Read the full match report here:
I think we’re going to wrap this blog up now. Many congratulations to Japan – there’ll be many people cheering them on on Sunday, for they are an excellent outfit, and Aya Miyama, who I think was voted this match’s MVP, is a fabulous, clever attacker. They’ll push USA hard, and it should be another intriguing clash of styles. Commiserations to England, and to Laura Bassett, but they had an excellent tournament. Maybe next time.
Thanks so much for your emails and tweets; sorry I couldn’t use them all. Goodnight.
Gary Lineker has it about right:
Despite the gut-wrenching nature of the defeat, England's women were terrific and should hold their heads high. Great effort!
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 2, 2015
My esteemed colleague Louise Taylor has the match report:
I suppose it’s hard to argue that Japan don’t deserve their place in the final. They’ve been very good all tournament, and even though they were off key tonight, they cut England open twice to score their goals. England were excellent, and deserve many plaudits, but Japan are an accomplished side, full of skill and technique, and their game against USA on Sunday will be fabulous, no doubt.
I’m just trying to think of another football match, in such an important game, to end in such dramatic fashion. Michael Thomas at Anfield in 1989? Manchester United v Bayern in Barcelona in 1999? Miroslav Djukic for Depor in 1994?
Toni Duggan has just given the loveliest interview to TV. She’s gutted, obviously, emotional and teary, but so positive, and kind, and generous to Japan. She was brilliant today, too. Well played.
Here’s Steph Houghton, the England captain:
That’s football. It can be cruel at times but we can hold our heads high. The squad has shown some great character and desire to win, and passion to play for England. These girls have given everything for the jersey.
Thanks so much for all your support. We tried to perform and get to the World Cup final, but it just wasn’t to be.
To give some credit to Japan: they constructed that last chance really well. Kawasumi got free on the right, and Ogimi and Iwabuchi were ready to pounce had Bassett not played it, but it looped and spun, and Bardsley was beaten. Maybe Bassett should have gone with her left foot to clear it, but gah: it just feels so churlish to criticse.
Just looking at some post-match highlights: England created three big chances in that second half: Duggan was so unlucky to hit the bar, Kaihori made a supreme save from White, and Scott should have scored with a free header. Three big chances not taken.
Mark Sampson looks truly gutted. It’s really emotional. He’s speaking now:
Look. You just have to congratulate the players on an incredible tournament. Laura Bassett has epitomised this England team this tournament, and she didn’t deserve that. But she’ll be remembered as a hero.
It’s OK to cry. They left everything on the field, they couldn’t give any more, and it’s just a really tough way to go out of the tournament.
I’m just so proud of them, and they’ve inspired a nation.
Updated
That is a terrible, unfortunate blow for England. Congratulations to Japan – they’ve won all six of their matches in normal time, and are a truly top side. But they didn’t really excel tonight, and England pushed them really hard. And to lose like that at the end. So cruel.
Here’s a good summation:
@timmyhilleh England didn't deserve that after a great performance. Very unlucky at the end. Had the world champions on the ropes.
— Richard Barnes (@barnesrichard) July 2, 2015
Quite right. They played really well in that second half, and Japan just couldn’t get going. But they found something in the last minute, I guess, and stuck a dagger in England’s heart. Drama. Unreal!
The England players are in tears. This is so sad.
I’m not sure if they did actually use goalline technology to confirm whether that had bounced over. It was a foot over the line, and easy to tell. England didn’t deserve that, though. Ouch.
Maybe Bassett could have done better with the clearance, but she had to play it: a posse of Japan attackers were in the box. How did England suddenly become so open in the last minute of stoppage time? They were so solid, but Japan broke at speed, and from nowhere, they were struggling. Heartbreak. So sad!
There was barely time for England to kick off. They did, and sent it long, but then the whistle blew. What a way to go out.
That just happened in a flash. Everyone looked set for extra-time, but Japan broke, and suddenly England were stretched. It was a great ball in from Kawasumi, and Bassett was facing her own goal, and probably felt she had to play it. She stretched, and it looped up, over Bardsley, hit the bar, bounced down, but it was clearly over the line. What an end. What drama.
Oh boy. Laura Bassett is in tears. Japan attacked, in the last minute of stoppage time, and Kawasumi got free on the right: her ball in was a delicious one, and Bassett stretched, but could only get a touch over Bardsley and into the net. It bounced out, and I think they went upstairs to be absolutely sure, but it was clearly over the line. Disbelief for England, but Japan are through. Unreal.
