England vs Haiti was the first match of Group D and the third game of Matchday 3 of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. The English side came out as the winner with a 1-0 victory over Haiti. Stanway scored in the later stages of the first half to give England a lead before going into the second half. Russo was releasing fire into the ground with her performance while late-comer Daly from the bench caused constant trouble in the Haitian box. England got lots of opportunities to extend the lead but they couldn't capitalise. A win is a win, and it is indeed a great start for them.

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FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: England vs Haiti Match Report

First Half:

England and Haiti met at the first match of Group D and the third game of Matchday 3 of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 in the Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. The English players started the game slowly. It took some time to blend with the environment and stuff. Haiti on the other hand were using Dumornay's pace to penetrate the back line but the English defence was rock solid as they couldn't bypass that. England slowly started to gain momentum and in the 28th minute, England were awarded a penalty.

Kelly's deep corner seemed to brush the fingers of Batcheba Louis. VAR confirmed the decision but the Haitian goalkeeper, Theus saved the penalty. She dived to her right, but more drama as she was off her line when the shot was taken. Georgina Stanway retook the penalty and this time she buried that. Haiti tried to hit England on counters but couldn't find any clear openings. The first half ended with a 1-0 scoreline.

Second Half:

Haitian players looked confident in the second half and they started to cause trouble for England. Dumornay's pace opened up the midline a few times and she created the most number of opportunities for her team but Haitia still couldn't find the equaliser. England once again took time and managed to control the game once again. They did some changes and that worked in their favour. Daly came from the bench and provided them with constant threats in the opposition box.

England came near to another goal on a few occasions but they failed to extend the lead. As a result, the match became more tense than before. Although Haiti players sitting back but were looking dangerous whenever they used Dumornay's pace. Somehow, England managed to overcome the situation at the later stages of the game and clinched a narrow victory in their opening game.

Match Details

Date: 22/07/2023 (Saturday, July 22)
Venue: Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, Australia 
Time: GMT – 8:00 pm
IST – 3:00 pm
Live streaming: Fancode and DD sports

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FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: England vs Haiti Live Blog

Lineups

• England (4-1-2-3): Earps; Bronze, Bright, Carter, Greenwood; Walsh; Stanway, Toone; Kelly, Russo, Hemp.
• Substitutes: Charles, James, Daly, Nobbs, Hampton, Wubben-Moy, Morgan, Coombs, England, Zelem, Roebuck, Robinson.

Your #Lionesses for our first game of the tournament! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/npKM72s0sD

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 22, 2023

• Haiti (4-2-3-1): Theus; Petit Frere, Limage, T Joseph, K Louis; Jeudy, Pierre-Louis; B Louis, Dumornay, Mondesir; Borgella.
• Substitutes: Ambroise, Larco, Surpris, Moryl, E Joseph, Pierre-Jerome, Etienne, Ganthier, Eloissant, D Joseph, S Joseph, Mathurin.

Pour affronter l' Angleterre ce soir Delépine a communiqué le 1er onze de la Sélection féminine dans une phase finale de Coupe du monde avec un seul changement par rapport à celui qui a joué le dernier match de préparation en C. du Sud, Bethina remplace Shelsea . pic.twitter.com/WqUgOdpeg7

— Fédération Haïtienne de Football (@fhfhaiti) July 22, 2023

Referee: Emikar Caldera Barrera (Venezuela).

England vs Haiti Live Blog | 2:50 P.M. | They are ready. Are you?

Ready ✊ pic.twitter.com/C7L4bQaqUd

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 22, 2023

Historic moment for the Haiti players | 2:50 P.M.

Haiti's last appearance at a World Cup be it women's or men's was in 1974. So, this is a historic day for them.

Time for the National Anthems | 2:55 P.M.

The players are out of the tunnel and line up for their national anthems.

England vs Haiti Live Blog | 3:00 P.M. | Kick-Off

Alessia Russo gets England underway.

a Nervous start from England | 2'

Toone loses it in a dangerous area to Dumornay. She drives a low cross that is put behind for a corner by Jess Carter.

Chance missed by England | 6'

Russo takes a first-time shot straight at Theus from around 15 yards.

England vs Haiti Live Blog |14'

England keeping possession.

