England bowed out of the Women's World Cup after a battling 3-0 defeat to favourites USA. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foo...

A bright opening 45 minutes in which Faye White won a great personal battle with striker Abby Wambach, came to nothing as the USA upped a level in the 2nd half and fired three goals in 15 minutes.

Here's how I rated the players - see if you agree:-

ENGLAND

Brown - Brave stop at the feet of Chalupny, and great tip over the bar from Lilly - but weakness under the high ball cost England dear. Flapped at a cross which led to corner for the 1st goal, and horrendous mis-judgement allowed ball to bounce over her head to leave Lilly with a simple tap in for the 3rd. 5

Phillip - Being asked to push forward by Hope Powell took her outside her comfort zone. She seemed reluctant to move onto the ball quickly enough, and a more attacking right-back might have made the USA pay during England’s bright opening 25 minutes. 5


White - Won a great tussle with Abby Wambach over the opening 45 minutes - picking up a bloody nose after being poleaxed by a blatant Wambach elbow. Faultless for any of the three goals but perhaps could have done more to protect Brown at corners?
7

Asante - England’s player of the match. Impeccable display in defence and even showed the nerve and composure to drive forward after England fell behind.
Her only lapse was to allow Wambach to blaze over the bar in the 1st half. Great tackle on the edge of the box in 85th minute to set up another attack squandered by her team-mates. 8


Stoney - Another solid display from the left-back who has ousted Rachel Unitt from the starting 11. 7

Chapman - Broke up play well in the middle of the pitch during the first half helping England get on top.
Made several good blocks on the edge of the box. But was shoved aside too easily for Wambach’s headed far-post opener. 6

Smith - Virtually anonymous for most of the 90 minutes and only gave a glimpse of what she’s capable in two two-minute spells at the end of each half. Showed good skill to set up volley chance for herself in 89th minute - all the more frustrating as it showed what might have been. 5

J Scott - Like Stoney, a new face who has more than earned her right to stay in the starting line up.
Won a lot of high balls in the middle and showed good strength most of the time - though she was dispossessed by Boxx for USA’s second goal. 7

A Scott - Did well in lively patches, winning tussles and sending in a few nice crosses - but didn’t give England the penetration they needed. 6

Aluko - Rightly subbed at half time after a poor 45. Had a rare clear sight of goal after being put through into the box by Carney but failed to pull the trigger and was all too easily muscled off the ball. Redeemed herself after that with some positive running at the US defence - but when England needed her as they flagged towards half time, even the simple stuff like holding up the ball, eluded her. 5


Carney - Full of running both in attack and defence, England’s left winger was a lone bright spark.
Delivery into the box became erratic after some excellent first-half crosses.
But her commitment could not be faulted - as showed in the final minutes when she gave the ball away but made up 25 yards to win it back. 7

Yankey - Potentially England’s second best player alongside Smith, the Arsenal winger had the chance to turn the game their way with her half-time substitution. But her disappointing tournament continued as she looked half a yard slow, hesitant on the ball and too easily brushed aside by the American defenders. 5

Sanderson - Had 10 minutes in last throw of dice from Powell as Phillip was withdrawn but couldn’t make any inroads into the solid US back four. Scuffed her shot under no pressure after being set up well by Smith and her body position was poor when well placed for the resulting corner. 5


USA.

Solo - Solid handling and confident punching. Hardly tested but got down well for Carney's curling freekick in 2nd half. 6

Rampone - Got forward well to deliver probing crosses in first 20 mins then settled back as covering defender and neutralised Carney and Smith on left. 7

Whitehill - Too strong for Aluko in first half and usual rock solid good partnership with Markgraf. 8

Markgraf - Combined total of 285 caps with Whitehill and their experience showed. Even when England threw caution to the wind in the final 20, mopped up everything tossed into the box. 8

Lopez - USA's youngest player put in some brave challenges and forced Carney to drop deep for possession. 7

O'Reilly - Pacy runs into the box in 1st 20 mins. Played more centrally and further forward as part of USA's second half attacking blitz. 6

* PLAYER OF THE MATCH *
Boxx - Contained Smith extremely effectively in 1st half - and still found time and space to get forward. Beat Brown low to her left from 20 yards for USA's 2nd goal. 9

Osbourne - Fed Wambach with several penetrating passes. 6

Chalopny - Quiet game for her as she was used in the Kelly Smith Containment Operation to good effect. 6

Wambach - Energetic and strong. Happy to run and chase throughout the game. White won the first half but the second half belonged to Wambach as she made the decisive breakthrough with her powerful headed goal. Always lively and almost had a second after charging down weak Brown clearance on 81 mins. 8

Lilly - Started to show her class as USA slipped up a gear just before the interval, with two fine shots. Took over corner-taking duties from Lopez and fed Wambach for first goal.
Ran onto hopeful long ball, missed by Brown, for tap in after 60 mins. 9