Updated
Full-time: Japan 2-1 England
England are out, in the most heartbreaking circumstances. Japan are in the final!
This is unbelievable. We’re almost out of time. That’s it!
GOAL! Japan 2-1 England (Bassett og 90)
Oh no! Heartbreak for England!
Updated
Goal – or not?
We go upstairs!
Updated
90 min + 1: Houghton’s ball in … and it evades everyone. Japan relieved. Three minutes of stoppage time.
90 min: Japan have conceded two goals in the 90th minute here. Time for one last chance for England? Yellow for Ogimi, free kick to England – and they’ll send it in the box!
88 min: England send it long again: honestly, this is like Wimbledon in about 1986. But Japan do enough to clear – just about. Kaihori came out but didn’t punch cleanly under pressure from Chapman.
87 min: I could watch Utsugi all day: her left foot is like a wand! And that’s a crisp forward pass to Iwabuchi, but Houghton is in strongly. It’s tense!
86 min: England’s final change: Karen Carney replaces Fara Williams. Less than five minutes to go: are England trying to win it before extra time?
85 min: Ooh, Ogimi and Houghton clashed on the edge of the box … but no penalty, and it’s the correct call. Now a free kick for England in the centre circle, and they do as they’ve done all evening, and get it in the mixer. Chapman wins the header, but it’s wide.
83 min: White is offside, but she’s looked lively since coming on. David Peech says what we’re all thinking:
This one’s going to penalties .... isn’t it?
You’ve definitely just jinxed it.
81 min: It’s becoming more ragged. More gritted teeth. It’s really nervy!
Updated
80 min: Miyama has been at the heart of everything good for Japan: they may as well just give her the ball all the time now, with 10 minutes left. Japan try to attack but England’s brick wall does its job.
78 min: Japan have had 59% possession, but England’s direct style has led to more goal chances. And that glances off the top of the bar! Just a hopeful ball in from England from the left – it was definitely a cross – but Kaihori thought it was going straight out. Not so: it just nicked the crossbar on its way. It wasn’t going in, but it was close!
Updated
76 min: Sasaki looks more animated on the bench. His team have just looked as though they’ve started to rouse themselves. Iwabuchi’s ball in from the left, and that’s Ogimi, I think, with a header that’s just wide. She got up above two England defenders.
75 min: Break in play as Bardsley goes down, too. But Bronze can’t continue, and she’ll be replaced by Alex Scott.
74 min: Now Bronze is down: it’s 11 against 10 for a moment. And Iwabuchi again! That was excellent play: cutting in from the left, beating two defenders, and hitting a rocket of a shot just wide. Excellent from the substitute! Why didn’t she start?
72 min: Japan keep giving it away! So slack, they’ve been. But this is better: lovely raking pass from Miyama, and Iwabuchi, the sub, goes at Bronze down the left, and her ball in is a good one – but Ogimi just can’t get there. Hacked clear by England.
70 min: England still looking strong in defence. And now a change for Japan: Ohno replaced by Iwabuchi, who scored the winner against Australia. It just hasn’t happened for Ohno today: she’s been full of running, but not much space in which to work.
68 min: This is better from Japan, started by a lovely crossfield pass by Kawasumi. And then Ariyoshi shows some nice feet, but her cute through ball is just too strong.
67 min: England are on top here. They’ve disrupted Japan’s rhythm, and they’ve looked to push forward, too. And at set pieces they’re just so accomplished.
66 min: Scott, Houghton and White all in the mix. White will take … and Scott sends a free header wide! Three big chances for England!
Updated
65 min: Nicely read by Bassett, stepping in and taking it off Ohno’s toes. And that’s a great save from Kaihori from White! Japan gave it away cheaply, and White tried to bend it with her left foot, but that’s a really outstanding tip round the post. Corner to England.
63 min: Too strong for Jill Scott. But Japan are pinned back in from the throw-in, and that’s off the bar from Toni Duggan! What an effort: it just sat up for her outside the box, and her shot pinged back off the bar! So unlucky: Kaihori was beaten.
60 min: Change for England: Ellen White for Jodie Taylor. A slight surprise: I thought Taylor had done well. Nice control from Ogimi, holding the ball up well, but Utsugi is crowded out. England’s tackling and harrying has been excellent.
58 min: Ellen White getting ready on the bench. Japan happy to keep the ball in the team. No panic from them as yet.
Alain Sparey only remembers winners:
@timmyhilleh if it goes in off a bum or back of head who cares? Only people who remember semis are the losers!