Chance missed by Haiti | 15'

Borgella shoots a left-footed shot well wide of the far post.

Var Check | 18'

Pierre-Louis' challenge on Kelly wasn't legitimate. It's being checked by VAR

Var Check complete | 19'

No foul, no penalty. Pierre-Louis has been booked for the studs-up challenge on Kelly

23': Corner for England

Another Var Check | 26'

Kelly's deep corner seems to brush the fingers of Batcheba Louis

Var Check complete | 27'

Penalty to England

England vs Haiti Live Blog | 28' | Saved

Theus denied Stanway's penalty.

The penalty will be retaken | 28'

fantastic save from Theus, diving to her right, but she was off her line when it was taken.

England vs Haiti Live Blog | 29' | Goaaalll!!.

Georgia Stanway gives England the lead from the spot.

Stanway's spot-kick is saved. But after a retake...

SHE SCORESSSSSS!!! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/zjUmubXVar

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 22, 2023

Substitution for Haiti | 31'

Ruthny Mathurin replaced Jennyfer Limage. It is looking like a bad injury.

England celebrates in manner | 35'

Counterattack from Haiti | 36'

Haiti are looking desperate to get the equaliser.

Chance for Russo | 43'

Russo pulls away from Mathurin, eight yards out, but then mistimes an attempted header. The ball hits her shoulder and flies wide.

Nine minutes of added time | 45'

Borgella could have scored a late half-time equaliser.

Should have been an equaliser from Haiti | 45+5'

This is Haiti's best possible chance in the game. Dumornay lofted a cross toward Borgella near the penalty spot. She heads over under pressure from Bronze. That's Borgella's third sniff of a goal tonight.

Yellow Card for the Goal scorer | 45+9'

The referee booked Georgia Stanway.

England (1) vs Haiti (0) Live Blog | Half-time

England hasn't played good football till now. Keira Walsh is having a very bad day. Although they are in the lead, Haiti can level the scoreline if this continues.

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FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: England vs Haiti Live Blog

Second half Kick-Off | 4:10 P.M.

No changes on either side at half-time. Haiti's Roselord Bogella gets the match underway.

Dumornay looking dangerous | 54'

 Walsh makes a vital tackle on Dumornay, who was charging at a backpedaling England defence.

Haiti on the charge | 56'

They are dominating England except for one aspect of the game.

It is still 1-0 in favour of England | 60'

Bright's attempt at goal | 65'

England are unable to find their second goal of the game.

Russo is on fire | 69'

It has been a treat in the eye to see Alessia Russo. She is having a great game.

Passing the Clock | 73'

England are not founding any openings.

Substitution for England | 76'

Rachel Daly replacing Alessia Russo.

Substitution for Haiti | 78'

Roseline Eloissaint replaces a weary Roselord Borgella.

The substitute, Daly is causing trouble | 82'

Daly has been a constant threat in the box of Haiti since her arrival at the pitch.

England survived | 90'

Melchie Dumornay opened up the midfield of England with pace and skill but Carter came out with a brilliant clean tackle inside the box.

4 minutes of added time | 90+1'

Substitution for Haiti | 90+3'

Darlina Joseph replaces Dayana Pierre-Louis.

England (1) vs Haiti (0) | Full-time

England clinch a narrow victory although they created lots of opportunities for themselves. Haiti young gun Melchie Dumornay really impressed the fans with her performance but it wasn't enough. England start their 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup with a 1-0 victory.

Job done ✅

Three points from our first #FIFAWWC fixture! pic.twitter.com/qKHB0cKCpU

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 22, 2023

East Bengal is one of Asia's biggest and most supported football clubs. In October 2020, the club was voted as the most popular football club in India on an AFC poll by its supporters.

The East Bengal Club was established on 1st August 1920 by Suresh Chandra Chaudhury along with some other dignitaries, and the club's first captain was Ramesh Chandra Sen.

The Kolkata-based club has created a lot of records and won so many trophies. The Football club was going through a tough phase as they hadn't won a major trophy since the 2013-14 season.

But, under the new Manager and coaching staff, the Red & Gold Brigade are playing good football. So, let's look at the trophies East Bengal has won in its footballing history.

