I think we deserved it. If Nigeria were the better team 11 v 11 and didn't score and then had 11 v 10 for so long and still didn't do enough to take advantage then that's somewhat poor play by them.
Following updates, it sounded like we were missing something agai. Nigeria sounded the better team, but couldn't score even against ten women, and England stood up to be counted in the penalty shoot out, so through we go!
Really poor today. The 352 didn't suit our strikers and we did nothing about it. It's the first time I've really questioned Wiegman but she brought Kelly on to hold the ball up when we needed a target player and when she finally did bring Beth England on you could immediately see the effect. She left a visibly dead Walsh on the pitch until she seemingly aggravated her injury again and only really made changes based on penalties. James should have been subbed before her moment of madness and now she's probably out for the rest of the tournament. We relied on our superior fitness and depth to survive that extra time. Defensively though we were pretty strong. Carter, Bright and Greenwood were really solid and we didn't let anything in behind, which is the real threat from Nigeria. Nigeria are a counter-attacking team and even when we were frustrated we didn't let them tempt us up and stretch us and that's credit to the players' tactical discipline.
Greenwood was player of the match for me, absolutely rock solid and covered their right wing threat superbly, allowed Daly to provide support for the attacking players and scored her penalty. I've not always been sure about Greenwood for England and she's had to step into big shoes with Williamson out but she was excellent today.
Nigeria lost that. The mental barrier of progressing further than they'd ever been before was probably the difference, as England had that mental strength from previous successes to drag them through.
Nigeria lost that. The mental barrier of progressing further than they'd ever been before was probably the difference, as England had that mental strength from previous successes to drag them through.
Yeah we were shite today and the red card was absolutely unnecessary and idiotic. But we're still in it, however we need to shift several gears of we're going to win this whole thing
Nigeria lost that. The mental barrier of progressing further than they'd ever been before was probably the difference, as England had that mental strength from previous successes to drag them through.
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Didn't deserve that but knockout football a win is a win!
Terrible performance though.
If Nigeria were the better team 11 v 11 and didn't score and then had 11 v 10 for so long and still didn't do enough to take advantage then that's somewhat poor play by them.