Neville wants crowd to be eighth player in Kiwi semi-final clash

TRACEY NEVILLE is “living the dream” as she sends her Roses out today, gunning for a place in the World Cup final.

But she has pleaded with fans to rise up and roar England to victory in their semi-final showdown against New Zealand at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena.

The Roses will be in desperate need of an ‘eighth player’ as they take on a resurgent Silver Ferns in their bid to reach a first-ever World Cup final.

And coach Neville (above) said: “My dream has always been to have a stadium full of red and white in my home region. I’ve never had this in my life.

“They scared me, at first. We’re getting on for 10,000 people and it was intimidating. But now we expect something from them, too. We want to hear noise. We need them to be the force that’s driving us.”

Captain Serena Guthrie faces the battle of her life taking on netball’s answer to football’s Cristiano Ronaldo in his prime – New Zealand captain Laura Langman.

The sensational Kiwi centre jumps like a cricket, bends like rubber and races around the court like a speed skater. It was her energy that drove New Zealand to within a single goal of world champions Australia in their last group-stage match.

“It’s going to be a battle,” said Langman. “Serena loves an event and this is going to be one. The crowd is going to play an epic role.” Neville is convinced her centre has just as much right to her place in the spotlight though, having been instrumental in England’s 58-47 victory over South Africa on Thursday.

“Serena was world class before she became our captain, but now she’s a leader,” added Neville.

“She’s unique. The only player I can think of who can match her at this tournament is Langman and Serena is going to go down in the history books like her.”

Neville knows her own legacy is also at stake.

Having announced her intention to step aside once the tournament is over, she knows that after winning Commonwealth Games gold last year, a place in the final is the least fans expect from the Roses.

“Every day is a building day for us,” she said.

But it will need to be more than that. The Kiwis come into this match resurgent.

They were dire at the Commonwealth Games last year, leaving without a medal for the first-time ever. They had previously won two golds and three silvers.

But star-shooter Helen Housby said New Zealand have come on leaps and bounds since the Games.

“We know they have huge players, but we’re confident,” said the Roses player.