Lionesses roar into semi-final
Taylor on target as England march on
ENGLAND’S women last night roared past major tournament nemesis France to prime themselves to make more history with European Championship glory.
Jodie Taylor got her fifth goal of the tournament, the only one of this quarter-final grudge match, to earn a first win over the French since 1974 as England enter the semi-finals as the highest ranked team left here in Holland.
Manager Mark Sampson, who has spoken boldly about his team’s ability to win this tournament, saw all of his confidence pay off on what he called ‘a special night’ for English football.
The Lionesses fought for their lives against a team who have beaten them at the last three major tournaments, before Taylor’s finishing prowess saw them home.
‘It was a hard game, emotionally, physically and tactically, we feel like we’ve run into an absolute steam train,’ Sampson said. ‘This is a special night, for sure. We’re exciting the English public and we’re very proud of that.
‘It’s a very long time since the public felt a genuine sense of belief — and not just hope — that an England team could win a major championship and the players have earned the right to put themselves in that bracket.’
With favourites Germany, winners of the last six Euros, eliminated yesterday England will never have a better chance at first- time major tournament success.
They beat semi-final opponents Holland on Dutch soil in November and, on the other side of the draw, Austria and Denmark have fallen victim to the Lionesses within the last four months.
Sampson has spoken of a longterm plan to make England ‘the best team on the planet’ — they are already the best side left in the race to be crowned champions of Europe.
He had been bullish in the buildup, but his comment on how England could beat France without being at their best was not taken well in the opposition camp — it proved to be right, though.
Certainly, Sampson had reason to be confident. England breezed past Scotland, Spain and Portugal to reach this quarter-final while France scraped through with just one win over Iceland.
So it was no surprise that the Lionesses started strongly but their only real chance of note saw Taylor send a wayward volley over the bar six minutes in.
Marie-Laure Delie got in behind Steph Houghton for France’s best opportunity but scuffed wide.
Goalless at half-time, England emerged knowing they needed more to stop their run without a win against the French.
But the awareness was still not there in their passing — potential openings evaporating as poor decisions were made on the verge of the final third. Meanwhile, France were growing into their role as spoilers.
Then, enter top scorer Taylor. Lucy Bronze was the architect, with tremendous drive taking her into unchartered territory in the middle of the park. The Manchester City right back’s run dragged Griedge M’bock Bathy with her and, at last, Taylor was free and clear.
Bronze was well aware, sliding England’s No 9 in. Taylor’s first touch was not clean but the second was more than good enough,e clinically finding the bottom corner via a weak hand from goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi to score her fifth of the tournament.
‘This is not luck, this is not just down to ability, Jodie has an obsession with scoring goals,’ Sampson said, hailing his star striker. ‘We are so proud of her.’
Jubilation for England, with any psychological barrier clearly overcome, but they were perhaps still giddyg when Delie was allowed a chance in the box that Karen Bardsley held well following a goalmouth panic.
The nerves looked to be engulfing the Lionesses as the crunch moments came. Balls across the box were not dealt with well and Bardsley looked indecisive at times. Perhaps that was down to the ankle injury that forced her off with 16 minutes left.
On and on the pressure went, but the Lionesses held out well in the end. History made. Now they have just two more stops to reach legendary status.
MARTIN SAMUEL IS AWAY