Just like you did during the Women’s World Cup, you can vote for your top performers at the #SHEBELIEVESCUP
Thanks for voting in the early hours of Friday morning, for your @Teamsnap England player of the match v USA. It was a strong, physical and pacey performance from England against an equally powerful but arguably marginally sharper USA side. They’ve just come off the back of Oly qualifying and weren’t delayed travelling to a different time zone just days earlier, either. Although it was an occasionally stop/start game, especially in the second half, it was won by a flash of absolute quality from Crystal Dunn. The England camp were really very disappointed not to draw or even win the game – they expected more from themselves – but 1-0 v the world champs, on their home soil, is nothing to be ashamed of.
Pictured: Lucy Bronze wins the ball
The full backs earned highest praise from you hardy souls that stayed up late to cheer on the #Lionesses and placed your votes, with Lucy Bronze (your @Teamsnap Player of the World Cup too) emerging just ahead of Alex Greenwood in the total ratings. They were both strong and focussed in dealing with repeated onslaughts down the flanks from the US (Bronze was up a against the very lively and pacey, young, upstart Mallory Pugh) and Greenwood, as ever, delivered some good dead balls. The two central midfielders of Nobbs (who I thought was outstanding in a new role for her, essentially man-marking Carli Lloyd) and Jill Scott also received deserved praise, coming 3rd and 4th in the vote, while centre backs Houghton and Flaherty (who again dealt with world class players with aplomb) were next. It was a very solid display from the spine of the team.
Pictured – Alex Greenwood applying pressure
We again asked for some comments from you on the overall performance. Here’s some highlights:
– England pushed the attack well and the defence was solid trying to hold back US All round class play
– Well played, gutsy, defeat not deserved
– Encouraging but I fear for our lack of rhythm
– Solid should have had a pen #improved
– Very encouraging especially as the girls are still in pre season
– Great defence.solid strong. very committed to the end
– Awryt
– Gutsy, defeat not deserved, USA panicked after thinking was walkover, Lionesses
– Brilliant performance against World Cup champions. England kept their top players out of the game
– High pressure defence was mostly effective. Didn’t create much going forward
– you can do better we all belive in you.. COME ON ENGLAND
– Top effort from the girls. Knocking on the door
– Kept on battling, undone by one moment of brilliance
– England lacking goal scorers or a left hand side.
Remember, you can vote and leave your comments after the England v Germany on Sunday: https://balticpub.wufoo.com/forms/q1rx3fc71m9gvfo/
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