(FIFA.com)
09 Jun 2019
- Goalkeeper featured at the 2003 and '07 tournaments
- Retired in 2012 and gave birth to twins
- She explains the reasons why she returned to the game
By Diego Zandrino with Argentina
Vanina Correa might be a little reserved off the pitch, but she is nothing like that on it, where she imposes herself between the posts for Argentina, both through her physique and her experience. Now 35, she is about to appear at her third FIFA Women’s World Cup™.The first was 16 years ago, when she watched all three of her side’s matches at USA 2003 from the substitutes' bench. She began China 2007 in the starting line-up, only for a heavy defeat to Germany in Argentina’s opening match to relegate her to the sidelines again.
When Argentina failed to qualify for Germany 2011 the player they call La Flaca (The Skinny One) felt she would never have another opportunity, especially when she chose to retire the following year to have a baby.
As it turned out, Correa had twins – Luna and Romeo – who have now seen their mother go on to become the only Albiceleste player to go to three Women’s World Cups.
Draw secures Argentina its first point in Women's World Cup history
At the final whistle, goalkeeper Vanina Correa fell to her knees as her teammates embraced each other. Though they had not won, they had created history.
The scoreline would suggest that the goalless draw between Japan and Argentina was a dull stalemate, but that would not do justice to what Argentina achieved on a balmy Parisian evening in the Parc de Princes.
Argentina had lost all six of its previous World Cup games by an aggregate score of 33-2. Indeed, the underdogs were playing a Japan side ranked seventh in the world, 30 places above Argentina in FIFA's rankings.
An indefatigable spirit -- and Japan's bluntness in attack -- ensured that the South Americans came away from a Women's World Cup match with a point for the first time in their history.
"First off, I congratulate my players," said coach Carlos Borrello. "The fact they see through your game plan makes you, as a coach, very satisfied. For all of female football in Argentina, I think it's great that Argentina is starting to flourish.
"We have started getting support now from the federation. Results in these situations often help a lot. It's going to allow us to continue to go down this great path we're going down."
The team played no games in 2016 and the majority of 2017 due to a lack of funding, but returned to action in last year's Copa America Femenina. Qualification for the World Cup -- Argentina's first since 2007 -- came via a playoff victory against Panama.
Historic result
Comfortable in possession, Japan dominated midfield but it wasn't until the second half that Argentina's defense was truly troubled.
For all of Japan's neat passes and Estefania Banini's flashes of brilliance during Argentina's rare forays into the opposition half, neither side managed a shot on target in the first 45 minutes.
There were cries of "Argentina, Argentina" from pockets of the 25,055 fans in the Parc des Princes, and decibels rose every time the Argentines entered opposition territory, but Argentina -- competing in a Women's World Cup for only the third time -- never looked like taking the three points.
A draw, however, was surprise enough.
The other game in Group D took place on Sunday, with England taking top spot after defeating Scotland 2-1 in Nice.
The Women's World Cup 2019 has arrived, with 24 countries battling it out over a month to be crowned the winners.
It's the eighth edition of the competition, most recently won by the US in Canada 2015 - their third success.
Phil Neville's England will be among the favourites when the tournament begins on June 7. They've been drawn against Scotland, Argentina and Japan in Group D.
But when are the games, and how can you watch? You can find out all you need to know below.