— Alain Sparey (@PommyCheeseMan) July 2, 2015
Fair point, I suppose. Just don’t tell Johan Cruyff.
Updated
57 min: Oh, that was almost very nice: everyone expected a cross into the box, but Japan took it short, and fooled everyone: just a shame that Sakaguchi’s pass was errant.
56 min: Japan aren’t at the races here: England can win this if they so desire. But that’s better from Japan, and Ohno and Ogimi combine well, showing finesse and grace. Rafferty comes right through Utsugi, I think it was, and it’s a free kick – but no card for Rafferty. She has to be careful!
54 min: Free kick for England in the centre circle. Houghton launches it. Bronze wins the header, but it’s over the bar.
52 min: Good goalkeeping from Bardsley there, coming off her line and claiming from Ogimi. For a moment there it looked as though Ogimi might just nick it away from her and claim another penalty, but Bardsley did well.
51 min: They haven’t really got going today, Japan, but they seem fairly relaxed: no one’s arguing, or finger jabbing, or having any sort of violent disagreement. They just need to trust themselves, but England have defended resolutely, and that’s to their credit. Bad mistake from Bassett there, though: conceding a needless corner.
Updated
50 min: Come on England, let’s be a bit more imaginative than just slinging long throws in to the near post, shall we? Taylor in strongly on Sameshima. Free kick.
48 min: And another long throw! Bronze again, and it causes confusion but Kaihori claims.
England’s new tactic: pretend to be Dave Challinor. Or Rory Delap.
Updated
47 min: Another long throw by Bronze. Duggan went up with Utsugi, and goal kick called – but it should have been a corner.
Second half begins
46 min: And we’re off! England throw it long, but Taylor can’t collect. England have had eight shots to Japan’s five, but Japan are 55% on possession.
Kelly Smith’s analysis: “Keep putting it in the box. Japan’s players are smaller than ours.”
Jogo bonito, eh!
Owen Linderholm puts it nicely:
Honours even seems right. England have created twice the number of chances that Japan has but they are half the quality.
Yep: England’s best opportunities have come from balls that weren’t properly cleared, or picking up the scraps from a knockdown. That’s not to denigrate, though, necessarily: England have shown vim and pep and spirit and resolve, and they could yet win this.
Michael Falkner makes a good point:
@timmyhilleh So, let's see: Two penalties either just in or out of the box, a stone-cold red called yellow, and a probable dive. #Rigged ?
— Michael Falkner (@darkstar7646) July 1, 2015
Yeah, I never really queried it, but Rafferty was, I suppose, the last defender. Even if it were outside the box I’m not sure anyone would have got across to cover. She’s fortunate to still be on the pitch, I guess. Anyone agree?
We do love a talking point, don’t we! Those PKs aside, that was an interesting first half tactically: Japan didn’t really impose themselves, but England made it very difficult, dropping deep and denying space to the Japanese. Miyama looks the most likely for Japan: several times they’ve got in down the left, although the goal came from Ariyoshi on the right.
For England, Toni Duggan has been lively, and they’re a real threat from set pieces: that second penalty came about, really, because Japan couldn’t clear the initial corner.
Hm. Tough to call, that England penalty: Houghton definitely flopped, and exaggerated, but there was minor contact from Ogimi, and there wasn’t much of a protest from Japan.
Ack, what am I saying: that was never a penalty. My hot take: England got lucky!
Here’s Michael Hawkins:
In America, we call that a make-up call. As in, making up for poor first penalty call.
Yep! What do they call it in cricket? “The equaliser”? Gary Naylor, help!
I didn’t see the second penalty call on replay, so I’m keen to have a look again. Houghton went down very easily. Was it just a plain old dive?
Half-time: Japan 1-1 England
All square, thanks to two basically incorrect penalty decisions. It’s tense, and tight, but it’s very watchable.
45 min: Japan have had a couple of goes from corners, but they don’t look anywhere near as threatening as England do from set plays. But Japan have a rarefied passing style, and England, um, don’t.
43 min: Collective intake of breath from the crowd there: Sameshima was trying to cross, and it missed everyone, but it was close to Bardsley’s bar, and the keeper sort of looked as though she had it covered. Slightly nervy moment for England’s No 1.
42 min: Supremely struck by Williams: Kaihori went the right way, but she didn’t really get close. But really: that was an extremely soft penalty. Ogimi was maybe slightly clumsy on Houghton as the ball was loose, but Houghton didn’t need any invitation to go down. Very soft, but I suppose it evened it up!
