England looked set to earn a penalty twenty minutes when Dayana Pierre-Louis raked her studs down Chloe Kelly’s shin, but a foul by Russo on Joseph in the buildup meant that Haiti survived what would have been a certain spot-kick.

Russo had in fact committed three fouls in quick succession by the midway point in the first half, with the third seeing Hait’s Jennyfer Limage limp off injured, unable to continue.

Shortly after, England were awarded a penalty by VAR after a handball by Louis Batcheba, but Georgia Stanway’s effort was brilliantly denied by Théus leaping to her right. Or was it? Théus was off her line when the effort was struck and Stanway was afforded a re-take, making no mistake this time to give the Lionesses the lead.

Russo was denied three times in the second half by strong saves from Théus including a good header that almost crept in over the head of the goalkeeper, before being replaced by Rachel Daly upfront as England were held to a 1-0 win to kick off Group D.

Kathrine Kuhl was the only other Arsenal player involved in Saturday’s fixtures, starting in Denmark’s 0-0 draw with China in another Group D encounter.