Fifa Women's World Cup 2019 group stage fixtures (all times BST)
Friday 7 June
Group A: France 4 South Korea 0Saturday 8 June
Group A: Norway 3 Nigeria 0 (14:00, Reims)Group B: Spain 3 South Africa 1 (17:00, Le Havre)
Group B: Germany 1 China 0 (20:00, Rennes)
Sunday 9 June
Group C: Australia 1 Italy 2 (12:00, Valenciennes)Group C: Brazil 3 Jamaica 0 (14:30, Grenoble)
Group D: England 2 Scotland 1 (17:00, Nice)
Monday 10 June
Group D: Argentina vs Japan (17:00, Paris) - BBC TwoGroup E: Canada vs Cameroon (20:00, Montpellier) - BBC red button/website
Tuesday 11 June
Group E: New Zealand vs Netherlands (14:00, Le Havre) - BBC red button/website
Group F: Chile vs Sweden (17:00, Rennes) - BBC red button/website
Group F: United States vs Thailand (20:00, Reims) - BBC Four
Group B: Germany vs Spain (17:00, Valenciennes) - BBC red button/website
Group A: France vs Norway (20:00, Nice) - BBC Four
Group B: South Africa vs China (20:00, Paris) - BBC red button/website
Group D: England vs Argentina (17:00, Le Havre) - BBC One
Group C: Jamaica vs Italy (20:00, Reims) - BBC red button/website
Group E: Canada vs New Zealand (20:00, Grenoble) - BBC red button/website
Group F: Sweden vs Thailand (17:00, Nice) - BBC red button/website
Group B: South Africa vs Germany (17:00, Montpellier) - BBC red button/website
Group A: Nigeria vs France (20:00, Rennes) - BBC Four
Group A: South Korea vs Norway (20:00, Reims) - BBC red button/website
Group F: United States vs Thailand (20:00, Reims) - BBC Four
Wednesday 12 June
Group A: Nigeria vs South Korea (14:00, Grenoble) - BBC red button/websiteGroup B: Germany vs Spain (17:00, Valenciennes) - BBC red button/website
Group A: France vs Norway (20:00, Nice) - BBC Four
Thursday 13 June
Group C: Australia vs Brazil (17:00, Montpellier) - BBC TwoGroup B: South Africa vs China (20:00, Paris) - BBC red button/website
Friday 14 June
Group D: Japan vs Scotland (14:00, Rennes) - BBC OneGroup D: England vs Argentina (17:00, Le Havre) - BBC One
Group C: Jamaica vs Italy (20:00, Reims) - BBC red button/website
Saturday 15 June
Group E: Netherlands vs Cameroon (17:00, Valenciennes) - BBC OneGroup E: Canada vs New Zealand (20:00, Grenoble) - BBC red button/website
Sunday 16 June
Group F: United States vs Chile (14:00, Paris) - BBC OneGroup F: Sweden vs Thailand (17:00, Nice) - BBC red button/website
Monday 17 June
Group B: China vs Spain (17:00, Le Havre) - BBC websiteGroup B: South Africa vs Germany (17:00, Montpellier) - BBC red button/website
Group A: Nigeria vs France (20:00, Rennes) - BBC Four
Group A: South Korea vs Norway (20:00, Reims) - BBC red button/website
Tuesday 18 June
Group C: Jamaica vs Australia (20:00, Grenoble) - BBC red button/websiteGroup C: Italy vs Brazil (20:00, Valenciennes) - BBC Four
Wednesday 19 June
Group D: Japan vs England (20:00, Nice) - BBC OneGroup D: Scotland vs Argentina (20:00, Paris) - BBC Four
Thursday 20 June
Group E: Cameroon vs New Zealand (17:00, Montpellier) - BBC red button/websiteGroup E: Netherlands vs Canada (17:00, Reims) - BBC website
Group F: Sweden vs United States (20:00, Le Havre) - BBC Four
Group F: Thailand vs Chile (20:00, Rennes) - BBC red button/website
Knockout phase Round of 16:
TV channels to be confirmed - BBC has exclusive broadcast rightsSaturday 22 June
38: 1B vs 3A/C/D (14:00, Grenoble)37: A2 vs C2 (17:30, Nice)
Sunday 23 June
39: 1D vs 3B/E/F (16:30, Valenciennes)40: 1A vs 3C/D/E (20:00, Le Havre)
Monday 24 June
41: 2B vs 2F (17:00, Reims)42: 1F vs 2E (20:00, Paris)
Tuesday 25 June
43: 1C vs 3A/B/F (17:00, Montpellier)44: 1E vs 2D (20:00, Rennes)
Quarter-finals:
Thursday 27 June
45: W37 vs W39 (20:00, Le Havre)Friday 28 June
46: W40 vs W41 (20:00, Paris)Saturday 29 June
47: W43 vs W44 (14:00, Valenciennes)48: W38 vs W42 (17:30, Rennes)
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