Richard Barnes calls a spade a spade:
@timmyhilleh Shameless diving!
— Richard Barnes (@barnesrichard) July 1, 2015
GOAL! Japan 1-1 England (Williams 40 pen)
Farah Williams: that was great penalty. England level!
Updated
Penalty to England!
Houghton tripped! Unbelievable. Ogimi penalised.
Updated
39 min: England are still in this. They’ve defended stoutly, but just got pulled apart for the goal: one straight pass between the centre-backs and the full-back, and Ariyoshi just managed to get the wrong side of Rafferty. But here’s a corner for England!
37 min: It’s easy to say in hindsight, but Miyama just then … it’s almost as though you just knew she was going to score. So confident! Nerveless. Rafferty strikes from range after good work from Taylor and Duggan, but it’s well over the bar.
35 min: England try to respond, and Bronze will throw long. Not cleared by Japan, and maybe a half-chance for Duggan! She’s crowded out, but England causing some problems with these direct balls!
34 min: Looking back on the replay, England might have just got unlucky there. It was a clear foul by Rafferty: she got the wrong side of Ariyoshi, and shoved her in the back, but the initial contact was outside the box, and it didn’t look as though it continued inside. It’s a close decision, but it probably should have been a free kick. But I’ve seen them given!
Updated
33 min: Miyama took an absolute age there, with a funny stuttering run, but her penalty was absolutely assured: Bardsley went the wrong way.
GOAL! Japan 1-0 England (Miyama 33 pen)
Miyama scores!
Updated
Drama! Rafferty was called for a clear push: the only question was whether it was outside. Can Bardsley save from Miyama?
Updated
Penalty for Japan!
Rafferty on Ariyoshi!
30 min: England haven’t shown many signs of nerves. They have shown signs of lumping it into the penalty box whenver they get a set piece, though. Nothing doing there, and now Kawasumi comes away with a lovely turn of speed on the right touchline. She’s hustled off it, though. England defending tenaciously!
29 min: Duggan has been England’s premier player, and this time she goes to the byline on the left, head down, challenges bouncing off her. Kaihori claims, but Japan give it away, and Jill Scott goes away on the right: her cross finds Duggan, but she just can’t sort her feet out, and her cushioned volley from 15 yards is high.
Updated
27 min: This game is intriguing, but it hasn’t really sparkled. Japan just starting to express themselves, but Bronze defends coolly and chests back to Bardsley.
25 min: That’s twice England have worried Miyama and Sameshima down the left, Jill Scott this time, but the double-team defensive duo get it done in the end. England immediately fall back into their shape. That’s better from Japan: they work it nicely and find Miyama on the left, but her cross is disappointing.
23 min: Oh boy. That was bizarre! Just a regulation lump forward into the box, and everyone missed it: it bounced about four yards from goal, and Bardsley was all at sea: she collided with the post, and just about managed to scramble it behind. Oh, offside called.
And now Duggan with a chance! A long throw, not dealt with by Japan, and Duggan flashed a shot from about 15 yards. She hit it well, but just too high.
Updated
21 min: Now that’s the first time that Japan have got between England’s midfield and back four: Miyama got free on the left, and cut back inside, but her touch was a little heavy. It came back to Sameshima, who hit it first time, left-footed … and it’s miles over the bar.
Updated
20 min: Late on from Utsugi on Chapman in the centre circle, and it’s England’s free kick. Chance to sling it in to the mixer! Kaihori claims well: she came through a crowd and plucked it from the air. Good goalkeeping.
18 min: Not really sticking for Japan, but England look solid.
Here’s Jeremy Dresner:
The Japanese certainly very communicative. I don’t know if it’s the more subdued beer and hotdog eating fans being quiet, but you can really hear the Japanese players help each other out.
Yeah, the mics have really picked up the on-field noise.
Updated
17 min: Japan give it away cheaply, and Scott immediately looks long for Taylor. It’s Kaihori’s ball, though – maybe it just ran off this artificial turf. England content to sit back.
16 min: Nice feet from Ogimi, but England are in a solid defensive shape. Japan going through Miyama a lot: she’s their captain, star, and main creative outlet. What a fabulous player she is.
15 min: That’s another towering header from Houghton: she’s so commanding in the air. But England can’t come away with it, and the ball is Japan’s. They’ve yet to trail in this tournament.