East Bengal FC Trophies List

East Bengal played their first match in the 1920 Hercules Cup, which was a 7-a-side tournament that they won. They won their first-ever full tournament in 1921 and lifted the Khogendra Shield.

The Red and Gold brigade qualified for the Calcutta Football League 1st division in 1925. They won their first 1st title in 1942. Then the Kolkata-based club lifted their first IFA Shield in 1943. In 1945, East Bengal won their first double, claiming both the Calcutta Football League and the IFA Shield.

From 1949-51, East Bengal became the first team to make a hat-trick of wins in the IFA Shield. In 1972, East Bengal won the Calcutta Football League, IFA Shield, Durand Cup, and Rovers Cup in a single season, becoming the first team to do so.

In 1972, East Bengal also made a record of being the first and till date, only Indian team to win the Calcutta Football League without conceding a single goal, which they again repeated in 1991.

East Bengal won its first First Division league title in 1942 and has since won it a record 39 times. They have also won eight Federation Cups, three Super Cups, a record 29 IFA Shields, the Kuladakanta Shield, and MLA CUP, alongside 16 Durand Cup titles, making the club one of the most decorated in Indian football.

The UEFA European Women's Championship, also called the UEFA Women's Euro, is the primary association football competition between the senior women’s national teams from Europe, held every four years. 

England beat Spain on penalties to clinch the Women’s EURO 2025 title at St. Jakob Park in Basel, Switzerland. This is England’s second European title, following its win over Germany in the previous edition. Let's have a look at the UEFA Women's EURO past winners and most successful teams.

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UEFA Women's EURO | First Edition Winner

The first edition of the tournament was played in 1984 in a very different format, with no host nation and just four teams participating. England and Sweden met in the final, played over two legs on a home and away basis.

It ended 1-1 on aggregate, leading to a penalty shootout at Kenilworth Road in London. In true English fashion, the home side would miss twice, allowing Sweden to win 4-3 on penalties and win the first ever women's Euros.

2025 Women's Euros Winner

England successfully defended its Women’s European Championship title by beating world champion Spain in a shootout in the final in Basel, Switzerland.

It was back-to-back European trophies for England and yet another final that Kelly had a huge impact on, after also coming on as a substitute during the Euro 2022 trophy match and scoring the winner against Germany in extra time to clinch a 2-1 victory.

UEFA Women's EURO | Past Winners

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UEFA Women's EURO | Most Successful Teams

Germany are the most successful team in women's Euros history, having won eight tournaments, including six in a row between 1995-2013. Overall, five different countries have won the women's Euros, but Germany and Norway remain the only winners of more than one edition of the tournament.

• Germany: 8 (1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013)
• Norway: 2 (1987, 1993)
• Sweden: 1 (1984)
• Netherlands: 1 (2017)
• England: 1 (2022)

The race to be top scorer at the Women's EURO 2025 in Switzerland is a fascinating one. The tournament has started from 2 July and will continue till 27 July.

Four weeks of women’s continental football culminate this weekend in Switzerland, where the reigning European champions and world champions respectively face off at Basel’s St. Jakob-Park.

Also Read: UEFA Women's EURO Past Winners and most successful teams

Women's EURO 2025 Final

England and Spain will face off each other in the Women’s EURO 2025 final on 27 July with Spain coming out on top to win the tournament in 2024.

The two nations met in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final just under two years ago, both contesting their maiden final in Australia. Olga Carmona’s first half strike settled the score to crown the Spaniards world champions in Sydney, on the same grounds that hosted the Olympic Games Sydney 2000.

Spain have shown that they can beat England when it matters on the big stage, while the Lionesses will be desperate to exact revenge. Wiegman’s side have won their last two EUROs encounters against their opponents, including in the quarter-finals en route to their 2022 title.

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Women's EURO 2025 Top Scorer List

Spain forward Esther González tops the list of UEFA Women's EURO 2025 top goalscorer with 4 goals to her name. Esther registered twice in the world champions' opening 5-0 win against Portugal then struck again in their handsome 6-2 success over Belgium as well as in the ensuing 3-1 victory against Italy on Matchday 3.

The tournament player awards will be handed out at the end of the tournament, among them the golden boot for the top goalscorer of EURO 2025.

