England must bring ruthlessness to World Cup if they reach last 16, says Matt Hardy

ENGLAND’S Lionesses are on the brink of qualifying for the last 16 at the Fifa Women’s World Cup but they’re not there yet, and today’s opponents China can be their undoing.

But Sarina Wiegman’s side are currently unbeaten in the tournament –which is being staged in Australia and New Zealand – after 1-0 victories against both Haiti and then Denmark and they are overwhelming favourites to beat China at noon today.

Having travelled Down Under without the likes of Beth Mead and Leah Williamson, and losing Barcelona playmaker Keira Walsh for at least two games, though, it’s not necessarily a case of firing five goals past the Steel Roses and waltzing into the knockouts.

Should England top Group D, they’ll take on Nigeria in Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. If they finish behind Denmark or China but still qualify, they’ll line up against Australia in the last 16 in Sydney.

A Year On

Yesterday marked a year since England claimed the European Championships against Germany, and Wiegman’s record in major championships speaks for itself.

She took the job in 2020 having won the Euros in 2017 with the Netherlands and reaching the World Cup final with the same team in 2019.

The Dutchwoman is unbeaten in major tournaments with the Lionesses and has been known to be a tactical master of the game.

But we have seen shocks in this tournament; the dumping of New Zealand in the group stages came as a surprise to the co-hosts, Nigeria securing a last16 spot ahead of Canada, and Colombia beating Germany on Sunday.

This World Cup has shown that blips can happen, and Wiegman will be conscious of China and their ability to stay in a match until the very final minute this afternoon.

The Lionesses needed a retaken Georgia Stanway penalty to beat a stubborn Haiti side and an absolute stunner from Lauren James to topple a defiant

London Spirit, Birmingham Phoenix, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers and Welsh Fire are all aiming for a first title in one of the two competitions.

It’s an interesting concept, that’s for certain. And though it was in the pipework for a number of years, few can deny it earned its spot in the cricketing calendar as the noisy neighbour of the existing three formats when England and Wales Cricket Board chiefs saw the barmy stands of Lord’s during the 2019 one-day World Cup final.

Here you had the Home of Cricket, often looked down upon by the casual England fan for being out of reach, fenced off, for the few – some would argue that hasn’t changed – instead rowdy and raucous, with chanting, cheering and the occasional painful broadcast of Neil Diamond’s adopted British sporting anthem Sweet Caroline.

If a party game was possible there –disco cricket as it were – it was possible anywhere.

And so it has been proven. There are record numbers of families, women and new fans watching cricket because of The Hundred; enough to outnumber the traditionalists who have boycotted the competition.

And the format, with men’s and women’s matches back-to-back, has undoubtedly exposed fans to more names and experiences.

For the players, too, it has developed a huge level of exposure.

Issy Wong, a 21-year-old English bowler, lit up the tournament last year and earned a huge contract in the inaugural Women’s Premier League –India’s sister competition to the IPL – where she got an iconic hat-trick.

And India will be watching this time around with the subcontinent showing the competition on television.

It’s a weird format, and no one says it is perfect, but it is at least a point of difference from other competitions.