England vs Japan 11/9/07

After spending the best part of three weeks in China to prepare for their first encounter of the women’s world cup against Japan, you would have expected the English side to be more prepared and acclimatised than any other side, barring the home nation. The women just simply have no chance of that. 24 hours before your first encounter of the competition, players need to get a feel of the pitch. So when you find out you are prohibited from wearing studs onto the field, how can anyone’s preparation be complete? And more to the point, what will be going through the players heads when they do kick the first ball and the pitch starts to cut up underneath your feet.

On the England side, only the Arsenal attacking midfielder, Kelly Smith was able to grace the terrible surface with her natural flair and exhilarating runs, turning defensive work into attack. It was just a shame that the rest of her English compatriots were not on the same level. After conceding a goal to a Miyama free kick she pulled the team together and single handily got England back into the game. Miyama’s first free kick an almost replica of the one Dietmar Hamann scored at Wembley in Kevin Keegan’s last game as England manager in 2000.

Now if Miyama’s free kick was like Hamann’s goal that flawed Keegan’s managerial career as England manager, then Smith’s inspirational recovery for Hope Powell’s women’s side was equally impressive. She turned the Japanese defence on a sixpence for the equaliser, slotting home very coolly before removing her boot and rising in the air, before goading on the rest of the side for a victory in the last ten minutes.

Smith, on her own, managed to turn the game on its head within three minutes. Now instead of goading on her teammates for another goal, Smith was telling everyone to keep their composure, maintain their focus and help England win their first game of the World Cup.

Five minutes later, gasping for a drink and sitting on her backside, Smith found herself watching Miyama running off around the ground, celebrating the equaliser for Japan. Instead of taking the three points off the pitch, England left with a sucker blow and left to rue missed chances. One especially from Aluko, who rounded the keeper and missed an open goal from the edge of the penalty area.

England now have to pick themselves up, and dust themselves off and play the World champions Germany, who thumped Argentina 11-0, in a new Women’s world cup score line. All 11 women will have to be on the top of their game to get anything out of the match and fight to the very end.