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England v. USA Matchday Thread

CyderInACan

By CyderInACan
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CyderInACan

CyderInACan

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Well - another World Cup semi-final awaits England. Can we beat the best ranked team in the world tonight? Current odds on SkyBet are ENG 16/5 with USA 17/20 so it's certainly going to have be a shock if we are to progress. But as we all know anything can happen in these games. 

Live on BBC1 from 7.30pm with an 8.00pm ko :englandsmile4wf:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48818658

England manager Phil Neville says he has been planning for a crucial Women's World Cup meeting with the United States since the day he took the job.

Neville's side face the holders in Lyon in the last four on Tuesday, aiming to reach the final for the first time.

Victory would make the Lionesses the first senior England team to reach a major global final since 1966.

"We've planned for it, we've played against them and we know how we're going to play," Neville told BBC Sport.

"When it was France or USA in the semi-final every one of my players said: 'Let's hope it's USA.'

"When I got the job [in January 2018], the first three games I looked at were the USA. I was sitting in my house in Valencia and watched three games in one afternoon because I thought: 'How can we win the World Cup?'

"You have to beat the best, and the USA are the best. They've proven it.

"But we're ready for them. Sometimes, before these games, you can have fear and trepidation - but I can smell nothing but freedom, happiness and excitement."

The Lionesses have reached the last four for the second World Cup - and a third major tournament - in a row and have a fully fit squad.

They beat Norway 3-0 in the quarter-finals, with a record-breaking UK television audience of 7.6 million cheering them on.

Favourites and three-time champions the USA - who have never failed to make the semi-finals of the World Cup - beat hosts France.

Both sides have been preparing for the game amid a heatwave across France, but temperatures are expected to be slightly fresher by Tuesday's 20:00 BST kick-off. A crowd of close to the Stade de Lyon's tournament capacity of 57,900 is expected.

European champions the Netherlands face Sweden in Wednesday's other semi-final, with the winners from the two matches meeting in the final in Lyon on Sunday. The losers will play in Saturday's third-place play-off in Nice.

Highlights: France 1-2 USA

England have 'more hunger' than other semi-finalists

The United States, who are top of the world rankings, go into the match as favourites against third-ranked England and have won 10 of the teams' 16 meetings.

But legendary USA keeper Hope Solo told BBC Sport the Lionesses have the tactical edge and that "they will have a better chance to beat the USA in a World Cup match than ever before".

Both sides have won every game so far at these finals but England's Lyon defender Lucy Bronze, who will be playing at her home stadium, believes her side have a clear advantage over all the other semi-finalists.

"We have more hunger than the other teams because we have never reached a final," said Bronze, who has never lost a game at the Stade de Lyon.

"You look at the four teams left and we're the only team that hasn't reached a final. The Olympics, the World Cup, the Euros, these other three teams have all reached finals in recent years.

"It definitely takes more to reach a final - but who better to know that it takes more than a team that has been knocked out of two consecutive semi-finals?"

'These are the moments you live for'

After beating Norway to reach the semi-finals, Neville said his team's mantra is that they want to be "badass women".

In the United States, they come up against a group of players who are established stars - striker Alex Morgan was the only footballer apart from Liverpool's Mohamed Salah to feature in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of 2019 - and they are involved in a fight with US Soccer for pay equality with the men's team.

But England forward Nikita Parris insists the Lionesses, who drew with the USA 2-2 in their last meeting en route to winning the SheBelieves Cup on American soil in March, will not be overawed.

"Why shouldn't we think we can be badder than them when we went to the SheBelieves and we won it?" said Parris, who will be playing at her new club ground after moving from Manchester City to Lyon this summer.

"We went toe to toe with them. We beat them under [previous manager] Mark Sampson's reign. Why shouldn't we think we can beat them? Why do we have to come to this tournament semi-final and think 'oh, it's America'?

"Nobody fears America. Nobody fears Germany. What's the point in coming to a World Cup if you're not prepared to dream? These are the moments you live for."

Bronze v Rapinoe 'could win the game'

 

USA winger and co-captain Megan Rapinoe has scored two goals in both of their knockout games to give them back-to-back 2-1 victories.

The 33-year-old's match-winning doubles came either side of her being criticised by president Donald Trump for snubbing a potential post-tournament visit to the White House.

On Tuesday, she is set to go head to head with England right-back Bronze, who Neville has said is the "best player in the world" and "deserves to win the Ballon d'Or" award.

England's Lyon midfielder Izzy Christiansen - who missed the tournament after being injured in March - told the BBC: "Her [Megan Rapinoe] up against Lucy [Bronze] is going to be one heck of a battle.

"It is one which could potentially win or lose the game, given both their form."

White, Morgan & Rapinoe battle for Golden Boot

Three of the players set to be involved on Tuesday are tied on five goals at the top of the tournament standings, along with Australia's Sam Kerr, although the Matildas were eliminated in the last 16.

Manchester City and England striker Ellen White's tap-in against Norway was her fifth goal of the campaign, putting her alongside Kerr and the USA duo of Rapinoe and Morgan.

"It's a shootout maybe between Ellen and Alex Morgan for the top scorer," Neville said. "There are going to be brilliant players on this football pitch."

Who is most likely to win the World Cup?

According to Gracenote Sports, which captures and curates sports data, the USA have the highest chance of lifting the trophy on 7 July, with a 41% probability, according to simulations.

England, who have never knocked a higher-ranked side out of the tournament, are said to have a 38% chance of reaching the final.

The USA against the Netherlands is deemed to be the most likely final, with the Lionesses and the Oranje both said to have a 22% chance of becoming champions.

An England v Sweden final is statistically the least likely, with the Swedes said to have only a 16% chance of glory on Sunday.

 
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phantom

phantom

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This American side have been doing my head in since that first game when they were taking the piss against Thailand

Let's see Rapinoe bossed out of the game and we will not be far away, our defence is far superior and the forward line will give the Americans something to consider

My mind says beat them and celebrate in their faces so they know how it feels, but you just know if we win we are a much more humble bunch and will show why we are such a great nation !!

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Erithacus

Erithacus

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The Bronze/Rapinoe match-up will be a fulcrum around which the game will hinge, but there are lots of other confrontations across the pitch that will have a great bearing. I fancy we can defend better providing the centre-half paring of Houghton and Bright are tighter tonight. Further up in midfield we must have the upper hand or we will have to spend most of our time tracking back. Maybe Neville will look to do that as a quick counter attacking side - which we are more than capable of. Ellen White is in top form and could be the decisive factor. The Americans should have the ability to force the play more than we will, but I don't think their defence is as strong as it could be. Extra time and penalties anyone? Surely we have been doing our work in training.  :englandsmile4wf:

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phantom

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10 minutes ago, Erithacus said:

..... I fancy we can defend better providing the centre-half paring of Houghton and Bright are tighter tonight. 

Remember Millie Bright was puking for 48 hours before the last game - it was a big risk playing her as she was clearly nowhere near 100% - they will be fine

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maxjak

maxjak

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Gotta say i agree about USA`'s  arrogance and lack of class versus Thailand being sickening..........however i cannot see England beating them due to their occasional basic errors, which will be almost certainly be punished.  Could go to E.T., but USA to go through 2-1 or 1-0.    That will be my bet on Betfair.

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phantom

phantom

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I wouldn't be surprised to see Bronze get moved up the pitch into the right side of midfield with Daly going to right back

3 minutes ago, Mad Cyril said:

I am just glad I managed to fake an American accent after being caught snooping in the England changing room....

We're on about the ladies here not the U21's

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