USA take on Thailand as underdogs show defence can work

Paris (AFP): Argentina collected a first-ever Women's World Cup point with a determined defensive display against Japan on Monday, but holders United States can also expect to face a Thailand team determined to stifle on Tuesday.

On a day of defence against attack, Argentina held Japan 0-0 in Paris in Group D while Canada edged Cameroon 1-0 in Montpellier. Facing a team that was a finalist in the last two World Cups, Argentina barely managed a shot on goal as they forced in the first goalless draw of the competition and only the seventh in the competition's history.

"Basically we couldn't play any other way against this team," said Carlos Borrello, the Argentina manager.

Cameroon, who won two matches on their only previous appearance in 2011, were undone by one set piece in the dying seconds of the first half. "We had to be realistic and focus on defending and hitting on the counter-attack," said Alain Djeumfa, the coach of Cameroon, which won two of their three group games at the last World Cup.