England Grind Out Win Against Spirited Colombia

England beat Colombia in front of a crowd largely in favour of the South American side to reach the semi finals of a third consecutive World Cup.

The Lionesses started well, and had two huge chances after six minutes, when the front two of Hemp and Russo saw shots from six yards blocked. The flag soon went up for offside, so they wouldn’t have counted, but a statement of intent from England, that they were looking to play on the front foot from the off.

That didn’t go exactly to plan though, Colombia’s player-marking nullifying England’s threat in a generally cagey first half hour, the best chance coming from an Alex Greenwood corner. The defender found former Manchester City teammate Georgia Stanway on the far side, her shot looping to Rachel Daly unmarked, who could only head straight at the keeper, before firing just over from 20 yards a few minutes later.

From just after the half hour mark, Colombia had a spell of dominance, their right-sided overload very effective, dragging Millie Bright over from the centre of England’s back three, whilst 18 year old Linda Caicedo of Real Madrid, stayed wide on the left occupying Lucy Bronze and Jess Carter.

Their breakthrough came in the 44th minute, attacking midfielder Leicy Santos’ cross-cum-shot from the right hand side looping over Mary Earps and into the far side of the goal.

Colombia’s aforementioned player-marking meant that England’s midfielders weren’t overly influential, and it looked as though they may have to change things at half time. But in the seventh minute of additional time, a breakthrough.

Keira Walsh clipped the ball over the top to Lucy Bronze on the right hand side of the box. She found Alessia Russo on the penalty spot who poked the ball goalwards. Colombia goalkeeper Catalina Perez failed to gather the ball up, Russo pounced to put the ball under her before it was tapped in by Lauren Hemp. A huge slice of luck, but a reward for their relentless pressing after going behind.

Despite Ramirez hitting the side netting for Colombia to conclude their attack straight from kick off to begin the second half, it was England who came out looking more threatening. Daly headed straight at the keeper once more, as the Lionesses had a couple of corners and Russo worked really hard in the high press also winning a free kick on the edge of the box from which Stanway played in Hemp down the left, before Perez brilliantly averted Hemp’s cross.

In the 63rd minute, Alessia Russo got the goal her performance deserved, barely putting a foot wrong and later wining player of the match. Played in down the inside right channel by Stanway, the Arsenal forward drilled her shot low across goal from six yards.

Straight after conceding, another blow came Colombia’s way, ‘keeper Catalina Perez going off with concussion, replaced by 20 year old Natalia Giraldo.

With just under 20 minutes to go, Lorena Bedoya had a go from a central position 25 yards out. Earps watched it all the way and got a strong hand to it to tip it over the bar and deny Colombia what would have been another spectacular goal.

In the final ten minutes, Colombia really started to commit bodies forward, whilst Linda Caicedo sat narrower, coming in off the left in an attempt to overload England once more. They created chance after chance, the Lionesses were organised though, the back three making some excellent blocks, whilst Sarina Wiegman replaced the front two to provide more energy on the counter attack.

England did well to deal with a very physical Colombia side, whose pre-tournament friendly against Ireland was abandoned after 20 minutes for being “overly physical”. In reaching the quarter finals for the first time, they surprised many, and were the last team from the Americas remaining in the competition. A side with some really exciting attacking talent, the European champions had to be disciplined and grind out the win, which wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination.

England will return to Stadium Australia where they will face The Matildas, making their first ever last four appearance, at 11:00 BST on Wednesday. The co-hosts are the only side to have beaten The Lionesses under Sarina Wiegman, having won 2-0 in a friendly at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium back in April. This time, it will be the Australians with the home advantage, and the atmosphere is bound to be particularly loud, especially considering the historic sporting rivalry between the two nations. This is something Sarina Wiegman admits is “bigger than she thought.”

The European champions have spent so much of the last two years playing with a huge crowd on their side, but if the quarter final was anything to go by, this won’t be too much of a problem. A bigger factor will likely be how much has changed in the last four months. England have of course changed formation, removing an element of predictability that had crept into the 4-1-2-3 system that they played at the Euros last summer. They’re without captain Leah Williamson, who started the friendly in April, weeks before injuring her ACL, although the trio of Bright Carter and Greenwood have been excellent throughout the tournament.

Meanwhile breakout star Lauren James remains suspended. The Chelsea player’s tournament isn’t over though She will be allowed to play in England’s last game of the tournament, be it the Final or the Third Place Playoff, as she will have served her two match ban for violent conduct.