England to (probably) win the World Cup
When I sat down and took in some of the Lionesses' performance against Spain, I thought 'this'll do'.
The Lionesses looked well good when they beat Spain 1-0 on Tuesday.
I missed the first half as I was out at football training. When I switched on to find the girls a goal up, I thought 'nice one', but it was only when I sat down and took in some of their performance that I seriously thought 'this'll do'.
Well, this and some more clinical finishing perhaps. The worst of the missed chances was reserved, unfortunately, for the team's greenest player, Lucia Kendall, 21, making her first start for England at 10.
Alessia Russo finds her with bags - and I mean bags - of space in the box but Kendall lets it roll a bit too far across her body, sending her off-balance shot cruising over the bar. Sarina Wiegman looked fuming.
Minutes later, Lauren James nearly scored a memorable goal, escaping the clutches of Patri Guijarro - who had two arms around her waist, dribbling clear and firing just wide.
The best bit was the defensive performance, though. Lucy Bronze, everywhere, doing everything right, again, still. Lotte Wubben-Moy and Esme Morgan co-ordinating nicely, with a harum-scarum rate as close to zero as I could hope for in a new-ish partnership facing the 'champions of the world'. I don't often get excited about defenders, but when I do, it makes me wonder who the heck is Leah Williamson, and did Millie Bright ever matter much, anyway?
Elsewhere in 'Who?', I was genuinely pleased that Quite Contrary Earps got her literal flowers at Wembley, because she deserves them and it's nice to put that chapter where the nasty nearly spiralled behind us.
I'd like to think Mary could be pleased when Hannah Hampton saved the result in the last five minutes, stopping substitute Edna Imade from equalising with a header from close range, probably the most athletic act by an Edna in London since at least the 1950s. But that won't mean much to Edna who, since her first Spain call-up in November, is fitting right in next to teammates Irene and Patricia.