Women's World Cup: Powell may go after England penalty exit

Women's Football / Joe Dyer / 10 July 2011 /

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Hope Powell consoles her players after the World Cup defeat

"Betfair customers were confident in an England victory and backed Powell's charges at [1.17] to win, but Elise Bussaglia struck an equaliser for Les Bleues to offer the French a lifeline."

The national team are beaten by the French after 120 minutes of action leaving the coach to question her future

Another summer, another World Cup quarter-final exit for England.

It's something football fans in this country have long been accustomed to and, in the absence of the men underperforming on the world stage this year, the women did us proud exiting the World Cup on penalties at the hands of France

Hope Powell's future is now in doubt with the coach publicly discussing the possibility of leaving her role. after 13 years in charge.

But it could have been so different for Powell after England secured a second-half lead, almost entirely against the run of play, and held it until three minutes from the final whistle.

Betfair customers were confident in an England victory and backed Powell's charges at [1.17] to win, but Elise Bussaglia struck an equaliser for Les Bleues to offer the French a lifeline.

It was goalless throughout extra time, bringing on the dreaded penalties, yet England negotiated their way through the early spot kicks well, scoring their first three. The French missed their first and it looked as though the Three Lionesses were set fair for the semi-finals.

Missed penalties from Faye White and Claire Rafferty however, ensured it was the French who went through in the end.

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