England kick off World Cup campaign against minnows Haiti

But this one will be!

And it’s clear-cut. An England corner is sailing towards Batcheba Louis who is leaping with her arms outstretched and the ball makes contact with her fingers on the way through. This whole referee speaking to the crowd scenario is wild.

VAR check for a penalty

And there’s a lot to check.

The obvious incident is Pierre-Louis’ studs-up challenge on Kelly’s shin, which just looks awful on the replay and could warrant a red card. But the VAR is also checking a potential Russo foul on Tabita Joseph in the seconds prior.

Pierre-Louis is booked but the Russo incident is not deemed worthy of a penalty.

Chance for Haiti!

Wowee.

Dumornay, who has since returned to the field, plays Borgella in and the latter evades England shirts to rush clear into the box. She is on her own with just Earps between her and the goal, but she doesn’t get enough purchase or accuracy on her shot, which rolls wide. That would have been something. England are by no means in control here.

This has been a frenetic start

We are 13 minutes in and there are so many headers and changes in possession it’s tough to keep up. Haiti will love this because it is clearly unsettling their much higher-ranked counterparts – even if Delepine has his arms crossed and is shaking his head in the dugout.

Dumornay is hurt

This is bad news for Haiti. The 19-year-old is their star player and has looked a threat from the off, but comes under a heavy challenge from Russo. Medical staff assist her to the sideline and she hobbles for a bit before standing still and bending over.

Alessia Russo and Luzy Bronze in a goal-mouth scramble.Credit: AP

Haiti’s goalkeeper is already getting a workout

Theus has made two regulation saves in the first few minutes including scooping up a shot from Russo hit directly in her path. Russo had leapt onto a loose ball after Hemp started an England counter-attack that Kelly couldn’t finish.

Peep! We’re off and running!

And what a wild start. Haiti dribble the ball straight to England’s byline in an audacious move that almost looks dangerous for England. The latter are quick on the transition, though, and work their way into space with ease and up towards Théus’s goal. England win a corner and Lucy Bronze’s header skims over the top of the crossbar.

Group D

A quick one on this group as the players walk out for the national anthems. The other two teams are Denmark and China, with England *expected* to go through top and Denmark second. This group directly affects the Matildas. Should Australia finish first they have the luxury of playing the second-placed team from Group D. Finish second and they could play, well, England. Having said that, Tony Gustavsson’s side did beat England in a friendly in April.

England coach Sarina Wiegman.Credit: Getty

Some fans get creative.Credit: AP

Millie Bright is fit to start

Wiegman only confirmed yesterday England’s captain Millie Bright is fit to start. The defender hasn’t played a competitive game since March after getting surgery to clean up a knee injury.

Millie Bright warms up at Suncorp Stadium.Credit: AP

On Haiti

The Caribbean nation is not in a good place, having been hit with a multitude of crises in recent times, including numerous natural disasters, the assassination of the president Jovenel Moïse, violence and economic instability.

It is fair to say that football is a rare source of joy for the country, whose men’s team qualified for the 1974 World Cup but not since. The women’s side are ranked 53rd by FIFA and have some French players including young Lyon midfielder Melchie Dumornay, and coach Nicolas Delépine has plenty of experience, particularly in France.