Roller coaster week for women’s football as albiceleste walks away from first two matches with one point
On Monday the Albiceleste, in its World Cup opener, held former champions Japan to a 0-0 draw to earn its first ever point at the tournament. Four days later, it was defeated by England 1-0.
Argentina had lost all its previous six World Cup matches in 2003 and 2007, and missed the 2011 and 2015 tournaments. The Albiceleste had been outscored 33-2 in the six previous World Cup matches, prior to Monday’s opener against Japan.
The light-blue-and-whites offered little threat in front of goal, having just three tame efforts, but the team remained compactand to ugh,giving Ja pan little chance to breakthem
down.Pre-tournament, Japan were tipped as one of the favourites to win the World Cup. In contrast, Argentina are around 500/1 to win the World Cup.
“I hope we can inspire a lot, that we can start a new process, and that in a few years we will aspire to much more, to be equal with the world powers,” Albiceleste captain Estefanía Banini said, referring to the state of women’s football in Argentina.
Albiceleste coach Carlos Borrello dedicated the point to “Argentine women’s football.”
This elated sense of optimism lasted all the way until the 61st minute of Friday’s match against England when Jodie Taylor nudged the ball into the net and ended a 540-day England goal drought for the Golden Boot winner from the 2017 European Championship.
England has now opened a World Cup with back-to-back wins for the first time and advanced to the next round ahead of its final Group D match against Japan.
Prior to this, Argentina goalkeeper Vanina Correa has saved a penalty kick.
Argentina now sit in 3rd place in Group D just ahead of Scotland whom they will face off against on Wednesday.