Mary Earps had expressed her belief that England’s performance would improve in the upcoming matches, following their somewhat lackluster but determined display in three out of the four previous games, which secured their spot in the quarter-finals. In the presence of a crowd of 75,784 spectators, who displayed predominantly hostile behavior, the performers successfully executed their tasks. The user’s response indicates general agreement with the statement or topic being discussed.
Although not fully finished, the significant progress made by England was evident as they successfully overcame a deficit against Colombia, thanks to the exceptional performance of forwards Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo. This victory has paved the way for an exciting semi-final clash against the co-hosts, Australia, scheduled for Wednesday.
Hemp expressed to the BBC that the team is aware of their invincibility when performing at their utmost potential in the upcoming game against Australia. The group demonstrated their desire to perform as a team and aims to showcase this against Australia in the coming days.
The filling of Stadium Australia was delayed, as fans chose to remain stationed in front of various screens located outside the stadium. They eagerly watched Australia’s thrilling penalty shootout triumph against France. The atmosphere resembled a carnival as England fans, Colombia fans, and Australians poured out of the bars and headed towards the turnstiles immediately after Cortnee Vine successfully scored her penalty kick.
One might have mistaken the outskirts of Sydney for the center of Bogotá. The crowd was predominantly filled with Colombia fans, who had traveled for a duration of 23 hours across three oceans, regardless of the expenses incurred, in order to witness their team’s performance. The simultaneous increase in volume and intensity of the voices that harmonized with the national anthem evoked a sensation of tingling along the spine.
The Lionesses have experienced large crowds in competitive matches, but none have been as hostile as the upcoming match. The 2019 semi-final against the USA and the 2015 quarter-final victory over hosts Canada were the closest encounters in terms of crowd hostility. In this particular instance, the initial interactions were met with a collective expression of disapproval, manifested in the form of boos. The aforementioned event served as a commendable means of readiness for a semi-final match, which took place in the same location as the host nation. The host nation, filled with anticipation, aspired to secure their first major tournament victory on their own turf, similar to England’s performance at the Euros in the previous year.
England and Colombia had previously encountered each other in the World Cup, with the Lionesses emerging victorious in a 2-1 triumph during the group stage of the 2015 tournament. Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, and Jordan Nobbs are the only remaining players from the previous squad. This squad, like its predecessor, successfully reached the final four, initially as underdogs but now as favorites.
England encountered difficulties in dealing with Nigeria’s aggressive pressing game and the tight marking of Lauren James during the last-16 match. As a result, they were compelled to rely on penalties in Brisbane to narrowly advance. However, they exhibited a more promising start in the current match.
After a mere six minutes, there was a near miss as Russo’s header was successfully blocked, causing the ball to land at the feet of Hemp. However, Hemp’s subsequent shot was promptly halted, and Russo’s subsequent attempt was hastily cleared. However, the goal would have been invalidated due to Russo’s offside position.
In the case of Colombia, the decision to allow play to continue prior to the flag being raised resulted in significant consequences. The collision between the goalkeeper, Catalina Pérez, and Carolina Arias resulted in the defender being forced to exit the field in tears. She was subsequently substituted by Ana María Guzmán, an 18-year-old player who had previously made a remarkable assist in her team’s 1-0 victory over Jamaica in the preceding round.
Sarina Wiegman adhered to the 3-5-2 formation that had generated excitement during the match against China but proved less effective against Nigeria. The sole modification made was the substitution of Ella Toone for James, who was issued a two-match suspension due to an incident involving Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie, where James inadvertently stepped on her. The decision to replace Toone with James came after her lackluster performance in England’s initial two matches. The individual exhibited difficulty in achieving a significant influence once more. Her manner of walking, characterized by a slouched posture and departing from the field while the ball remained in play, exemplified her feelings of frustration.
The tie between Colombia and the Republic of Ireland was characterized by intense physicality, resulting in the abandonment of their pre-tournament friendly match. Guzmán initiated her impact by forcefully engaging with Hemp and subsequently swiping her thumb across Rachel Daly’s face. Both incidents did not result in any form of disciplinary action.
Georgia Stanway narrowly avoided receiving a cautionary booking shortly before the 30-minute mark, as she committed a foul on the highly talented 18-year-old prodigy, Linda Caicedo. The player found herself in a precarious situation, being one of three individuals, namely Hemp, Bronze, and herself, who were at risk of being disqualified from the semi-final due to a booking.
Hemp and Russo played significant roles in England’s pursuit of a performance that would reflect their status as European champions. Colombia, in a decisive move, managed to break the stalemate. Leicy Santos skillfully outmaneuvered Daly after receiving Caicedo’s pass, executing a sweeping and dipping shot that caught Earps off guard. The conclusion was characterized by its rich and indulgent quality, which was well-received by the audience.
During the last minute of the additional six minutes, Colombia’s efforts were reversed when Pérez mishandled the ball, resulting in Hemp seizing the opportunity to strike the ball into the unguarded net. England’s performance was notable for its tenacious and urgent approach, which highlighted the importance of their efforts.
Hemp emphasized the significance of entering the halftime phase. The goal scored was achieved through a scrappy effort, however, we value and accept any goals that we can obtain. It is crucial to maintain a high level of vigilance when operating within the penalty area, particularly in the role of a striker, commonly referred to as a No. 9. The goal was executed with the precision and technique expected of a skilled striker.
Another less severe, error resulted in the opportunity that allowed the Lionesses to take the lead just after the 60-minute mark. The ball was skillfully clipped by Russo between the legs of Daniela Arias, after receiving a pass from Stanway. Subsequently, Russo swiftly outpaced the defender and struck a low shot past Pérez. The 20-year-old player Natalia Giraldo took over as goalkeeper after Pérez’s final action.
Russo’s goal in the World Cup marked her second successful strike in the tournament, demonstrating the trust placed in her by Wiegman. Despite the assertions made by Daly, the leading scorer in the Women’s Super League, and Bethany England, who achieved an impressive record of 12 goals in 12 games for Tottenham, Wiegman has consistently shown her unwavering belief in Russo’s abilities.
The goalkeeper, Earps, executed a commendable save against Lorena Bedoya, demonstrating her skill and agility. Following this, the England team successfully endured a formidable offensive onslaught from Colombia during the last 10 minutes of the match. As a result, England achieved their fifth appearance in a significant semi-final within a span of eight years. The accomplishment is truly remarkable, particularly considering the tournament’s trend of top contenders being eliminated one after another.
