Women’s World Cup LIVE: England news and response as Lionesses established Australia semi-final

England enjoy the World Cup semi-finals and Lucy Bronze has actually been here prior to. She existed in Canada in 2015 to be dealt the heartbreak as Laura Bassett turned the ball into her own internet and provided Japan a ticket to the last; she was there for that night in Lyon 4 years ago where Steph Houghton’s late charge miss out on supplied the traditional suffering and the U.S.A. marched towards yet another title.

If you’re English, there’s a specific aura that surrounds semi-finals. Its near-certainty declines to discriminate in between males’s and ladies’s football and has actually long afflicted records at the video game’s most significant competition: England make it to last 4 which’s as far as they will ever go.

Such a concept appears like it might be ready to unwind – and there would be couple of much better scenarios in which it might take place.

Lauren James has actually been handed a two-game restriction by Fifa after being sent throughout England’s last-16 win over Nigeria.

The Chelsea star remained England’s 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarter-finals, and will now serve her 2nd and last video game in the semi-finals versus Australia.

That suggests that James remains in line to bet England once again at the Women’s World Cup, either in the last ought to they beat the Matildas on Sunday, 20 August, or in the third-placed play-off on Saturday, 19 August.

England enjoy the World Cup semi-finals and Lucy Bronze has actually been here prior to. She existed in Canada in 2015 to be dealt the heartbreak as Laura Bassett turned the ball into her own internet and provided Japan a ticket to the last; she was there for that night in Lyon 4 years ago where Steph Houghton’s late charge miss out on supplied the traditional suffering and the U.S.A. marched towards yet another title.

If you’re English, there’s a specific aura that surrounds semi-finals. Its near-certainty declines to discriminate in between males’s and ladies’s football and has actually long afflicted records at the video game’s most significant competition: England make it to last 4 which’s as far as they will ever go.

Such a concept appears like it might be ready to unwind – and there would be couple of much better scenarios in which it might take place. In years passed, getting to the semi-finals has actually been the emphasize in itself, however this time around there’s still some method to go to match what this group has actually already shown.

Sarina Wiegman confesses she was uninformed of simply how huge the competition is in between England and Australia after Alessia Russo’s winner versus Colombia sealed a 2-1 win and establish a World Cup semi-final with the co-hosts.

Asked if she understood the seasonal competition in between the 2 nations, England’s Dutch manager responded: “I just think it is going to be really big, but I’ve had a couple of questions about that now so it’s probably going to be bigger than I imagined now.

“So I’ll talk to my players and staff and see what that rivalry is then. I think the Australians and English can get along really well, and we’ve had such a warm welcome here, we’ve really enjoyed our time here in Australia, and I actually really like the people here.

“But that doesn’t mean there’s no rivalry, so we’ll see that Wednesday.”

The Lionesses will be all set to deal with Australia in front of the home fans after betting Colombia’s enthusiastic assistance in the quarter-finals, according to Beth England.

“I think the atmosphere is going to be amazing,” the striker said. “I thought the crowd tonight was incredible. Every time we touched the ball they were booing but I think you just relish it because these are the atmosphere you want from stadiums. 75,000 and the Australian fans are going to bring a nice big bit of noise through. It’s going to be interesting and entertaining for everyone.

“We’ve been in this situation where we’ve had a lot of noise. The Euros last year at Old Trafford, Wembley. It’s nothing these girls aren’t used to now. We are getting in more and more in the women’s game. Selling out, getting big crowds and not being able to think. So it’s just going to be an exciting game and a special one.”

Sarina Wiegman happy with England spirit in resurgence:

“I think the team again showed some resilience and a lot of togetherness. And yeah, I’m just really proud again of the team. As a team, I think we did a great job. But at moments they had some crosses that were very dangerous and I think how we got them (the defenders) to solve that (worked) really well.”

It took Sarina Wiegman a minute to completely understand the enormity of what England now deal with in Australia. If a World Cup semi-final wasn’t huge enough, the Lionesses will now play the hosts in Sydney for a location in the last. Amid the enjoyment of a fresh brand-new chapter in this historical sporting competition, Wiegman confessed that meeting Australia at this phase of the competition is “going to be bigger than I imagined”.

But the Dutch coach was likewise concentrated on what had actually simply come previously, instead of what waits for England next. A semi-final versus Australia is the dream component that will take this fascinating World Cup to another level, however England might not manage to take anything for approved provided the method their quarter-final versus Colombia unfolded. The way of England’s success, however, will just contribute to their growing self-confidence when they play the hosts on Wednesday.

England goalscorer Alessia Russo to ITV: “I’m buzzing, the semi-final of a World Cup, we’re keeping the dream alive. I’m buzzing, obviously Colombia are a top team and I think they’ve shown more than that this World Cup. It was a really tough test, but so happy to get three points and be in the semis.

“We’ve had to dig deep from the first game and that’s what it’s like, they have so many talented players who can cause you trouble within a second. But I thought our back line were brilliant tonight, we kept it locked down, won and now we’re in the semis.

“What makes this team great is we’re always trying to find ways to improve even after we’ve reached the semis. We’ve got lots to work on. We’ve got to get recovered, rested and go again.”

England goalscorer Lauren Hemp to ITV: “What an amazing feeling. I’m absolutely knackered right now, most of the team are. We put in a great performance. I think you saw the resilience in the squad and I’m so proud of this team.

“I thought we controlled most of the game to be honest, they had a few counter-attacks and we knew what they were going to bring and I felt we dealt with it quite well.

“Whenever we got the ball it looked like we were going to create something, I think the team were really special toady and long may that continue.”

On dealing with Australia: “I’m buzzing, it’s where you want to be. I want to play on the world’s biggest stages and obviously we’re here right now in the semi-final, I’m over the moon and can’t wait.

“The atmosphere here was incredible, it’s going to be incredible again, but sometimes that’s when you thrive and we thrived again tonight, so hopefully we’ll do the same again.”