Sweden punish ponderous Lionesses
The Lionesses’ final game of 2018 will weigh on their minds most heavily as they reflect on a year in which they have, for the most part, adapted well to Phil Neville’s desire for a team who dominate the ball with relentless forward thrust.
In the first half against a Sweden side ranked ninth in the world, they were tepid and ponderous, waiting almost until an hour for their first clear-cut chance. Thereafter, they began, with a flurry of close efforts, to exert their will on proceedings.
“Sometimes, you’ve just got to accept the better team won,” said Neville. “We lost the game in that first half where we didn’t start well, didn’t concentrate and didn’t do the basics well. Everything seemed to take an age. We spoke about playing with pace and speed but never got much rhythm in our game.”
At times, it was hard not to be startled by the ease with which Sweden unpicked England.
Neville has faced a number of stiff challenges over the past few months, his side having played three of the current Fifa top 10 in their past four internationals, but it says something about the languor in England’s first-half performance when the moment Izzy Christiansen fired well over from close range felt like an achievement.
In the 20th minute, Sofia Jakobsson collected the ball by the right touchline and, unopposed, drifted inside to unleash a curling effort that dipped over a stranded Carly Telford. Sweden doubled their lead when Caroline Seger’s header smacked against a post and Anna Anvegard swivelled to slot the ball home with ease.
England had struggled to get their dangerwoman Nikita Parris on the ball, and the improved second half saw the striker’s best work, but the closest she came was in nudging a header just wide as she met the rebound from substitute Toni Duggan’s arrowed strike from range.
“Those 9,000 came today to see goals, to see excitement, and they didn’t see that,” Neville concluded. “That hurts us. I hope they continue on the journey with us.” England Subs Booked Sweden Subs Referee