Lionesses roar – but who awaits?
England became the fourth team to qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup following a narrow 1-0 win over Argentina.
The Lionesses can now look forward to a place in the next phase, but there are still a number of different scenarios for Phil Neville’s side who still have to face Japan.
If England win the group, they take on the best third-placed side from either Group B, E or F which is currently China, Cameroon or Chile.
If the Lionesses finish runners-up in the group, they will take on the winner of Group E – probably Janine Beckie’s Canada or the Netherlands in Rennes.
Thank you for your support tonight.
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 14, 2019
We can feel it, we can! 💖 pic.twitter.com/0Tum6B6pZr
Caroline Weir’s Scotland can still qualify if they beat Argentina and end up as one of the four best-placed third.
Jill Scott makes history
England and City legend Jill Scott was voted the best player against Argentina after a typical combative performance.
The 138-times capped midfielder started her 14th game at the Women’s World Cup, the most by an England player in the competition - this game took her one clear of Fara Williams’ tally of 13 between 2007 and 2015.
Congratulations, Jill!
City trio’s homage to ‘inspirational’ Parr
Meanwhile, City and England trio Jill Scott, Karen Bardsley and Steph Houghton have paid tribute to one of women football’s true pioneers, Lily Parr.
Parr was part of a Preston-based team called Dick, Kerr Ladies who won 758 matches of the 828 they played, losing only 24.
Parr is believed to have scored more than 1,000 goals and recently had a statue unveiled at the National Football Centre – the first statue of a women footballer ever built.
Speaking on The FA.com, Houghton said: “She was the trailblazer for women’s football in this country.”
Scott added: “Looking up at that statue you think ‘That’s fantastic. That’s where I want to be in the future. What a role model.”
Bardsley said: “You look up to players like Lily and think ‘Wow. Can I draw strength from their experiences and what they’ve done?’
“The fact she did what she did at a time which was so different from today in terms of what is acceptable for women in society. She persevered; she was resilient.”
