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Monday, June 10, 2019

FRANCE2019: From twins to a trio for Argentinean GK Vanina Correa


© Getty Images

  • 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.
    Argentina's players celebrate securing their first ever point in Women's World Cup 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 0

      Saturday 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 Two
      Group 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

      Wednesday 12 June

      Group A: Nigeria vs South Korea (14:00, Grenoble) - BBC red button/website
      Group 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 Two
      Group B: South Africa vs China (20:00, Paris) - BBC red button/website

      Friday 14 June

      Group D: Japan vs Scotland (14:00, Rennes) - BBC One
      Group 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 One
      Group 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 One
      Group F: Sweden vs Thailand (17:00, Nice) - BBC red button/website

      Monday 17 June

      Group B: China vs Spain (17:00, Le Havre) - BBC 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

      Tuesday 18 June

      Group C: Jamaica vs Australia (20:00, Grenoble) - BBC red button/website
      Group C: Italy vs Brazil (20:00, Valenciennes) - BBC Four

      Wednesday 19 June

      Group D: Japan vs England (20:00, Nice) - BBC One
      Group D: Scotland vs Argentina (20:00, Paris) - BBC Four

      Thursday 20 June

      Group E: Cameroon vs New Zealand (17:00, Montpellier) - BBC red button/website
      Group 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 rights

      Saturday 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)

      Semi-finals:

      Tuesday 2 July

      49: W45 vs W46 (20:00, Lyon)

      Wednesday 3 July

      50: W47 vs W48 (20:00, Lyon)

      Third-place play-off:

      Saturday 6 July (16:00, Nice)

      Final:

      Sunday 7 July (16:00, Lyon)

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