It wasn’t a pretty watch at times against Nigeria but one thing this England group can never be accused of lacking is resilience.
They showed that in spades by holding firm during normal and extra time after Lauren James had been sent off and then keeping their nerve to progress on penalties.
It was a belting penalty to win it from Chloe Kelly. She was always one of the cleanest strikers of the ball in the squad and it doesn’t surprise me she had the confidence to smash home England’s decisive penalty in such emphatic fashion.
She has proven time and again that she is the woman for the big occasion and I think this could be the moment that kicks her World Cup into life.
She started on the bench against Nigeria and has showed flashes of what she is capable of in the group games. But with that penalty under her belt, I think we will see Chloe raise her game to a new level.
Chloe Kelly has proved over and over again she is the woman for England’s biggest occasions
Kelly hit a fierce 69 mph penalty to seal England’s passage to the World Cup quarter-finals
The Manchester City forward brings something different to Sarina Wiegman’s side in attack. When Chloe’s at her best, she gets the ball out of her feet and whips crosses into dangerous areas but it’s her directness that makes her an opposition full back’s nightmare.
There have been concerns over who will provide the spark now that Lauren is suspended for Saturday’s quarter-final and the semi-final.
But Chloe is definitely capable of taking up that mantle and she should have all the confidence in the world to do so after her shootout heroics.
Her quality from wide areas might help to create a few more clear-cut chances for Alessia Russo.
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