González has been on fire with four goals in five appearances, while Putellas trails on three goals but with four assists, more than any player at the tournament. If players are tied, the golden boot is awarded to the player with more assists.

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Real Madrid and England star midfielder Jude Bellingham has finally decided to undergo the shoulder surgery, which he injured in 2023. Jude had suffered the injury during his first season for the Los Blancos against Rayo Vallecano on November 5, 2023.

The  21-year-old star will go for surgery today and is all set to miss twelve weeks after shoulder surgery in London. He will return to action in mid-October, following the completion of his rehabilitation process.

Jude has been suffering from the pain for 2 years now. After dislocating the shoulder against Rayo Vallecano, Jude did not want to go for the surgery right away and decided to play with the pain. He started wearing a shoulder brace, which gave the shoulder a bit of solidity. Jude then went on to have a great 2023-24 season in which he won the  La Liga, the Champions League, and the Spanish Super Cup with Real Madrid.

With time, although Jude's pain became a bit less, the shoulder brace started to frustrate him a bit. Due to wearing the shoulder brace for a long time, he was "losing a lot of weight from sweating so much". Not only that, he also mentioned that his "patience is running out" with all the limitations the brace was forcing on him.

So, eventually, after two years, Jude decided to let go of the problem and do the surgery. 

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An arthroscopic shoulder surgery will be done on Bellingham, and the full process of recovery can take more than three months. However, Fernando Ramos of the Spanish Association of Physiotherapists feels that players with similar injuries generally require four months to return to training, with competitive play resuming potentially five to six months post-surgery.

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During his rehabilitation process, Jude will miss eight LaLiga matches and the beginning of the Champions League group stage for Real Madrid under new manager Xabi Alonso. Not only that, he will also miss England's World Cup qualifying fixtures against Andorra and Serbia in September 2025.

UEFA Women's Champions League winners Arsenal are set to break all the past transfer fee records for 20-year-old Canadian forward from Liverpool, Olivia Smith. Smith is now on the verge of becoming the world's first women's player to break the £1m transfer fee record. 

If the deal gets completed, Olivia Smith will break the record for the most expensive transfer fee in women's football history, beating the record of Naomi Girma, who was bought by Chelsea FC Women for £900,000.

Who is Olivia Smith?

Olivia Smith is a 20-year-old centre forward from Canada, born on August 5, 2004. Olivia started her football career in Ontario, Canada, playing youth soccer before joining college football in the United States at Penn State University.

Club career so far

To pursue her career in football, Smith left college early and joined Sporting CP in Portugal in 2023, where she played the first professional season of her career. After a sensational season with Sporting, where she netted 13 goals and produced nine assists in 18 league games.

Smith went on to win the Best Young Player and Revelation Player as Sporting finished second in the league, behind Benfica. 

Her extraordinary skill as a teenager caught the eyes of Liverpool, and she was signed by the Reds in July 2024. In her first season in the Women's Super League, Smith scored 7 goals in 20 appearances. In the whole season for the Reds, she scored 9 times and provided an assist in 25 games. 

Smith was even nominated for the WSL Player of the Year 2025 award. She was named the LFC Women's Player of the Season 2024/25.

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International career

Smith debuted for Canada at just 15 years and 94 days old, becoming her country's youngest player ever in 2019. She also played in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. 

Till now, she has appeared 18 times for Canada, scoring 3 goals. 

Why are Arsenal willing to pay the most expensive transfer fee for Olivia Smith?

Well, the truth is that Olivia Smith might find it hard to find a place in the playing XI for Arsenal FC Women. The UEFA Women's Champions League winners have Mariona Caldentey, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly in the team, and this will make it very hard for Olivia to start in every game.

So, why are they willing to pay such a high amount for her?

Just like all the men's football teams in the world are thinking, the women's teams are also thinking the same. With Olivia Smith, Arsenal are thinking long-term goals, and that is why they are willing to pay big bucks for the Canadian. 

"I don't necessarily know how easily she walks into that Arsenal team, obviously they won the Champions League last season, which makes them extremely lucrative, but they've got a great attacking threat already," Rachel Corsie, former Scotland captain, told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It will be a challenge for her, but probably an addition for Arsenal that they'll expect is maybe one of those signings who could be at the club for a number of years," she added.

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Most expensive transfers in women's football history