England underestimated Haiti in World Cup opener and revealed their Achilles heel

Mary Earps might do nothing however scream in frustration. The shakiness of England’s defence had fortunately been compensated for by Haiti’s lack of a innovative however her irritation was nonetheless clear, and warranted.

Time and time once more the straightforward issues simply hadn’t been achieved proper. Balls had been allowed to sail over heads, lunges have been delayed as passes skimmed by way of gaps, passes have been despatched wayward. It wasn’t the begin to the World Cup that England would have hoped for.

England have been forward however that wasn’t the sense you’d get from studying the gamers’ physique language. The half-time whistle blew in Brisbane and heads hung low as they retreated down the tunnel.

The fact was evident: they have been fortunate to be main.

Maybe Haiti had been underestimated. When you’re champions of Europe and driving a wave of motivation that has lasted since lifting the trophy at Wembley final summer time then a workforce ranked 53rd in the world are unlikely to be a lot trigger for concern.

But the underdogs have been eager to indicate that they have been unsuitable to be taken flippantly and that they may benefit from an beleaguered England facet who seem to have flatlined in latest months.

Melchie Dumornay had the higher of Lucy Bronze at each flip. She weaved her manner by way of England’s defensive position, making the duty of beating a former Ballon D’Or winner look easy.

At 19 years of age Dumornay has simply signed a three-year cope with French heavyweights Lyon and it was clear why they acquired her. Her focus was unmoving and when England made errors – as this workforce now seems nearly duty-bound to do – she was prepared and ready to pounce.

It was the defence who felt her wrath and it’s the defence which appeared as if it might be England’s best Achilles heel forward of the event. Captain Leah Williamson is sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament damage, her predecessor Steph Houghton has fallen out of favour and supervisor Sarina Wiegman opted in opposition to deciding on Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier.

There have been questions surrounding how Wiegman could pull collectively a succesful defence for her facet’s quest for a World Cup title and they haven’t subsided. Millie Bright, who has taken the captain’s armband, was a welcome return when she introduced a day earlier than this sport that she was match once more after a knee damage had stored her out since March however she appeared to lack match sharpness on Saturday.

Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood was deployed in her extra pure left-back place however she performs in the center of the defence at membership degree. Versatility is one in every of Greenwood’s best property, however was that the appropriate choice?

Jess Carter took her place in the central pairing and put in a strong efficiency, together with exhibiting her functionality in one-v-one conditions with a late problem to disclaim Haiti as they troubled England in the ultimate moments, although there may be an argument to be made that Greenwood could have been better-suited in that function.

Such struggles on the again deliver the Lionesses’ best fear to the fore: whether or not they’ll cope as soon as they make it out of the group stage. They have been capable of finding a well past Haiti. Denmark and China are unlikely to supply too steep a problem, however issues will start to alter in a short time in the knockouts.

First up ought to be one in every of Canada or Australia, except the Republic of Ireland discover a path to complete second in their group. The former two have well-stocked attacking strains who will presently be dreaming on the prospect of taking part in a facet the place discovering area in the ultimate third is so undemanding.

If England get previous that stage then it’s most certainly to be Germany in the quarters – a worrying prospect. The truth of the matter is that the size of the Lionesses’ keep in Australia hinges on whether or not they can discover a manner to enhance their again line.

Clearly, time is required to make sure cohesion between Wiegman’s most well-liked choices; the issue is that there isn’t a lot time. It isn’t as much as scratch but and that may very well be their deadly flaw.

Had it not been for Batcheba Louis’s weird choice to carry her palms in the air and meet an England cross together with her fingertips then the Lionesses wouldn’t have scored. Had Kerly Theus not stepped off of her line when saving the following penalty then Georgia Stanway would have been left rueing her missed alternative, and not been given the possibility to make issues proper.

Worse nonetheless is the truth that Haiti have been most likely unfortunate to return out of this sport with out the three factors. Roselord Borgella slashed an early effort huge whereas Earps’ reactions have been the one factor that stopped Dumornay and Roseline Eloissaint discovering the again of the web.

England shall be happy that they managed to keep away from a slip-up and come out their opening sport of the World Cup with three factors. That gives a platform to construct on, and additionally a cushion if they’re on the receiving finish of an upset in both of their following two matches.

Apart from that, Wiegman shall be left with much more inquiries to ponder than solutions to any pre-tournament worries. Denmark shall be a slight step up in high quality of opponent when England return to motion in Sydney on Friday, and enhancements will must be speedy.

This World Cup shall be much more demanding than the European Championships if success is on the Lionesses’ minds. Injuries have dealt them a tough hand – so too has their potential path in the direction of the ultimate – however they’re going to wish to make the very best of what they will to be wherever close to inside a preventing probability.