ROSES MUST FEEL FORCE FROM FANS
TRACEY NEVILLE is “living the dream” as she sends her Roses out today gunning for a place in the World Cup final.
The head coach has pleaded with fans to roar England to semi-final victory against New Zealand at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena.
Neville’s side will be desperate for an ‘eighth player’ as they bid to reach their first final.
She said: “My dream has always been to have a stadium full of red and white in my home region.
“We want to hear noise. We need them to be the force that’s driving us.”
Captain Serena Guthrie faces a big match-up against netball’s equivalent of Cristiano Ronaldo: New Zealand skipper Laura Langman.
The sensational Kiwi centre jumps like a cricket, bends like rubber and races around the court like a speed skater.
“It’s going to be a battle,” Langman said. “Serena loves an event and this is going to be one. The crowd is going to play an epic role.”
Guthrie was instrumental in England’s 58-47 victory over South Africa on Thursday. “Serena was ENGLAND are short favourites to get past New Zealand in today’s netball semi-final (3pm) and, with a record since the Commonwealth Games which reads three wins from three against the Silver Ferns, justifiably so.
Likewise Australia should get past South Africa this morning to set up aWorld Cup final tomorrow (4.45pm) between the two top-ranked teams.
Given England have two wins from their past three over the Aussies, including that Commonwealth final and a 52-49 win in January,Tracey Neville’s side look tempting at 5-2 to be crowned champions. world class before she became our captain but now she’s a leader,” Neville added.
“She’s unique. The only player I can think of who can match her at this tournament is Laura Langman and Serena is going to go down in the history books just like her.”
Neville knows her own legacy is also at stake. Having announced her intention to step aside following the tournament she knows that – after winning gold at the Commonwealth Games last year – a place in the final is the least fans expect.
“Every day is a building day for us,” said Neville.
New Zealand go into the match in resurgent form. They were dire at the Commonwealth Games, leaving without a medal for the first time. They had previously won two golds and three silvers.
England’s star shooter Helen Housby said the Silver Ferns had come on in leaps and bounds since then.
“We’re confident going into the game but we also know they will be strong,” said Housby.