England vs Scotland result: Lionesses open Women's World Cup 2019 with hard-fought win
England's 2019 Women's World Cup opener ended in victory
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Your support makes all the difference.England opened their 2019 Women's World Cup campaign with a hard-fought win over Scotland in Nice.
Expectations are high for Phil Neville's Lionesses after a successful run up to the finals including victory in the SheBelieves Cup back in March but they didn't have it all their own way against the Scots.
Nikita Parris opened the scoring from the spot before Ellen White doubled the lead just before the break. Claire Emslie grabbed one back to make it a nervy finish but Phil Neville's team got over the line to take the three points.
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I've been uber-impressed by that right side of England. Lucy Bronze and Nikita Parris will combine at European super-power Lyon next season and have given a masterclass in right-back/right-midfield combination, moving, passing, communicating and asking different questions of an over-matched Scottish left side. Nicola Docherty has been left isolated too often against two players of such quality.
66% possession for England, and 20 crosses into the box. Scotland are being forced further and further into their shell.
England 2-0 Scotland, 46 minutes
In the net, but offside!
Nearly a disaster start for Scotland as Ellen White is freed in behind and squares for Beth Mead to rifle home, but White is a yard-or-two beyond the rear-most Scottish defender, right-back Sophie Howard, and the flag eventually goes up.
England 2-0 Scotland, 48 minutes
Like 400m runners down the home straight Erin Cuthbert and Millie Bright go stride-for-stride, dipping for the finish line, in this case a ball pulling up on the edge of the England box.
Cuthbert just about wins in a photo-finish, sending Bright tumbling over her as she skips backwards and inside. But the support is withheld and too slow to join their forward-most prong, who looks for an ambitious pass through two sets of England legs. It doesn't work.
England 2-0 Scotland, 50 minutes
Bright's exertions have caused her some harm. She landed awkwardly on her shoulder after the challenge, and is prodding the collarbone, grimacing as the medical staff assess her.
Off she trudges. Lucy Bronze slips into centre-half for the moment.
England 2-0 Scotland, 57 minutes
A shot on target of sorts for Scotland. Down flops Karen Bardsley to smother the dibble-dobbler as it rolls towards goal.
England 2-0 Scotland, 60 minutes
Scotland starting to build a sustained spell of forward pressure. Alex Greenwood stops the cross from Claire Emslie and then shepherds the ball out of play as Scotland look to find their right-winger again.
England 2-0 Scotland, 62 minutes
Kim Little is starting to purr, finding space in and amongst the England midfield with Keira Walsh left a little isolated in midfield.
England 2-0 Scotland, 64 minutes
Kirsty Smith has been very much thrown into the fire up against Nikita Parris at left-back, but has began well in that regard, standing off the England winger and asking her to do something special. Parris finds no change with her latest shimmy attempt.
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