IT’S ALL WHITE NOW
Ellen’s late strike takes the heat off Neville and gets England off mark
ElleN White’s famous goggles celebration was back after she fired england to victory over Japan in the SheBelieves Cup here.
Sitting in the team hotel overlooking Manhattan on the eve of the match, under-pressure manager Phil Neville promised a reaction from his players after watching them succumb to the power of four- time world champions USA on thursday.
his lionesses responded to his rallying cry, despite any hopes of retaining the silverware they won 12 months having been dashed.
ranked four places above their opponents in the FiFA world rankings, england had lost six of their last nine games prior to their trip to New Jersey and there have been calls for Neville’s side to prove they can master his ‘non-negotiable’ style of play. Despite their best efforts to play through the thirds, there is still work to be done.
Japan, who lost 3-1 to Spain, were also a team under pressure, with an Olympic Games on home soil around the corner, coronavirus permitting.
Naming six changes to the side who lined up in Orlando three days ago, the england manager stayed true to his word in giving his young starlets a chance against the 2011 World Cup winners.
having held her own in her first senior start against Megan rapinoe and Co, Manchester City forward lauren hemp retained her place. everton forward Chloe
Kelly, 22, was also rewarded with her first start. Although looking somewhat nervous in the opening passages of play, she grew in confidence as the game progressed, linking well with Bethany england.
But it was 19-year- old hemp who came closest to giving england the lead less than five minutes in. After stealing the ball from risa Shimizu, hemp found herself clean through, though her effort was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Sakiko ikeda from close range.
Mina tanaka — who like the rest of the Japan’s starting Xi plays her club football in her home nation — twice forced upcoming young keeper ellie roebuck to palm the ball wide of her goal. the 10th ranked side, who were also denied by the woodwork, failed to punish england with clever runs behind the defence.
Despite creating multiple chances of their own, england failed to break the deadlock before half-time, though there were obvious signs of improvement even if they still lacked the clinical edge in the final third they have long been talking about.
the england bench rang the changes on the hour mark, with hemp, Kelly, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and england all making way.
Neville faced criticism for not utilising Bethany england until the 81st minute against USA and although she quickly proved her worth against Japan, she was left regretting her missed chances when she was replaced by White. Chelsea striker england, who feared she may never make it into the senior fold, certainly gave Neville food for thought.
White’s brace secured england’s 2-0 win over Asako takakura’s side in the group stages of the 2019 World Cup in Nice and she again proved the difference between the two sides, putting the lionesses in front with six minutes left on the clock.
Substitute toni Duggan won possession on the edge of the box, capitalising on a mix-up between hina Sugita and Shiori Miyake, and played a great ball into the box for White to slot it past ikeda.
Neville will lead his side to Frisco, texas today ahead of england’s final SheBelieves Cup test against Spain on Wednesday.