On Sunday, in the searing Brittany heat, the Women’s Under-20 World Cup got under way and a young England side marked themselves as contenders in style.

Facing North Korea, the two-time winners and defending champions, in their Group B opener, Mo Marley’s side ran out impressive 3-1 winners thanks to an Alessia Russo double and a Georgia Stanway goal. The pair thereby became the first England players to have scored at both Under-17 and Under-20 Women’s World Cup finals.

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The reduction of the deficit by a Ja Un-Yong header in the 71st minute failed to rattle the young Lionesses with Russo’s second restoring their two-goal margin two minutes later.

Lauren Hemp – England’s young player of the year in 2017 and the PFA’s young player of the year in 2018 – was the architect of the victory, setting up both Russo’s goals and coming close herself on more than one occasion. In May Manchester City raided Bristol City for Hemp, who turns 18 on Tuesday, and her performance against North Korea secured the player of the match award.

But Hemp was not the only bright spark. In front of Phil Neville England were solid across the park, with the University of Louisville player Mollie Rouse and Brighton’s Chloe Peplow controlling the midfield.

The young Lionesses – led by Marley, who is in charge at her fifth Under-20 World Cup finals – will be hoping to emulate their male counterparts, who won their Under-20 World Cup last year. This win against the reigning champions will fill the side – who qualified thanks to the hosts, France, having an automatic place, and a play-off win against Scotland – with confidence as they look to climb out of a very competitive group.

Mexico’s thrilling 3-2 win over the 2016 quarter-finalists Brazil in the tournament opener will have England believing they can score against both. Neither side looked convincing as two Kerolin Ferraz goals enabled Brazil to come from behind to lead, before a Jacqueline Ovalle double allowed Mexico to inflict a first competitive defeat on Brazil in 2018.

Marley and her team have worked hard to prepare the 21-woman squad for this tournament. Training camps have been intense, individual player preparation plans have been put in place and the extended squad of 31 were put through their paces by the Royal Marines – as Gareth Southgate’s side were during their World Cup preparations.

Marley told SheKicks.net she was delighted with the win but that it was the maturity of the team that really impressed. “The players are setting the benchmark and the standards, not us as coaches,” she said. “That’s when you know you’ve got a true group of players, that are willing to give everything for each other and the game plan.”

Now England must recover before Wednesday’s tie with Brazil in Dinan and their 12 August final group game against Mexico.

Elsewhere on the opening day France beat Ghana 4-1 to top Group A. Emelyne Laurent’s two first-half goals, including a wonderful close-range volley in off the crossbar, sandwiched a Hélène Fercocq strike to put the tournament hosts 3-0 up. In the second half Sandra Owusu-Ansah pulled one back for Ghana but Sandy Baltimore restored the French lead in the seventh minute of added time.

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The Netherlands saw off New Zealand with a 2-1 win with the 19-year-old midfielder Eva van Deursen clinching the win with 12 minutes remaining. In Group C, Spain hammered Paraguay 4-1 and Japan beat the USA 1-0.

Talking points

•A week after North Carolina Courage won the first Women’s International Champions Cup with a 1-0 win against the European champions Lyon, NCC have secured the NWSL Shield. Their second straight title was clinched with two Lynn Williams goals, putting her on 10 for the season, in a 2-1 win over Portland Thorns, with Lindsey Horan scoring her 10th goal for Thorns.

• The US came from behind to beat Brazil 4-1 and seal a Tournament of Nations win on goal difference. Tierna Davidson’s own goal was cancelled out by Rose Lavelle’s first-half strike before Julie Ertz, Tobin Heath and the in-form Alex Morgan all scored within 14 minutes to secure the win. They finished level on points with Australia, who beat Japan 2-0 in their final game, but a plus-one goal difference gave them the silverware of the annual friendly competition.

•The FA has announced the fixtures for the Women’s Super League, Women’s Championship and Continental Cup. With the Conti Cup opening the season, Aston Villa and Sheffield get things started on Saturday 18 August. Highlights on Sunday include Manchester United travelling to Liverpool for their first competitive test and the new WSL entrants West Ham away to Arsenal. The leagues kick off on 9 September and opening matches include Arsenal hosting Liverpool, the reigning champions, Chelsea, taking on Manchester City and Brighton making their WSL bow against Bristol. In the Championship Lewes travel to Millwall for their first taste of the second tier and Villa host Manchester United.

• Phil Neville has added to his England backroom staff with the recruitment of Bev Priestman as assistant coach. Priestman worked at Everton and the FA before joining the New Zealand FA. She arrives from Canada where she was director of their Under-15-to-23 national teams, head coach of the Under-17s and assistant to the senior side.

• The Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema scored four as Arsenal crushed Juventus in pre-season at Borehamwood. Kim Little chipped in with a 20-yard effort for Arsenal’s fourth in the 5-0 win. Eni Aluko started for Juventus, having joined the club this summer, while Lianne Sanderson came off the bench.