England's Rusty Performance in FIFA Women's World Cup Opener Against Haiti

The team defeated Haiti 1-0 in their opening match at Lang Park in Brisbane, Australia, on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

However, the fourth-ranked Lionesses faced some criticism for their rusty performance, which saw them struggle to find finishing finesse despite taking 11 shots on target, the most in a World Cup game since 2011.

England's keeper Mary Earps made a crucial save in the dying minutes to preserve the victory, and the team's nerve-jangling win was reminiscent of their narrow 1-0 victory over Austria to open the Euro tournament a year earlier.

England's coach Sarina Wiegman acknowledged that there were areas for improvement, but was pleased with the win, which puts the team in a good position in Group D with three points apiece alongside Denmark, who eked out a 1-0 victory over China in their opening match.

Haiti, who played better than their 53rd ranking, pushed England to the brink with their speed and unpredictability.

The team's 19-year-old Lyon midfielder Melchie Dumornay had a standout performance, and Haiti's coach Nicolas Delepine was proud of his team's effort, despite falling short against the European champions.

While England's victory was a relief, the team's performance left room for improvement.

The Lionesses will have five days to review and reflect on their game before facing Denmark on July 28, with the hope of building on their strong start at the World Cup.