England vs South Korea LIVE: Arnold Clark Cup result, final score and reaction as Lionesses storm to victory
England 4-0 South Korea: The Lionesses opened their Arnold Clark Cup campaign with an impressive win
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Your support makes all the difference.Sarina Wiegman wants to use the Arnold Clark Cup as preparation for this summer’s World Cup. She hopes to use these three games to look at new players, try out new formations, and work out plans as she attempts to turn the European Champions into World Champions. Based on tonight’s performance Wiegman’s conclusion must be that England have really, really good players.
South Korea were able opponents throughout the first half. Setting up in a low block and making it difficult for England to break them down. The Lionesses started slow, they were sluggish, and lacked creativity in the face of steadfast opponents with the sole exception being Lauren James.
Picked to partner Alessia Russo up top, James provided pace, power, and drive to work England up the pitch and get within range of the target. It was she who won England’s first half penalty – ably despatched by Georgia Stanway – and sent the Lionesses into the break with a slender lead.
Her teammates decided to match her levels in the second half. Russo and Chloe Kelly both netting within five minutes of each other to put the match beyond their Korean opponents. The game became an exhibition and England came alive. They passed the ball with speed, guile, and confidence, took shots from all areas of the pitch, and put on a second half show for the fans inside the Stadium MK.
To cap off an impressive night, James arrived on the end of a Lucy Bronze cross and slotted home a side-footed strike to the bottom corner to score her first ever international goal.
Relive the action from England’s opening match versus South Korea:
Roaring Lionesses
During England’s 26-game unbeaten run, the Lionesses have had 478 more shots than their opponents in that time (633 shots, 155 faced).
Only two teams have managed to have more efforts at goal than they have in a game – Spain (twice in February and July 2022) and Germany (July 2022).
How did England fare in the 2022 Arnold Clark Cup?
England were victorious in the 2022 Arnold Clark Cup, topping the group on goal difference ahead of Spain with five points (One win, two draws).
Their two draws – against Canada and Spain – during the tournament are 50 per cent of the games they’ve failed to win under Wiegman (also draws against Czech Republic and Norway in October and November last year respectively).
Arnold Clark Cup great preparation for World Cup
England’s head coach Sarina Wiegman says that the Arnold Clark Cup is brilliant preparation for this summer’s World Cup and is the perfect chance to take a look at players on the fringes of her squad.
"What we want to take from this tournament is to get ready for 22 July so it’s preparation for the World Cup,” said Wiegman, "We have three games, so that’s lots of opportunities to see players and lots of combinations against good opponents.
"I think every camp is important to see where each player is at in this moment with a couple of months to go.
"This tournament will give us lots of information but there’s still many games to play for teams, and then we have April and some more matches and then we have to make a decision.
"So it’s good to have this opportunity and so many minutes with the players this week.”
England vs South Korea
South Korea are unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions (with three wins and two draws) since suffering a 2-1 defeat to Japan in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship in July 2022.
Will they shock England tonight?
England vs South Korea
England are unbeaten in all 26 of their games in all competitions under Sarina Wiegman (22 wins, four draws).
They’ve scored 125 goals and conceding just seven in that run and have never conceded more than once in a game under Wiegman.
England vs South Korea
This will be the first meeting between England and Korea Republic on English soil, with the previous two meetings coming in Suwon in Korea Republic and Achna in Cyprus.
It’s England’s first game at Stadium MK since April 2017, a 3-0 win over Austria.
England vs South Korea
England have faced Korea Republic twice previously and are unbeaten in both, keeping two clean sheets with one victory and one draw.
That win came in March 2011 in the Cyprus Cup, a 2-0 victory with both goals scored by Sue Smith.
England line-up to take on South Korea
England: Earps; Bronze, Greenwood, Bright; Williamson, Stanway, Carter; Kelly, Toone, James; Russo.
South Korea: Kim J, Choo, Kim H, Lim, Jang, Lee, Kim Y, Hong, Kang, Son, Choe
England will ‘continue to fight’ for inclusivity in football, says Leah Williamson
England captain Leah Williamson has spoken of the squad’s commitment to promoting inclusivity ahead of wearing the ‘OneLove’ armband at this month’s Arnold Clark Cup.
Williamson referred to Czech Republic international Jakub Jankto this week announcing he is gay as she stressed the importance of “standing in solidarity”.
Regarding the anti-discrimination armband, Williamson told a press conference on Wednesday: “We’re never shy in saying what we stand for. We’re a squad that promotes inclusivity, equality, we obviously have a number of people that feel very strongly about it. I think it’s not even a question for us really.”
England will ‘continue to fight’ for inclusivity in football, says Williamson
Williamson insists the Lionesses are ‘never shy in saying what we stand for’.
Arnold Clark Cup talking points
The opposition
Last year’s Arnold Clark Cup pitted England, currently fourth in FIFA’s world rankings, against three other top-10 teams.
This time they take on sides in a slightly lower bracket, with South Korea, Italy and Belgium lying 15th, 17th and 20th respectively.
South Korea, managed by Englishman Colin Bell, were runners-up at last year’s Asian Cup, while Italy made a Euro 2022 group-stage exit and Belgium reached the quarter-finals.
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