Mead: ‘We have nothing to fear’ from USA as squad build momentum and self-belief
Beth Mead has stressed England do not fear the United States ahead of the sides’ Women’s World Cup semifinal and says there is great belief in the camp.
The US, who booked their place in tomorrow’s match in Lyon by beating hosts France 2-1 on Friday night, top the world rankings and are the defending champions. They have won the trophy a record three times.
England – ranked third in the world – achieved their best performance in the competition four years ago when they finished third.
The last meeting between the teams was a 2-2 draw in March at the Shebelieves Cup, the Ushosted four-team tournament that England ended up winning for the first time.
Forward Mead said: “They (USA) are the type of team that have been there and done it, they have won a final, they have won an Olympics, they have won a World Cup.
“They have the most experience in these situations and they are a top-class team, full of athletes. It is going to be a tough game.
“But we’ve been there and played them in Shebelieves. I think as a team there is nothing
to fear. We just have to be ready.”
England produced the most impressive display of their campaign in France so far when they defeated Norway 3-0 on Thursday and made the last four for a third successive major tournament.
Mead added: “We’re getting momentum and growing into the tournament. We’re playing some good football and we’re trying to do it consistently over 90 minutes. “We played some good football on Thursday and scored three goals.
“As a team we generally don’t go OTT on celebrating but we’re in the semi-final of a World cup, it’ s an amazing feeling, and the girls just went for it on Thursday night. It showed how much it meant to us, to win like we did on such a big occasion, and get to a semi-final.
“I think there’s a great belief in the team, a great togetherness, and we really do believe we can go on and win it. We’ve just got to actually do it on the pitch now.”
Mead started England’s first two group games and set up Jodie Taylor’s winner in the second, the 1-0 win against Argentina. Toni Duggan, recovered from a thigh issue, took her place and Mead spent the next two matches as an unused substitute. She then came off the bench on Thursday and within a few minutes provided the assist for England’s third goal.