Valenciennes (AFP)

England, one of the favorites of the Women's World Cup, easily qualified for the quarter-finals by dismissing Cameroon (3-0), sanctioned by the intervention of the VAR Sunday in Valenciennes.

This was the image of the match: the Cameroonians, furious arbitration decisions, even briefly threatened not to resume the game, before resigning to it.

For a place in the last four, the English will be opposed Thursday in Le Havre (21:00) to Norway, who won with difficulty against Australia Saturday (1-1, 4 tab 1).

At the Stade du Hainaut, under a sweltering heat (temperature felt 33 ° C), the English quickly made the difference with their captain Steph Houghton (15th), before killing the suspense in the extra time of the first period by Ellen White (45th + 4). After the break, it was Alex Greenwood who increased the score (58th).

Brilliant in the first phase with three wins against Scotland, Argentina and Japan, finalist in 2015, the players of Phil Neville have certainly obtained their qualification, but have not displayed their best face and will have to raise their level to hope to reach the semi-finals, like four years ago.

- Ajara Nchout frustrated -

Back on the match. The English take control of operations and are quickly rewarded: on a center White, the defender Augustine Ejangue lacks control in front of his goalkeeper, who seizes the ball in hand instead of clear foot. The referee then signals an indirect free kick five meters from the goal.

This error of Anette Ngo Ndom is expensive to the Indomitable Lionesses since the English do not miss their chance: offset by Toni Duggan, Houghton finds the small net (1-0, 15th).

After a boring first act, the "Three Lionesses" will double the stake: a subtle outside foot, Lucy Bronze launches in the back of the Cameroonian White, who controls before scoring.

The goal initially denied for offside, is finally validated by the VAR, causing anger of African players, who speak almost two minutes before finally agree to resume the game (2-0, 45 + 4).

After the restart, Cameroon managed to reduce the score by Ajara Nchout ... but the goal is canceled by the VAR for offside, creating a new floating Lioness Indomitable. It takes the intervention of the breeder so that they eventually take over the game (49th).

Shortly after, England extinguishes the last hopes Cameroon by tripling the stake by Greenwood, who takes a foot from the foot of a corner Duggan (3-0, 58th).

? 2019 AFP