A comfortable evening in Le Havre for England saw them ease to a second successive Women’s World Cup semi-final. After going 1-0 up through Jill Scott after just two minutes and seven seconds – the fastest goal of France 2019 so far and the swiftest ever England Women’s World Cup strike – they never looked back. Ellen White tapped home ahead of the break before Lucy Bronze’s rocket rubberstamped the victory.
Phil Neville’s side, who have now gone over six hours without conceding, could even afford to squander a penalty; Nikita Parris seeing a second successive spot kick saved. For their part, Norway head home with their heads held high, having exceeded expectations by reaching the last eight in the first place. For England, they’ll sit back and watch Le Grand Match with huge interest tomorrow.
Phil Neville on the semi-final in Lyon
“We’re a team that’s lost in the semi-finals of the last two major tournaments. The main reason I feel I was brought into this job was to get us through a semi-final. I don’t think there’s been a team that’s played that type of football before. This type of football will get us through a semi-final. What I said to them at the end [of the game] was: ‘are you ready to win a World Cup?’ Because we’re in it to win it.”
Phil Neville on the strength of his squad
“I’ve got the best job ever. Coaches can be the best in the world but if you haven’t got the best players, with the attitude, determination and the ability to learn and improve, then you’re dead as a coach. I suppose that’s why for the last 18 months I’ve been so confident, bullish at times, brave with the words that I’m using because I work day in, day out with a group of players that are absolutely astonishing. They astonish and inspire me every day. Today was one of the proudest moments I’ve had in football.”
Lucy Bronze on returning to Lyon
“I said when I signed for Lyon two years ago that the dream was to play in Lyon and at Lyon’s stadium for the World Cup – I’ve had to wait two years for that dream to come true. I’m super excited to be heading to Lyon – home – it’s a stadium I love playing in and it’s a city that I love.”
Lucy Bronze, Visa Player of the Match
“We practice our set pieces a lot. We saw Alex Greenwood’s goal in the last game, something that we’d worked on. Today was something we’d worked on quickly this morning. We saw the space was there and I had to hit the ball right and it was going to go in the back of the net. Thankfully I did that.”
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