England Women can take on the world’s best and win – including Spain 

Former Lionesses goalkeeper Karen Bardsley has advised us that she is backing England Girls to see off Spain 2-0 in Wednesday’s crunch Euro 2022 quarter-final and believes they’re able to going all the way in which within the match.  

England legend Bardsley gained 82 caps over a 17-year spell for the nation earlier than retiring this 12 months, and was a part of the Lionneses squad that reached the semi-finals of the final European Championship in 2017.  

“England can go one step additional this time (and win it),” Bardsley advised William Hill’s Café ROAR. “I genuinely do imagine that, it’s not simply me being biased. I’m so happy with these ladies and so enamoured with the way in which they’re taking part in on the minute, I’m simply completely having fun with it.  

“I genuinely really feel that the way in which they’re performing, the way in which their physique language is, the way in which that every little thing is popping out of the camp – they’re collectively, they’re optimistic – and I do suppose there’s a real perception there. There was up to now however possibly to not this extent. I actually do really feel like they will tackle the world’s finest and win. I’m going for a 2-0 win to England in opposition to Spain.” 

England have impressed with their performances within the match thus far, profitable three out of three whereas scoring 14 targets with out conceding, and Bardsley is anticipating extra of the identical from the Lionesses by way of their type of play.  

“I don’t suppose England’s gameplan goes to alter an entire lot in opposition to Spain,” she mentioned. “I believe they’ll wish to preserve the ball velocity up and transfer Spain as shortly as attainable to attempt to expose both the other flank or the area in behind, as a result of we’ve seen that Spain are actually, actually susceptible on the transition. So we would see a bit extra direct play from England than we’ve got been.  

“We’ve received threats, not simply from huge areas, however getting Keira Walsh on the ball, getting Millie Brilliant to hit some beautiful diagonal balls… I believe we’ll in all probability see extra of that and I believe we’ll see much more huge deliveries and early deliveries from the flanks as properly. Lucy Bronze has been hitting some beautiful balls in, and Beth Mead and Lauren Hemp are excellent at hitting these huge balls in as properly.  

“I’d wish to see a continuation of what England did so properly in opposition to Norway with the primary and second balls and actually dominating the possession.” 

Bardsley has credited a lot of England’s success thus far within the match to supervisor Sarina Wiegman, who took cost of the nationwide aspect final 12 months.   

“Off the pitch it’s a stage of communication and construction (that she’s delivered to the staff),” Bardsley mentioned. “She’s been referring to this ‘plan’, this technique since she took her place. I haven’t clearly been within the camp however I don’t suppose there’s been a lot deviation from it. All the things she does has a goal and he or she’s included each single particular person – gamers, workers – in that goal.  

“She’s outlined what your process is, the way you do it, what the expectations are and I don’t suppose we’ve ever had something that clear within the squad earlier than. She’s received them so targeted that the method is what they’re specializing in – the staff is a very powerful factor. She’s received them so properly targeted on that particular level.”