England vs Argentina, talking points: What did Phil Neville's side do well and where are the areas they must improve?
England secured a place in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup as Jodie Taylor's second-half finish earned them a 1-0 win against Argentina in Le Havre.
Euro 2017 top-scorer Taylor turned the ball in at the back post just after the hour mark as she met a Beth Mead delivery at the end of a good move.
It had been a frustrating game up to that point for the Lionesses, with Nikita Parris seeing a 29th-minute penalty saved by Vanina Correa.
The goalkeeper thwarted Phil Neville's side with further impressive stops to keep out strikes from Mead and Parris before Taylor's goal broke Argentina's dogged resistance.
So, what did England do well and where are the areas they must improve?
England show they can win ugly
England have progressed but they were made to toil. Argentina thwarted their opponents in the first half, contesting every 50/50 challenge with unerring hunger, swarming around each red shirt like flies.
The South Americans’ fiery defensive play and dogged marking meant Neville’s outfit could only muster three shots on target despite having 76 per cent possession before the break. This time, there were no outrageous nutmegs from Parris, whose saved penalty by Argentina’s electrifying goalkeeper, Correa, set the tone for the match. This was a victory defined by steady rather than standout individual performances.
England showed glimpses of penetrating Argentina’s water-tight defence and their patience was eventually rewarded with Taylor’s second-half tap in.
Scott embodies England's mental resilience
Argentina targeted England’s big names from the off. Lucy Bronze took an awkward ball to the face after battling with Ruth Bravo in the box two minutes into the game. Aldana Cometti even cynically clattered into the Lyon defender and was shown a yellow card.
Argentina’s Sole Jaimes purposefully drifted into midfield under the high ball to match the aerial height of Jill Scott, whose temper was visibly frayed at times. But it was Scott who once again lived up to her name as England’s rock in the middle of the park and the Manchester City star drove the ball forward from deep en route to her side’s solitary goal.
Kirby earns the manager's plaudits
Neville’s tendency to experiment at the back has been subjected to scrutiny in England’s string of recent under-par performances, including those in the build up to this tournament. Against Scotland, the link-up play between Parris and Bronze was commended. But in Fran Kirby and Taylor, England showed they are capable of firing, even on a bad day.
For Kirby in particular, this game carried extra meaning with the anniversary of her mother’s death. The Chelsea striker has spoken of how much she has matured since her World Cup debut in 2015 and her ability to handle such a big occasion shone through. Neville honoured her by leaving the 25 year-old on the pitch until four minutes from normal time.
All hail Argentina's goalkeeper
She was brilliant. She was sublime. She sent Twitter into meltdown after a stunning display between the posts. Correa looked unbeatable and could do little to prevent Taylor's finish after Mead's cross had finally sliced open the Argentinian back four.
Like the outfield players in front of her, Correa had done her homework, diving to her left to keep out Parris’ penalty, before stopping her thumping second-half volley which she watched like a hawk as it sailed through a sea of bodies.
Mead was at one point clean through on goal, before the sprawling foot of the 5ft 11in stopper denied the Arsenal striker. Even Neville revealed Vanina had caught his eye when she warming up for the game and he paid credit to the 35 year-old in his post-match interview, hailing her as “unbelievable”.
England squander set-pieces
England could have easily won this encounter by more had they taken full advantage of their set-pieces, and they had a plethora of opportunities to do so. Taylor fluffed her lines after the ball fell at her feet six yards out following Mead’s dangerous delivery, while Steph Houghton’s free-kick just before the break was always rising. The skipper laid off a sloppy pass to Kirby after England were gifted another chance late on and throughout the game they struggled to pull off their training ground moves, which they will look to improve on in their next game against Japan on Wednesday.
