Womens’s World Cup LIVE: England vs Haiti team news and latest updates from Lionesses game

What to expect at the Women’s World Cup 2023 | You Ask The Questions

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England begin their Women’s World Cup campaign against Haiti as the Lionesses look to follow up last summer’s Euros triumph with another major tournament victory.

Sarina Wiegman’s side come into the World Cup as one of the favourites, despite losing stars Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby to injury, and are expected to get off to a winning start in Group D against debutants Haiti.

With Williamson out, her centre-back partner Millie Bright will captain the side in Australia and the Lionesses have been boosted by the news that their stand-in skipper is fit to start. Haiti, who are ranked 53rd in the world, are joined by China and Denmark in Group D.

England’s build-up to the World Cup has come amid a row with the Football Association over bonus payments and other commercial concerns, but the players have agreed to pause discussions during the tournament.

Follow live updates as England take on Haiti at the Women’s World Cup.

Women’s World Cup LIVE: England vs Haiti latest updates

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GOAL! Women’s World Cup 2023: Zambia 0-1 Japan

Japan take a deserved lead and it’s a lovely goal! Hinata Miyazawa finishes a swift break down the right, steering Aoba Fujino’s accurate cross past Musonda to give Japan the breakthrough just before half time.

It had been coming: Jpaan have played some excellent football so far this half.

(Getty Images)

Jamie Braidwood22 July 2023 08:44

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Women’s World Cup 2023: Zambia 0-0 Japan

Catherine Musonda is having a brilliant game in the Zambia goal. She makes another fine stop to deny a long-range effort from Fuka Nagano.

Barbra Banda gets her first chance to break into the Japan box, but her touch lets her down and the ball runs out of play.

Jamie Braidwood22 July 2023 08:43

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Kelly Smith column: Daly or Russo? I know who I would start

Tournament football is about solving problems, quickly and effectively. While Sarina Wiegman, assistant Arjan Veurink, and the rest of the coaching team will be devising plans to see off England’s World Cup opponents, a lot comes down to how teams react on the pitch to what is in front of them.

That is especially true when facing teams who want to sit deep against a team of England’s undoubted strength, where unlocking packed back lines with 10 or 11 behind the ball will be crucial.

Against cautious opponents – which is what England will face in the group stage when they play Haiti, Denmark and China – taking chances is the key. Scoring not only puts you up, but it also alters the stage of the game, it will invite the opposition forwards to try to get one back, and there is the psychological impact. There is nothing more disheartening than defending superbly for 20 or 30 minutes and then conceding from the first real opportunity.

And that is why Sarina’s biggest decision is who starts in the number 9 position. Rachel Daly started against Portugal, before Alessia Russo replaced her at half time. With Ellen White retired, the decision of who gets the starting jersey is between these two.

By Lionesses legend Kelly Smith ahead of England’s opening game

Jamie Braidwood22 July 2023 08:39

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Women’s World Cup 2023: Zambia 0-0 Japan

No goal! It’s been one-way traffic so far in Hamilton but it remains goalless between Zambia and Japan in Group C. Japan have just had a goal disallowed after Mina Tanaka was offside in the first phase of play, before the striker slid in to finish.

Zambia are hanging on – they have barely got outside of their own half yet. Japan look sharp.

Jamie Braidwood22 July 2023 08:26

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Women’s World Cup 2023: England vs Haiti

Sarina Wiegman: “We’re here and we have a dream, and of course there’s always a chance to win the World Cup, and many more countries can win the World Cup I think, but of course we’re going to give our everything starting tomorrow.”

“The pressure is always something. Everyone expected England to win anyway. This is for tomorrow and also last year, and that was also for the Austria game for the European Championships.

“So that’s not different. What we’re just trying to do is play our game and focus on what we have to do and how we can win, and that’s basically what we do all the time, so bring it back to what actions we need to take as a team.”

Jamie Braidwood22 July 2023 08:19

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Women’s World Cup 2023: England vs Haiti

Since arriving in Australia, Sarina Wiegman has stepped up work on a new system, that may not even be unveiled until the knock-out stages. It is an inherent acknowledgement that England are no longer in the strong position they were, but simultaneously something that may yet prove the winning of this World Cup.

This has been reflected in the mood of the camp in Australia, beyond the distraction over bonuses. There is certainly no lack of faith, especially in Wiegman’s ability to come up with something special. This is another benefit of a feat like the Euro 2022 victory. It banishes doubts, and fosters that immensely powerful feeling that everything will go well because the manager knows exactly what they are doing. It is why big games, as in that juncture quarter-final win over Spain, can almost seem like they will go exactly as Wiegman predicts.

There’s also the fact that, right now, the manager has one of the most talented teams in the world. For so long, this has seemed like the moment England were long building up to.

The question now is whether that moment just comes at the wrong time.

Preview by Miguel Delaney

Jamie Braidwood22 July 2023 08:06

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Women’s World Cup 2023: Japan vs Zambia

This morning’s World Cup action continues with Japan vs Zambia in Group C.

Japan, the 2011 champions, have a proud World Cup history but are prepared for this tournament to be part of their development as they go through the generations.

Zambia are the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup but they stunned Germany in the warm-up games and have one of the most dangerous forwards in the world in captain Barbra Banda.

She scored back-to-back hat-tricks at the Olympics two years ago – keen an eye out for her, as well as Racheal Kundananji.

(Getty Images)

Jamie Braidwood22 July 2023 08:00

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Women’s World Cup 2023: England vs Haiti

Haiti have nothing to lose on their Women’s World Cup debut as they join England, Denmark and China in Group D.

Ranked 53rd in the world, Haiti are one of eight teams playing at the Women’s World Cup for the first time, a stage that reached via the inter-continental play-offs.

Rising star Melchie Dumornay scored twice in their final 2-1 victory over Chile, and Haiti have the talent to cause further upsets if they can balance their ambition with defensive organisation.

Nicolas Delepine’s side are faced with a tough task, however. Not only will they face European champions England in Group D, but Asian champions China as well.

Jamie Braidwood22 July 2023 07:53

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Women’s World Cup 2023: England vs Haiti

Keira Walsh was the player of the match in the Euros final and remains England’s most important player with her ability to set the team’s pace and tempo in midfield. Walsh moved to Barcelona last summer for what was said to be a world-record fee and after winning the Champions League on her first season at the club, the 26-year-old has returned to the Lionesses to set higher standards.

The coach – Sarina Wiegman

The best tournament manager in the world? After winning the Euros in 2017 and reaching the World Cup final in 2019 with her native Netherlands, and then winning the Euros again with England in 2022, Sarina Wiegman has every right to make that claim. The World Cup in 2023 could be her greatest challenge but Wiegman, with her supreme communication, tactical observation, and player management skills, can rise to it.

(The FA via Getty Images)

Jamie Braidwood22 July 2023 07:42

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