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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Ben Burrows

England vs Cameroon prediction: How will Women's World Cup last-16 clash play out?

England took on Cameroon in the Women's World Cup last 16 on Sunday afternoon.

Phil Neville's side are into the quarter-finals after an ill-tempered game where VAR took centre stage in Valenciennes. Steph Houghton opened the scoring, Ellen White added a second after a VAR review before Cameroon thought they had one back only for the technology to rule it out sparking chaos. Alex Greenwood made it three to seal their spot in the last eight.

A meeting with Norway now awaits on Thursday after the Scandinavians emerged from a tense game with Australia victorious on penalty kicks on Saturday evening. 

Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of England vs Cameroon in the Women's World Cup last-16.

Phil Neville's side have won a perfect three out of three so far in France with top spot in Group D wrapped up with victories over Scotland, Argentina and then Japan.

Next up it's Cameroon who managed to lose two of their group games before the last-gasp win over New Zealand earned their place here.

A meeting with Norway awaits in the last eight awaits after the Scandinavians emerged from a tense game with Australia victorious on penalty kicks.

We'll have all the latest from Valenciennes right here so don't touch that dial.

 

Phil Neville says his England players have "no fear" about the prospect of a shoot-out tonight.

Penalty shoot-outs were, of course, a major problem for England's men's side for so long, with them losing six out of seven at major tournaments before triumphing against Colombia at last summer's World Cup and then in the Nations League against Switzerland earlier this month.

The women's team were beaten on penalties in the 1984 European Championships final and in the 2011 World Cup quarter-finals.

Neville says his players have "loved" the spot-kick practice they have been doing in training, and he said: "There is a real feelgood factor about it. There is no fear."

He added: "If, when - hopefully not - it happens, we'll win."

 
England have arrived at the Stade du Hainaut and are inspecting the pitch.
 
Conditions are very warm over in France which should help produce some quality if a little tiring football this afternoon.
 
We're expecting team news any minute now and we'll have it for you right here as soon as we get it.
 
 
Here's the England team and it's as expected.
 
Nikita Parris returns after missing out against Japan with Georgia Stanway making way with Toni Duggan also getting the nod over Beth Mead.
 
Ellen White is again preferred up front after two goals last time out.
 
Full team: Bardsley, Bronze, Houghton, Bright, Greenwood, Parris, Walsh, Scott, Duggan, Kirby, White
 
 
So that's three changes for England.

As well as Parris coming back in playmaker Fran Kirby has been restored too, coming in for Rachel Daly, while Alex Greenwood replaces Demi Stokes at left-back.

Cameroon name the same XI that started thei 2-1 win against New Zealand.

 
With less than an hour to go before kick-off, have a read of our man in Valenciennes Mark Critchley's thoughts on today's last-16 clash, and the questions facing Phil Neville as the knockout stage begins:  
 
Here is England's starting XI and squad in full: 
 
Meanwhile, here's Cameroon's starting XI, which is unchanged from the side who beat New Zealand 2-1 in their final group game: 
 
Full team: Ndom, Leuko, Ejangue, Johnson, Awona, Abam, Yango, Feudjio, Njoya Ajara, Enganamouit, Aboudi Onguene 
Here's the scene at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes - it's a beautiful day in northern France. 
 
 
The Independent's World Cup columnist Izzy Christiansen has had her say on this afternoon's match, and the tournament as a whole:
 
Here's how both teams have fared so far in this tournament: 
 
ENGLAND 
 
P3, W3, D0, L0 - 1st in Group D 
 
W 2-1 vs Scotland
W 1-0 vs Argentina 
W 2-0 vs Japan 
 
CAMEROON 
 
P3, W1, D0, L2 - 3rd in Group E 
 
L 1-0 vs Canada 
L 3-1 vs Netherlands
W 2-1 vs New Zealand
The winners of this match will play Norway in the quarter-finals - they came through on penalties against Australia last night in what was a thrilling encounter in Nice: 
 
TEN MINUTES TO GO until kick-off in Valenciennes!
 
England's players in their usual pre-match huddle.
 
 
The players are now out and the national anthems are being played, starting with God Save the Queen.
Making her 18th World Cup appearance today, Jill Scott today becomes England's record appearance-maker in World Cups, overtaking men's goalkeeper Peter Shilton's 17 appearances.
Anthems played. Team photos taken. We're all set to go here!
KICK OFF
KICK-OFF: England 0-0 Cameroon
 
We're underway - England in their usual all-white kit and Cameroon in their usual green shirts, red shorts and yellow socks. Game on!
3 minutes: England 0-0 Cameroon 
 
All England early on, as Lucy Bronze and Nikita Parris try to combine down the right-hand side...
YELLOW CARD
5 minutes: England 0-0 Cameroon 
 
Early yellow card for Yvonne Leuko of Cameroon, but should it be red?!
 
Nikita Parris skips past the Cameroon defender, and is clearly elbowed by Leuko in the face!!
 
Obviously, VAR would have had a look at it, and a booking is deemed the correct decision. The subsequent free-kick is comfortably cleared by Cameroon.

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load.

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