England narrowly beaten by China in World Championship.

England 0-1 China
IBSA Blind World Football Championship
Third/Fourth-Place Play-off
thePoint4, The Royal College for the Blind, Hereford
By James Marshall in Hereford

The England Blind team narrowly missed out on a medal in the Blind World Championship with a narrow 1-0 defeat to China.

Tony Larkin's side started the third/fourth-place play-off in determined fashion with Jon Gribbin forcing a good save from the Chinese goalkeeper Chu Xu.

The Three Lions then had to sustain some early pressure from the Chinese attackers and England's 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who was the special guest on finals day, described China's Ya Feng Wang as the ‘George Best of the Tournament'.

Wang's exceptional dribbling caused England some early problems as Dave Clarke and Keryn Seal put in some fantastic challenges to keep the Chinese at bay.

However, Wang was a constant thorn in England's side and he put the Chinese into the lead with a great finish from close range. He nearly made it two five minutes before half-time, forcing a fine save from Lewis Skyers.

Larkin's men worked hard to try and force an equaliser, turning defence into attack, but found themselves crowded out by a packed Chinese defence.

Dave Clarke went close from the eight-metre line and Gribbin continued to make Chu Xu work in the Chinese goal. England worked tirelessly to force the game into extra-time but China held on to secure the bronze medal.

Larkin proudly summed up his team's performance in the competition.

"We were unlucky not to finish up with a medal. We are a young side and finishing fourth in a World Cup is fantastic achievement for everyone involved."