14 min: Utsugi is a lovely player: she’s got what 1970s football annuals would call “an educated left foot”. A lucky deflection, and that’s a corner for Japan. Miyami with it … headed clear by England.
12 min: Norio Sasaki has his wraparound shades on backwards. He’s so relaxed! Taylor had that early volley, but since then goalmouth action has been at a premium. It’s tight so far.
10 min: England in a minor spot of bother in their right-back area, but they smash it clear and the danger is gone. But Miyami finds Kawasumi with a lovely caressed pass, and here come Japan. It comes to nought. Both teams still feeling each other out?
Here’s Gary Naylor:
I think England's women's football team and the men's ODI team are the most fearless national teams we've ever had @timmyhilleh
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) July 1, 2015
Yep, could be!
9 min: Japan had about 20 seconds of confident passing, but they haven’t really found their rhythm so far. England look confident! Good start from them.
Updated
7 min: Foul by Kumagai on Jill Scott, wide on the right in line with the penalty spot. Never, ref! Williams with it … but that’s a firm clearing header by Iwashimizu.
6 min: Bit of a strange one: England have a clear height advantage, but they took it short. When the ball did go in, Houghton won it, but not cleanly, and it’s easily cleared by Japan.
Also, this is amazing:
@timmyhilleh For reasons too tortured to outline here, we've just drawn these. Er, yeah. pic.twitter.com/yesvAxIU26
— Panini Cheapskates (@CheapPanini) July 1, 2015
Updated
5 min: Very well controlled by Toni Duggan out on the left, and then Williams spreads it wide for Bronze. And that’s an excellent run, taking on Miyama, and forcing the corner. Well played!
4 min: Four minutes gone, and England are already really deep: when Japan attacked just then, they had nine outfield players within about 10 yards of their penalty box. They have to get higher up the pitch. Duggan has a go down the left, but Japan clear.
3 min: Japan haven’t settled into their distinctive tiki-taka style yet. But that’s more like it, and Kawasumi goes down the right, stretching that England defence. Houghton clears.
2 min: And Jodie Taylor goes close! It was a long kick from Bardsley, and it just sat up for Taylor: she volleyed it hard and true, and for one moment it looked as though it was going to deceive Ayumi Kaihori! Just wide, though.
We're off!
1 min: Japan had five players on the halfway line, and Kumagai just wellied it forward as Japan looked to surprise! How novel.
England are more of a 4-3-3, which I guess retreats back to a 4-5-1 when they don’t have the ball.. Karen Bardsley is A-OK, and Toni Duggan in for Karen Carney. I think Carney is unlucky: she played very well against Canada. Mark Sampson looks pensive on the bench.
Third straight game unchanged for Japan: they’ll play 4-4-2, and watch out for Aya Miyama operating cannily from the left side.
Players are on the pitch – and we’re listening to the anthems. The ground looks a picture.
Updated
Here’s Laurent:
@timmyhilleh you mention the mens' squads of 66 and 90,... but lest we forget the mighty '68 semi-finalists too ;)
— Laurent S (@LaurentS15) July 1, 2015
Yep! A 1-0 defeat by Yugoslavia, and a red card for Alan Mullery. A disgrace, cried FA top brass. Different era, eh?!
It’s a glorious late afternoon in Yeg, confirms Bill Gibson:
Glorious day in #yeg for #ENG vs #JPN @timmyhilleh pic.twitter.com/v5wiBbywEB
— Bill Gibson (@drbillgibson) July 1, 2015
Jon Pollak has emailed – with the secret of Japan’s success:
The Nadeshiko have a surprise for England. They play football.
Ha!
New York City FC’s new signing Frank Lampard has also been sending his congratulations. They’re the underdogs, no doubt, but they did beat Japan 2-0 in 2011.
Kelly Smith and Ariane Hingst reckon it’s England’s; Alexi Lalas and Heather Mitts go for Japan. “They’ll possess the ball, and they’ll win,” says Mitts.
About 12 minutes away! Excited?
Some pictures from Edmonton:
Alan Shearer, who scored bags of goals for Blackburn, Newcastle and England, and celebrated in exactly the same bloody way each time, has tweeted:
The whole country is rooting for you. Good luck! No regrets. Come on @england #WWC2015 #EnglandWomen
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) July 1, 2015
It’s England’s first time in a semi-final: the 2015 vintage join the men’s squads of 1990 and 1966, who also reached the last four. Mark Sampson believes! He’s just spoken to TV:
This is going to be a rollercoaster. We’ve got to roll with the punches, and find a way to win the football match.
