Camden New Journal - Sports: Women's World Cup

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Camden New Journal - by CATHERINE ETOE in Chengdu
Published: 20 September 2007

Faye White in action for England against Florencia Mandrile and Eva Gonzales of Argentina Picture: Natalia Sollohub

England through to knock out stages

Women’s World Cup: Group Stage
England 0, Germany 0
England 6, Argentina 1

ARSENAL Ladies’ season will have to wait a little longer to start after England made it out of their group and into the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup on Monday night.
More than 30,000 Chinese fans packed into the Chengdu Sports Centre on another humid night in China to witness England’s 6-1 thrashing of group whipping girls Argentina.
That result was enough to see Hope Powell’s side into the quarters after they had overcome all the odds to secure a draw against current World Champions Germany in Shanghai on Friday.
Arsenal skipper Faye White put in a player of the match performance in that tie, which saw a country that had beaten England in 16 of their previous 17 encounters pegged back by a side boasting seven Arsenal players in the starting line up.
White, now fully recovered from her second serious knee injury, gave Germany star forward Birgit Prinz no room for manouevre and won praise from her coach and colleagues after the game.
Powell said: “I’m really proud of her, she’s a fantastic leader and has a real passion and desire to succeed.”
And succeed White and England did three days later when they eased past Argentina with a 6-1 victory that saw them finish second in their group to set up a quarter-final clash with the USA in Tianjin this Saturday.
Former Hampstead School pupil Rachel Yankey played her part in the result, setting player of the match Kelly Smith up for two goals just after the hour.
Defensive mistakes by Argentina had seen England take an early two goal lead and a harsh penalty and red card decision saw the Three Lionesses coasting.
Captain Eva Gonzalez, who had earlier headed into her own net, put the frighteners on England on the hour mark with a fine free-kick that flew into Rachel Brown’s net.
But Smith restored a comfortable lead two minutes later when she slotted home a teasing cross from Yankey on the byline and hit her second soon after when she followed up a curling shot from her Arsenal team mate that was spilled by keeper Romina Ferro.
Smith’s goal celebrations were more muted than in the opening match against Japan when she kissed her football boots, but after the victory she was full of praise for Yankey.
Smith told the New Journal: “I thought she did really well. Her pace is always frightening and I told her in the changing rooms, she could have had a couple of goals herself.”

*Read more about the team in Three Lions on her Shirt: The England Women’s Story by Catherine Etoe and Natalia Sollohub.

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