DRESDEN, GERMANY - APRIL 22: The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup trophy during the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup draw on April 22, 2010 in Dresden, German...
DRESDEN, GERMANY - APRIL 22: The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup trophy during the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup draw on April 22, 2010 in Dresden, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Former Arsenal youngsters played prominent roles as England U20s swept aside Tanzania 5-1, with Vivienne Lia and Jessie Gale both making their mark on the tournament.
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Vivienne Lia of Arsenal inspects the pitch prior to the Barclays Women´s Super League match between Leicester City and Arsenal FC at The King Power Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Vivienne Lia of Arsenal inspects the pitch prior to the Barclays Women´s Super League match between Leicester City and Arsenal FC at The King Power Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
England U20 got their first win of the tournament against Tanzania, thanks to a Rachel Maltby hat-trick and two assists from former Arsenal winger Vivienne Lia.
There was also a goal for on-loan Arsenal striker Jessie Gale.
Following a 1-1 draw with Canada, England needed a strong performance and duly delivered against probably the weakest opponent in Group B.
It means they sit second with four points, behind Brazil, who have now qualified for the round of 16 with six points from two games.
Hosts Poland are the other team to have already qualified, with six points from two Group A matches.
Lydia Bedford made four changes from the game against the Canadians, including giving a start to Lia.
The winger recently left Arsenal and transferred to Frauen-Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt. It was interesting to hear that her mum is from Tanzania, and she was interviewed by the Tanzanian media in both Swahili and English.
Originally not selected in the final 21-player squad, Viv was playing in a UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifier a week ago with Frankfurt, coming on as a substitute in the third-round return leg in Paris.
She was a late call-up after Erica Meg Parkinson withdrew from the squad and stayed with her club, NC Courage, in the USA a day before the tournament started.
She was very modest about her performance, getting two assists and doing very well with multiple crosses feeding her two strikers, Princess Ademiluyi and then Gale, who came on as a substitute.
She could even have had a hat-trick of assists but for the post denying Ademiluyi: “I am happy with the team performance overall, it was my first game at the world, so I am proud of that. We just want to keep building on these performances,” she said after the game.
I also spoke to England manager Bedford, who used to be Arsenal assistant manager under Jonas Eidevall, where she had a big role as a number two, with her skills complementing those of the Swedish manager.
She then went to coach in men’s football at the Brentford Academy, before moving to the new Canadian women’s league, the NSL, with Calgary Wild.
“I am very pleased that the players were able to step up and play with such confidence today. Very happy to take those three points and hopefully move on to the next,” she said.
I asked about a tactical point from the game, as England scored five goals using the wings very well, but we did not see any overlaps from the two full-backs: “It was part of the game plan when Remi (Allen assistant manager) went to watch Tanzania in the first matchday,” she explained.
“We knew they would man mark our wingers and they would stay really wide. We chose to stay wide and knew we would be able to play through the pockets of space. We would what their strategy would be and eecuted our strategy really well. ”
A clear reminder that good preparation is key to having a clear, winning game plan.
Bedford also made great use of her squad.
By the end of matchday two, all the outfield players had played, with only the two substitute goalkeepers, Jota and Annets, yet to get on the pitch, understandable in a position where substitutions are unusual.
“From an England perspective we are here to win a game of football, but also I have the hat of development on the players that are with us and the opportunities that they get,” Bedford said.
She has a long history of developing players at youth level for club and country. I first met her a dozen years ago when she was coaching the Middlesex U17 team. She is excellent at preparing those players for the future. “I think for every outfield player to say they have been able to step out on the pitch at a world cup is incredibly important,” she said.
“We have spoken as a group and if we want to go far, we have to go together. If I don’t trust the players to step on in a game when they are 4-0 up when will they get that opportunity? So for the group to be in a pretty similar place, hopefully all the nerves have gone now. It puts us in a great platform, we have managed the players brilliantly.”
That mindset is missing at Arsenal right now, and at many WSL clubs too, because Renee Slegers and other managers have to perform and get results or risk losing their jobs.
There have been a few games over the past two seasons where Arsenal Academy youngsters could have been sent on for 10 to 15 minutes, but the safer option was taken, which is a shame.
Jobs are on the line and it is a clear gamble to put an 18 to 20-year-old on the pitch instead of a seasoned senior player.
Up next for England is Brazil and, although one point should be enough to see them through, they will go there looking for a win against a tough opponent.
Brazil are fast, aggressive and strong technically, as always. It will be a real battle for the young Lionesses.
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 09: Trophys are pictured during the Germany Women's National U20 Football Team arrival at airport Rhein Main on September 9, 2012 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Germany lost the final of FIFA U20 world championship against the USA. (Photo by Thorsten Wagner/Bongarts/Getty Images)
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 09: Trophys are pictured during the Germany Women's National U20 Football Team arrival at airport Rhein Main on September 9, 2012 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Germany lost the final of FIFA U20 world championship against the USA. (Photo by Thorsten Wagner/Bongarts/Getty Images)