Ha! This is going to be a real treat: football, boxing, and Alton Towers.
Alexi Lalas is eager, too: “This is the most lovable England team I’ve ever seen. This is what an England team should be. I love it.
Norio Sasaki, the Japan coach, is confident – and he thinks his team will be going back to Vancouver on Sunday.
“Since I became coach, Japan have never won against England, but I don’t feel like we’re going to lose at this World Cup.
“Our players have a good mentality and the technical skills to score multiple goals. We will definitely go back to Vancouver, I believe that.
“I think the Japanese players are superior.”
He’s right, probably: Japan are a fine side, with skill in abundance, and they pass the ball beautifully, and look to dominate. But England are willing if nothing else, and they’ve been excellent on set pieces. Kelly Smith, the former England star who’s now working as a TV analyst in the US, believes England can upset the favourites. Can they?
The analysts on Fox are just going over the Germany v USA penalty last night: the PK that was missed by Celia Sasic. It took 45 seconds for her to take the kick – Hope Solo was wasting so much time. Mind games, or unsporting?
Hope Solo on psyching out Celia Sasic: "I did the stall tactic. It worked." http://t.co/8hNq8AahzA https://t.co/3tMriVPca3
— SB Nation Soccer (@SBNationSoccer) July 1, 2015
Updated
Eileen Pulfrey has scolded me! Fairly, however: the England-Canada quarter-final was in Vancouver, not Ottawa. It’s a fair cop: my bad.
Updated
It might be fair to say that neither Japan nor England have truly hit the heights in this World Cup, but both have been improving. England lost their first game against France, but then have notched up four straight 2-1 victories, over Mexico, Colombia, Norway and Canada. Japan have won five straight, but only by a single goal margin, and had a strange old game against Ecuador, winning only 1-0 .(Ecuador were crushed 10-1 by Switzerland and 6-0 by Cameroon.)
But a place in the final is at stake, so expect big things today. Conditions in Edmonton are fine – it’s about 24C, or 75F if you prefer – and this should be a cracker. I can’t wait.
Japan are unchanged: they go with the same side that beat Australia with that late Mana Iwabuchi goal. England make one change: Karen Carney is replaced by Toni Duggan. Karen Bardsley keeps her place in goal: she went off in the second half against Canada with an eye injury.
The lineups are in. Here’s how Japan show up:
#JPN XI: Kaihori (GK), Iwashimizu, Kumagai, Sameshima, Sakaguchi, Miyama (C), Kawasumi, Ohno, Utsugi, Ogimi, Ariyoshi pic.twitter.com/Uvj7O2r7nx
— FIFA Women'sWorldCup (@FIFAWWC) July 1, 2015
and England:
#ENG XI: Bardsley (GK), Rafferty, Williams, Houghton (C), Bassett, J. Scott, Moore, Bronze, Chapman, Duggan, Taylor pic.twitter.com/KfgCEwer76
— FIFA Women'sWorldCup (@FIFAWWC) July 1, 2015
Welcome
Hello, and happy Canada Day! Celebrations all round on Canada’s national day, with one glaring exception: the Canadian women’s national team, who won’t be contesting this semi-final on home soil in Edmonton this evening. That’s because England beat the hosts on Saturday night in a thrilling game in Ottawa – and now England are in uncharted territory, in their first ever semi-final in the Women’s World Cup. It’s a huge day for this fast-improving England team, and they’ll need to be at their best to triumph: they’re playing Japan, the current Women’s World Cup champions, and the team with the best record in this tournament: five games, five wins, albeit via one-goal margins.
It’s a massive World Cup semi-final, and it should be a hugely entertaining clash of styles: Japan’s short-passing game against England’s more, shall we say, pragmatic approach? Kickoff in Edmonton is about 45 minutes away, at 5pm local time, 7pm ET, and 12am BST: I’d love for you to join me.
Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Louise Taylor on how England are prepared to win ugly against Japan’s pass masters:
“If you offered me any win against Japan, however it comes, I’d bite your arm off and your two legs,” says Sampson, who is refreshingly candid about England’s dependence on set pieces and physicality.
Now only the beauty and symmetry of Japan’s football stands between England and Sunday’s final in Vancouver. “We’re playing a team who are in love with football,” he says. “They get the ball, they want to keep it, they want to move it into areas where they can pull you about. We have to be accept there will be times when they will dominate possession but we’ve got weapons that can hurt them.”
