England were heavily defeated by a strong Korea DPR by four goals to nil in a game where the young Lionesses will have learned a lot of things.

There were five Arsenal players in the starting line-up Goalkeeper Hope McSheffrey, Captain Laila Harbert, defenders Niamh Peacock and Eva Gray and forward Isabella Fisher. Defender Sophie Harwood came on as a sub in the second half while Omatara Junaid was suspended and Cecily Wellesley-Smith was unavailable, presumably through injury.

We saw a really good Korea DPR team, they press high with intensity, did not allow England to settle and build up play from their defence. If you add the technical ability from the Korean players especially the fast, one or two touch crisp passing, you have a recipe for a tough start with two goals from Kang Ryu Mi (10th minute) and Choe II son (18th minute).

Korea then controlled the game, England tried to hit them on the break and wrestle ball control from them. Things improved early in the second half when the Koreans defended deeper and England started build attack and momentum.

Unfortunately, they conceded a penalty, converted by Ri Kuk Hyang (69th minute) and to add insult to injury, Korea DPR scored a fourth despite the England manager asking for a review as part of the Football Video Service trial. This is a tool that would replace VAR where technology is not available (73rd minute).

Overall, a good lesson for the young Lionesses that did not cost them as they were already through. It is so important to play against different kind of football culture at youth level and be confronted to different style of play. It will help those players in the long term.

I also noted there were a lot of parents from all teams that were competing in Santiago. There was a very obnoxious father shouting instructions to the players as if he was coaching them, moaning at the referee and he was so loud the whole stand could hear him.

Going to the other side of the world to behave like this is not great, luckily he toned it down in the second half, but there is no need for that kind of behaviour from parents.

England: McSheffrey; Las (Harwoord), Shaw (Sherwood), Peacock, Gray; Harbert (Jones), Parkinson, Cassap; Brown; Thomspon (Oboavwodu0), Fisher (Thompson)

The weather was poor with heavy rain and some lightning in the area. The pitch was in good condition considering the amount of rain that fell in two hours. Not an enjoyable evening for England but plenty of things to learn before the Japan game next.