Japan. And Smith finds her stride again and bags a few against Argentina.

Then, presuming USA thrash Nigeria in Group B to finish top, England will face the 1999 World Cup winners in what will be the biggest match so far in the history of the game in this country.

NB: I originally said we'd face North Korea or Sweden but amended the article as realised I'd made a mistake - if we finish second in Group A we play the winner of Group B.

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comment by RuckingWithRiise (U6460789)

posted Sep 18, 2007

comment by rob875
posted Yesterday

Really a pub team could play in the sort of humidity at that tempo for 90 minutes, either you're joking or stupid sadly it could well be the latter.

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Lets face facts mate he does support ManU

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comment by rob875 (U9694258)

posted Sep 19, 2007

"Lets face facts mate he does support ManU"

Ouch, so do I.

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comment by reimsy (U5361325)

posted Sep 19, 2007

More tactical nous??? thats very questionable im afraid! how the hell is aluko getting in the side infront of Sanderson! that is a disgrace! anybody who has watched football at any level knows it should be the other way around! i mean this girl gets in the Arsenal ladies side that won EVERYTHING but cant get in the england side! JOKE im afraid!! oh and argentina scored one goal the whole tornament, who was that against??

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comment by feistyJo (U9677493)

posted Sep 23, 2007

"They'll never get anywhere near the Premiership or England team. They deserve low wages."

Actually I think you'll find they don't get paid to play football. At least one paper has described how these Internationals have to work full-time and then train, their annual wages in their "real" jobs being a fraction of what a Premiership footballer earns in just one week. So don't knock it till you've tried it

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comment by Superredripper (U9529207)

posted Sep 23, 2007

Jo, Women will never be at the same level as the Men when it comes to football, they SHOULD be made professional though. It aint fair for these girls to have to work 2 jobs to live.

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comment by The Man With the Moderately Lucky Face (U5473061)

posted Sep 23, 2007

The wages scheme for top female players seems comprable to teams like Blyth Spartans and considering the massive difference in ability, I think that is disgusting.

How embarrassing is it that our top footballers must work another job to live and yet players like Keiron Dyer get paid millions for putting in a heck of a lot less effort?!

Boo I say, boo.

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comment by Superredripper (U9529207)

posted Sep 23, 2007

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree.

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comment by Tadworth Eagle (U3937909)

posted Sep 24, 2007

"It aint fair for these girls to have to work 2 jobs to live."

They aren't. They choose to play football. It's not a necessity, is it? They have one job and one past time if they aren't paid for the football.

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comment by The Man With the Moderately Lucky Face (U5473061)

posted Sep 24, 2007

They aren't. They choose to play football. It's not a necessity, is it? They have one job and one past time if they aren't paid for the football.

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I guess, but it shows how seriously women's football is taken if our top players can't play football as a profession.

They deserve some sort of reward for getting out of the group stages, in the form of a professional league. We are a footballing nation are we not? We are one of the best countries in the world for equal opportunities!

Then why are we behind so many other countries when it comes to women's football? Should it not be taken more seriously?

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comment by FootieRescueService (U6238820)

posted Oct 1, 2007

I find those that mock women's football very sad. I do not recall any women who play the game claiming they were trying to emulate blokes playing it. UK women's football has improved beyond recognition in the past ten years and will continue to improve as fitness and strength improves. Ms Yankey can shimmy past me any day she chooses!

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