WORLD CUP NOTEBOOK: England fans warned to beware of Sydney Seagulls

Sarina Wiegman’s England side got off to an underwhelming start at the Women’s World Cup on Saturday. 

They defeated Haiti 1-0, with Georgia Stanway scoring from the penalty spot, but it was an uncharacteristic performance from the side who are being backed as one of the favourites to win the tournament. 

The Lionesses were wasteful in possession and struggled to convert their chances throughout the match and looked nervy in defence too. Had it not been for Mary Earps’ save in the 80th minute to deny Roseline Eloissaint, England may have come away with only a point from the match. 

It was clear there is plenty of work to do ahead of their tricky upcoming fixture against Denmark on Friday. Elsewhere, the Netherlands defeated Portugal 1-0, France were held to a goalless draw against Jamaica and Sweden beat South Africa 2-1.

Mail Sport’s Kathryn Batte takes a look at all the things you may have missed from England’s opening game at the Women’s World Cup.   

Stanway (pictured) was given a reprieve after her first attempt was saved by the Haitian goalkeeper, who came off her line early, with the referee ordering the penalty to be re-taken

Sarina Wiegman (right) has plenty to ponder before England’s next match on Friday against Denmark, following their underwhelming performance on Saturday 

Goalscorers win all the accolades 

If you score at this World Cup, there is every chance you will be named player of the match. Georgia Stanway was given the award after England’s 1-0 victory over Haiti, despite strong performances from Melchie Dumornay and Kerly Theus.

It was taken to the extreme when Denmark’s Amalie Vangsgaard, who came off the bench in the 85th minute, was named player of the match after scoring a 90th-minute winner against China.

England’s stand-by players fly home 

England’s stand-by players Maya Le Tissier and Lucy Staniforth flew home yesterday. 

Le Tissier spent five weeks with the Lionesses while Staniforth was called up as an extra player when Jess Park withdrew through injury.

Green shirts dominate Sydney bars 

Sydney is home to a large Irish population and the All-Ireland Hurling Championship final between Limerick and Kilkenny seemed to bring everyone out last night. 

Green shirts dominated one bar as France v Jamaica was broadcast at 8pm local time, four-and-a-half hours before the hurling started. 

One wonders whether they will be back to watch the Republic of Ireland’s game with Canada on Wednesday.

Goalscorers are winning the accolades at the tournament with Amalie Vangsgaard (pictured) coming on to score for Denmark in the dying embers of their 1-0 win against China

Maya Le Tissier (pictured) and Lucy Staniforth both flew home from England’s training camp yesterday

Australia’s women’s football team are known as the Matildas, but anyone who shares the same name is being offered a 10 per cent discount on flights with Virgin Australia

Matildas get discounted flights

Anyone with the name Matilda has been given a 10 per cent discount at Virgin Australia until July 31. 

The Australia team’s official nickname is the Matildas. There is no such luck if you support Canada, with their nickname officially registered as ‘no official nickname’.

Beware of the seagulls 

England fans moving to Sydney for the Lionesses’ second game should beware the city’s notorious seagulls.

The Harbour area is a favourite spot for the birds and restaurants have resorted to deploying patrol dogs to keep them away from customers.