US and Japan make fast World Cup starts but England labor to victory
BRISBANE, Australia: England squeezed past Haiti 1-0 as they began their Women’s World Cup title bid in unconvincing fashion on Saturday, but holders the United States and former champions Japan were far more comfortable. European champions England have been touted as the prime challengers to a United States team chasing an unprecedented third World Cup crown in a row. But they will have to play far better than they did in front of nearly 45,000 spectators in Brisbane, where a youthful Haiti side making their World Cup debut could have snatched a point at the end.