Lionesses out to secure first World Cup final place

All 4 of the Ladies’s World Cup quarter finals have been carefully fought affairs, proving there may be nothing between the 4 groups remaining within the competitors and England must be on their mettle towards hosts Australia in Wednesday’s semi-final.

We preview England’s bid to succeed in the World Cup last for the primary time in addition to the opposite semi-final between Spain and Sweden.

Lionesses could make extra historical past

England’s girls have by no means acquired past the semi-final stage at a World Cup, coming closest once they fell at this stage in 2015 after which once more in 2019. This group of gamers might be wanting to banish these earlier semi-final demons, however they face a troublesome opponent in host nation Australia who can have the help of the vast majority of the 80,000 followers inside Stadium Australia on Wednesday morning.

England have the higher document towards Australia, profitable two of their 4 earlier conferences, however most not too long ago they suffered a loss by the hands of the Matildas throughout a world pleasant in April. Sarina Wiegman might be underneath no illusions in regards to the process going through her aspect, however the momentum appears to be constructing behind the Lionesses.

Their final 16 tie towards Nigeria was a wrestle, as they have been outplayed for a lot of the sport and misplaced a star participant in Lauren James after she was despatched off in direction of the tip of regular time. Nonetheless, they managed to grind out a win on penalties, exhibiting that whatever the problem going through them, they’ve the character to beat it. They produced a significantly better show within the quarter finals final time, creating extra probabilities to come back again from a objective right down to defeat a powerful Colombia aspect 2-1.

Higher nonetheless might be wanted towards an Australian aspect that has seemed impressed by their dwelling help, however regardless of missing the house benefit, England begin as 5/4 favourites. Each Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp netted within the quarter-final and they’re prone to as soon as once more pose a potent risk at 29/10 and seven/2 respectively to attain at any time.

Australia (11/5) come into this recreation in robust type having solely misplaced two of their final 15 matches and can take coronary heart from their aforementioned victory over the Lionesses again within the spring. There was nothing between them and their opponents France within the quarter finals with the Matildas simply shading it 8-7 on penalties. That confirmed their resilience and the way robust they’re defensively, an attribute that has been on present all match as they’ve solely conceded twice. In entrance of objective in addition they pack a punch, scoring 10 targets of their 5 video games to this point – just one lower than England – and the Lionesses must be cautious of their high scorer Hayley Rasso. The precise-winger has three targets to this point to her title and has proved harmful when slicing in from the suitable. Rasso is 5/1 to attain at any time, with Chelsea’s Samantha Kerr Australia’s favorite to seek out the online at 29/10.

Whereas this seems a troublesome one to name, England may simply have the expertise to edge it and the percentages recommend a 1-0 victory for the Lionesses is the almost definitely end result at 4/1.

Event favourites Spain additionally eyeing first World Cup last

Spain are at the moment the slim favourites to raise the World Cup (13/8). La Roja have typically scored targets for enjoyable this match, with 15 of their 5 video games to this point. Nonetheless, they can be weak on the again, as proved by their 4-0 humbling by the hands of Japan within the group phases. They’ve bounced again within the knockout phases although, thrashing Switzerland 5-1 after which exhibiting their expertise to defeat the Netherlands in additional time within the quarter finals.

Sweden got here into this World Cup in woeful type, having solely received twice of their seven matches main as much as the match. Nonetheless, they’ve produced their finest in Australian and New Zealand with 5 wins on the bounce, placing out two of the fancied groups within the USA and Japan within the final two knockout rounds. Their success has been constructed on a powerful defence that has solely conceded twice all match they usually might effectively show exhausting for the Spanish to interrupt down.

These sides have solely met as soon as up to now, with that tie ending in a draw and one other tight encounter may be anticipated. Sweden look the higher worth to win the tie although at 13/10, in comparison with 4/7 about Spain, particularly on the again of their two glorious performances towards the USA and Japan.

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