England blind women finish second at IBSA World Championship

The England women's blind team were in action at the IBSA World Championship in India during October, eventually finishing as runners-up at the tournament.

After running out 2-0 winners in their opening game against Poland, England drew 1-1 with Brazil in their second outing at the tournament before beating hosts India to secure a semi-final spot and the Para Lionesses booked their place in the final with a penalty shootout triumph over Japan.

You can read the reports from each of England's games below.

England 0-2 Argentina

England women's blind team suffered World Championship heartache on Saturday afternoon, after they were beaten 2-0 by Argentina in the IBSA Blind Women's World Championship Final.

In what was the Para Lionesses' first major tournament since 2023, England can come home from the tournament in India with their heads held high, after only suffering defeat against an impressive Argentina team in the Final.

It had been a tight game throughout, but the South Americans edged it with two goals in the last ten minutes.

The first arrived with just over eight minutes left on the clock, when Gracia Sosa turned well from out wide before finding a pass for Yohana Aguilar. She then fired an unstoppable shot past Alicia Grimmond into the top left corner to break the deadlock.

And Argentina doubled their advantage with six minutes to go when Sosa embarked on a dribble into the box before shooting low into the far corner to seal the title.

It was England's only defeat in their five games at the tournament, after finishing top of a group containing Brazil, Poland and hosts India, before they beat Japan in the semi-final.

England 0-0 Japan (1-0 on pens)

The England Blind women’s team booked their place in the Final of the IBSA World Championship after beating Japan on penalties.

After playing out a goalless draw in the semi-final, it all came down to a shootout.

First up was captain Samantha Gough who missed her spot-kick and it was the opposition’s turn next.

Para Lionesses keeper Alicia Grimmond produced a stop to deny Japan before England’s opponents struck the upright with their next penalty.

England’s Alice Hopkins was unable to convert, meaning the contest went to sudden death.

Japan also missed their next effort before Lucja Wyrwantowicz’s penalty was kept out by a diving save.

Grimmond saved again from Japan before Selina Prieto’s strike was stopped by the Japanese keeper.

Japan’s next kick was straight at Grimmond with England skipper Gough next to step up to take her second penalty of the shootout which crept under the goalkeeper and rippled the net to seal passage to the Final for Tony Larkin’s team.

India 1-2 England

The Para Lionesses will play in the IBSA Women’s Blind World Championship semi-final, after a thrilling victory over hosts India on Wednesday afternoon.

England topped their group stage, after Megan Smithson-Booth’s brace proved to be enough to see off a spirited India team who caused plenty of problems as both teams pushed for victory.

And they will now face Japan, who finished second in Group B, on Friday afternoon with a place in the Final up for grabs as Brazil and Argentina face off in the other semi-final.

After a tight opening period, it was England who took the lead with four minutes remaining in the first half, when Megan Smithson-Booth worked her way past two India defenders on the edge of the area before firing a low shot into the bottom corner.

It was a close encounter throughout, but England remained firm in defence while also looking to hit their hosts on the break.

But India found a leveller with nine minutes left on the clock when Shefali Rawat cut inside from the right and saw her shot deflected past goalkeeper Alicia Grimmond and into the bottom corner.

The hosts, boosted by their goal, continued to put pressure on the England defence but as the game went into the last five minutes both teams were really pushing for a win.

England came close again when Grimmond’s long throw picked out Smithson-Booth in the India area and after bringing the ball under control, her shot flew narrowly wide of the post.

And with just one minute left on the clock, the Para Lionesses found the winner, when Smithson-Booth rifled an angled shot into the top corner to seal the victory.

England 1-1 Brazil

The Para Lionesses played out a 1-1 draw with Brazil in their second game of the IBSA World Championship, building on victory over Poland.

England struck late in the first half through Megan Smithson-Booth, who now has three goals in two games at the tournament. However, her strike was eventually cancelled out by a Brazilian equaliser in the second period.

After winning back possession in the opposition half, England surged forward. Goalscorer Smithson-Booth twisted and turned around a blue shirt before taking aim, with her effort looping over the Brazilian shot-stopper and into the back of the net.

But early in the second half, Brazil levelled with an effort from close range as it finished all square.

England 2-0 Poland

The England women’s blind team kicked-off their IBSA World Championship campaign on Monday morning with a solid 2-0 victory over Poland in India.

The Para Lionesses played the first of their three group games at the tournament in the early hours UK time, with what proved to be a tight first half.

However, England came out for the second half with renewed vigour and they opened the scoring midway through the half. It was Megan Smithson-Booth who broke the deadlock, after collecting the ball from an indirect free-kick on the edge of the area before firing home a left-footer through a crowd of three defenders and the goalkeeper.

And Smithson-Booth doubled the advantage soon after, when she produced a neat turn on the halfway line before skilfully evading two defenders and finishing well with a shot through the keepers’ legs.

The Squad

Alicia Grimmond, Katie Christopher, Amelie Ford, Alice Hopkins, Lucja Wyrwantowicz, Natasha Mead, Selina Prieto, Samantha Gough, Megan Smithson-Booth, Maria Slade