Women’s World Cup round-up: England in last-16 after scraping past Argentina, Scotland on verge of elimination, Italy thrash Jamaica

The 2019 Women’s World Cup is now in full flow and there have been three very entertaining games on Friday..

Below you can read about the best of the action in France.

England Women 1-0 Argentina Women

England secured a place in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup as Jodie Taylor’s second-half finish earned them a 1-0 win against Argentina in Le Havre.

Euro 2017 top scorer Taylor turned the ball in at the back post just after the hour mark as she met a Beth Mead’s delivery at the end of a good move.

It had been a frustrating game up to that point for the Lionesses, with Nikita Parris seeing a 29th-minute penalty saved by Vanina Correa.

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The goalkeeper thwarted Phil Neville’s side with further impressive stops to keep out strikes from Mead and Parris before Taylor’s goal broke Argentina’s dogged resistance.

Having sealed progress to the next round after taking six points from two matches, England will head into their final Group D game, against Japan in Nice on Wednesday, looking to cement top spot in the pool.

Japan Women 2-1 Scotland Women

Scotland suffered a second defeat in as many matches in Group D at the Women’s World Cup after they were beaten 2-1 by Japan in Rennes.

Just like when they lost to England in their opening match on Sunday, Shelley Kerr’s side found themselves 2-0 down in the first-half before pulling a goal back late in the game.

Japan took the lead in the 23rd minute at Roazhon Park via a Mana Iwabuchi strike, and their advantage was extended in the 37th by a penalty won and converted by Yuika Sugasawa.

Scotland may well view the decision to award the spot-kick as harsh and they subsequently had two penalty appeals turned down after the break, and hit the post through Erin Cuthbert, before substitute Lana Clelland’s fine strike made it 2-1 with two minutes of normal time remaining.

Kerr’s team need to beat Argentina in their final group game on Wednesday to have any chance of progressing into the last-16.

Jamaica Women 0-5 Italy Women

Cristiana Girelli scored a hat-trick as Italy cruised into the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup with a 5-0 win over Jamaica in Reims.

Substitute Aurora Galli completed the scoring with two late goals as the impressive Italians built on their opening 2-1 win over Australia in Group C.

Jamaica were given little chance to make an impression, but they did come close through Mireya Grey in the first half and were unfortunate to fall behind.

Goalkeeper Sydney Schneider saved Girelli’s 12th-minute penalty but was punished for moving off her line, and the striker made no mistake with her second attempt.

Galli was introduced to the game in the 65th minute and made a big impression just six minutes later when she fired home the Italians’ fourth from 25 yards.

And nine minutes before full time she rounded Schneider before slotting home to complete her side’s comprehensive win.

You can listen to every single England and Scotland game LIVE across the talkSPORT network.

Our coverage in France will be led by Natalie Sawyer – presenter of talkSPORT’s Kick Off show and The Times’ The Game podcast.

There will be further coverage of the tournament, including both semi-finals, and the final too.