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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Michael Jones

England vs Argentina, Women's World Cup: Lionesses through to last-16 after Jodie Taylor clinches victory

England's Jodie Taylor scored the only goal as they broke the deadlock against Argentina just past the hour to secure a 1-0 win and reach the last 16 at the Women's World Cup on Friday.

England's Nikita Parrish had a first-half penalty saved by Vanina Correa, but Taylor got on the end of Beth Mead's cross in the 62nd minute to give her side their second straight win.

England, who moved on to six points in Group D, join hosts France, Germany and Italy into the knockout phase. Re-live the action below:

Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of tonight's Women's World Cup clash between England and Argentina.
 
Michael Jones will be taking the reins an hour before this evening's 8pm kick-off. Make sure to tune in for all the updates, reaction and analysis!
England continue their journey at the Women's World Cup tonight with a Group D match against Argentina.
 
The Lionesses earned a tough 2-1 victory in their first match against Scotland on Sunday and will be wanting to build on that momentum tonight.
Another victory tonight will give the Lionesses the three points they need to progress to the next stage of the Women's World Cup, with a game in hand, so there's quite a bit to play for.
 
 

England manager Phil Neville says his team will have to manage the "emotion" and the history of playing against Argentina at the Women's World Cup.

"There's a great history between the countries," he said. "You think back to 1986, Michael Owen's goal, and in 1998 with David Beckham and when they knocked us out.

"There is an outstanding history and another big rivalry.

"When we looked at this group you saw the rivalry with Scotland, and with Argentina what you've got in this case is a football history.

"Like the Scotland game, we have to handle the occasion and the emotion."

 

England striker Toni Duggan, who missed the opening match against Scotland, will once again be absent with a thigh problem.

Neville said that the Argentina match tonight comes "a day too soon" for the Barcelona forward.

 

Argentina have a touch of momentum themselves. They picked up their first ever World Cup point on Monday when they drew 0-0 with Japan.

They had previously had lost all six of their World Cup matches, including a 6-1 defeat by England in 2007.

Qualification for the World Cup in France was surprising as the team only returned to action in 2017 following a two-year period with no games and no coach after issues with their own football association

"It's thanks to the hearts of the players and their rebel spirit that we were able to plough forward," said coach Carlos Borrello.

"We were lucky. Well, not really lucky, but with their strength and dedication we have been able to move forward.

"We're making history in our country. This is the first step but we still have a long way to go and we have a lot of work to do."

 
Team News
 
England
 
Argentina
 
Team News
 
Head coach Phil Neville makes four changes to the England team which beat Scotland in their opening Group D match.

Goalkeeper Carly Telford makes her first appearance at a major tournament at the fourth time of asking. She replaces Karen Bardsley, who is rested.

Abbie McManus comes in for Millie Bright at centre-back after Bright injured her shoulder in the match against Scotland.

In midfield Jade Moore is in for Keira Walsh whilst Jodie Taylor leads the line in place of Ellen White, who scored against Scotland.

 
 
There is just one change to the Argentina side who shocked Japan in their opening group game to draw 0-0.

Adriana Sachs replaces Rosana Gomez.

World Cup progress?
 
Japan defeated Scotland earlier today to go top of Group D with four points. The Lionesses can leapfrog them with a win tonight to top the group with six.
 
A head-to-head match between England and Japan would then decide the route both teams will take into the next stage of the tournament.
 
If England win the group, they take on the best third place side from either Group B, E or F (currently China, Cameroon or Chile).
 

A quarter-final in Le Havre would follow against the winner of a match between the runners-up of Group A and Group C (currently Norway and Australia).

If the Lionesses finish second in the group, they take on the winner of Group E probably Canada or the Netherlands.

Then they would go into  a quarter-final in Valenciennes against either the winner of Group C (Brazil, Italy or Australia) or the best third place team from Groups A (Norway/Nigeria), B (Spain/China) or F (likely Chile).

Speculation is always fun but I doubt the Lionesses are looking past Argentina as of yet.

England are expected to dominate proceedings tonight. They're ranked third in the world compared to Argentina at 37th.
 
But Argentina have a superstar that could upset the tie.
 
She is Argentina's number 10, Estefania Banini, dubbed 'La Messi' who spent this season on loan at Spanish side Levante, having also played for Washington Spirit in the NWSL.

The midfielder is the talisman of the team and was brilliant in the first game against Japan

 
The Lionesses have done their homework according to head coach Phil Neville. He knows that Argentina pose a different kind of threat than Scotland did in the first match:

"We were planning to play against a team sitting back and defending a bit deeper than Scotland.

"They know they will be playing in tight spaces, limited room and we've worked hard on our final third play in the last few days.

"They are strong defensively and it's up to us to break that defence down. We know we must defend well as well - their two best players are attacking players.

"We must make sure our players in the final third are relaxed and free to express themselves. The games that we've studied Argentina we don't think we've seen them as organised and determined as they were against Japan.

"We're under no illusions as to how tough this game will be. Man-to-man marking, aggressive and we need to show the same quality we did against Scotland to get a result."

 

Carly Telford makes her World Cup debut in just under 30 minutes for England. She was in the England squad the last time the Lioness played Argentina at the 2007 World Cup.

She has been used more and more by Phil Neville in recent times having played two of the three SheBelieves Cup games in March.

After being in the England squad for four tournaments and a 12 year wait to make her debut the Chelsea goalkeeper finally gets her shot.

 
Playing in a World Cup is a special occasion for any player but in the Argentina squad there are 14 players who are amateurs.
 
That is one example that helps to explain just how special being at this World Cup is to them and about how far the Women's game has yet to go.
10 minutes to go until kick off, England are big favourites but Argentina have proven they can cause an upset. 
 
Who's your money on tonight? 
The players are head out of the tunnel and onto the pitch. The Lionesses look determined but this is but no means an easy game.
 
'God save the Queen' comes next and echoes out over the arena.
The Argentine National Anthem plays and we're all ready to get underway!
KICK OFF
England 0 - 0 Argentina
 
England start the match, they boot it long for Parris who sends a ball into the box from the right hand side and Bronze works her way into the box and heads the ball wide of the goal. Quick start for England.
3 mins: England 0 - 0 Argentina
 
Parris uses her pace to run into space past Eliana Stabile on the right again. Her cross into the box is cleared but England have spotted a weakness on Argentina's left wing and they'll continue to exploit it.  
 
6 mins: England 0 - 0 Argentina
 
Lucy Bronze is taken out by Ruth Bravo and lands awkwardly. She grimaces as she jogs back into position but Argentina are happy to play a physical game and are throwing themselves into tackles. Bonsegundo tries to slip Jaimes in behind England's defence but to no avail.
9 mins: England 0 - 0 Argentina
 
Moore switches the play of the ball quickly with a pass out to Beth Mead on the left wing. She uses her pace to get past Sachs before running the ball to the byline and letting it go out of play. 

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