England overcome stubborn Argentina to book their place in the knock-out rounds

England fought hard to break down a resilient Argentina side as they secured their passage through to the last 16 stage of the World Cup.

Jodie Taylor scored her first international goal since April 2018 to give England their second victory in as many games in Group D.

A quick counter from the Lionesses saw Jill Scott break with pace through the middle and links up with Fran Kirby. The Chelsea midfielder laid it off to Beth Mead on the left.

The WSL winner, who provided 12 league assists last season, then drilled a brilliant ball across the face of the goal and Taylor was in the right place to poke it in at the back post.

Argentina came to frustrate England, a task that they did very well up until the goal. Even after conceding, the South Americans didn’t let their heads drop.

England dominated the game throughout and would have had more than one goal to show for their efforts if Vanina Correa hadn’t been in inspired form.

Correa single-handedly keeps the score down

England were throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Argentina and finding their efforts repelled by Correa, with the Argentine keeper having the game of her life. In the first half alone, Correa denied Jill Scott, saved a Nikita Parris penalty, thwarted Beth Mead when she was through one-on-one

Her excellent performance continued after the break with Correa denying Parris from Alex Greenwood’s free-kick. In the 62nd minute, Correa’s resilience was finally broken when Jodie Taylor got on the end of a superb ball from Mead to poke home and put England in front. It is no surprise that Correa was voted Player of the Match.

Job done for England

England had one aim going into the match – to make it into the last 16 – and they achieved it. Argentina made it incredibly difficult for the Lionesses but they stuck to their task. The 1-0 scoreline did not reflect England’s superb performance and kept the game on a knife-edge until the final whistle.

This was undoubtedly their toughest test so far and will stand them in good stead for their final group game against Japan and even further into the tournament. England can be pleased with their performance against Argentina but must be more clinical in the final third.

England XI:  Telford, Bronze, Houghton, McManus, Greenwood, Moore, Scott, Kirby (Carney 89), Parris (Daly 87), Taylor, Mead (Stanway 81)

Argentina XI: Correa, Barroso, Stabile, Sachs, Cometti, Bravo, Jaimes (Oviedo), Banini (Larroquette 68), Bonsegundo, Mayorga, Benitez (Santana 77)

Goal: Jodie Taylor (61) – England

Attendance: 20,294