Defence key to England success
You could not have asked for a tougher start to your World
Championship campaign with medal-rivals Australia and United
States your opening opponents.
England were nervous as a team and quickly found out that
if you don't start well against the best, then you can quickly
be punished.
But to their credit, and with growing confidence, England
kept Canada to just six goals in a final test in Pool A, a
game they won 11-6, and then an impressive shut-out in a 22-0
win over Germany.
Goalkeeper Rachana Shetty had to make to just one save all
match, testament to some tight-D and the national side working
together as a unit.
It's easy to suggest England have flaws, but so do all teams.
The US proved they were succeptable to pressure and were looking
to hold on for a 7-7 tie with Australia in the pool stages.
Japan shocked Wales 12-8 and then led Canada 11-7 in the
last 8, before the Canadians rallied with six goals in a run
to triumph 13-11.
And England themselves nearly came unstuck against Wales
in the quarter-finals, yesterday, a result which could have
ended their hopes of a medal here in Maryland.
But although England only have three players with World Cup
experience - compared to US for example who has 12 players
returning from the 2001 competition - the national team have
a nice blend of youth and experience.
Midfielder Sarah Butt is competing in her fifth and final
World Cup, an incredible feat considering the Dorset-based
38-year-old has given birth to two children in between training
for this year's competition and the last World Cup in High
Wycombe four years ago.
And then there's the other end of the spectrum. Lucy Lynch
and Allison Smith, both 20, are just starting their international
careers which, hopefully, will see them compete in many more
World Cups to come.
However, as so often with big tournaments, midfielders and
attackers (those who score the goals) steal the limelight,
with the defence usually going un-noticed.
Justine Hunt, Sarah and Rachel Kirchheimer, Lizzy McCosh,
Alex Harle, Emily Garvey and Shetty have been the seven key
figures at the back with Hunt, Harle and Sarah Kirchheimer
the main stays of defensice duties.
Hunt and Harle are two of the team' more experienced stalwarts,
while Shetty, back in the side after time away from the game,
and Kirchheimer, the eldest of the two sisters by nearly four
years, have provided a solid platform for Lois Richardson's
team.
"We had a really hard induction to the tournament,"
admitted Harle, who is playing in her third World Cup.
"You couldn't have asked for a harder start, but we
are growing in confidence. We have got a young side, but there's
a nice balance with some of us older players in there.
"We know it's going to be hard to win any medal here,
but defensively we are improving every time we play.
"Hopefully we can do our jobs and then the midfielders
and attackers can do there's. We are capable of shocking the
big teams if we play to our potential."
A view shared by both the Kirchheimer sisters who, having
missed out on Under-19 competition for the national side,
have been thrown in at the deep end.
"It's been a real eye-opener from the start," said
Rachel, "but we're both really enjoying it. We're here
to win a medal."
Sarah added: "We've been on tours to Australia and America,
but this is the biggest competition you can play in - and
we both want to be successful, as does everyone in the team.
"It's a big learning experience and playing alongside
the likes of Ritchie (Sarah Butt) and Alex (Harle) is good
for us both.
"We look up to those players because they've been to
World Cups before and done it."
Let's hope England can combine to give the U.S. a run for
their money today (Friday). Their defence will be key!
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