England took a step closer to World Cup glory with a hard-fought win against Colombia to the delight of players and fans back home.
The 2-1 victory means the Lionesses will play Australia, the home nation, in the last four after the Matildas scored a dramatic win over France on penalties earlier on Saturday.
Congratulations for the Lionesses came from the Prince and Princess of Wales who tweeted the message: “Bring on the semi-finals! A hard-fought win, well done”.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who had agreed in a bet with Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to support the Matildas if they beat them and made it to the semi-finals, tweeted: “Nothing personal against our English friends, but a bet is a bet… Good luck Australia for the semi-finals!”
England had scrambled an equaliser in the final minutes before half-time to the cheers of Aston Villa defender Anna Patten, 24, plus Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier, 21, and Leah Galton, 29, and fans who watched the game at a McDonald’s screening in St Albans, Hertfordshire.
Alessia Russo was awarded the Player of the Match after scoring England’s winner in the 63rd minute, to the joy of fans who put up with long bouts of summer drizzle to watch the game on big screens back home.
Le Tissier, whose omission from England’s World Cup squad was something of a surprise after an impressive debut campaign for Manchester United, told the PA news agency: “I am so confident.
“It is only two games left and hopefully we can win both of them and become world champions.
“In the second half I think they played very well – obviously a World Cup quarter-final is not going to be easy but they got the job done and I am really happy to see Alessia on the scoresheet.”
Le Tisser, who said she enjoyed mingling with the fans to support the Lionesses, added: “Just to be here supporting the girls is great. I really enjoyed my time when I was with them (the England team) and I think it was really beneficial for me. Now I think I can watch it as a fan and enjoy it.
“I think it has been a really good community feeling.”
Patten, 24, said: “They (England) have got the job done and that is the most imporTant thing. It has been a 2-1 victory and into the semi-finals. I think they will be happy.
“They did their jobs, stayed solid at the back and capitalised on the chances they had. I am so happy they slotted it home.”
Of England’s chances against Australia in the semi-final, she said: “It is going to be really tough. Obviously playing the home nation, the crowd is going to be against them and there will be a big build-up to that game.
“I am hoping the Lionesses can go on and win it all but they are obviously going to have to be ready for a competitive game in the semi-final.”
While the Lionesses have struggled to find top form so far in the World Cup, fans in St Albans said they could draw confidence that some of the biggest teams in women’s football, including the US, Germany, Canada and Brazil all failed to make the later stages of this tournament.
They said some of England’s slow start could be put down to injuries suffered by key players in the run-up to the tournament and the fact that their top scorer Lauren James is now suspended after her sending off against Nigeria, who the Lionesses squeezed past in the previous round on penalties.
After Saturday’s result Joanna King, a 31-year-old sales advisor from Oxford, said: “I had thought that it might go to extra-time but we were lucky to have done it.
“I think a lot of the players had a better game today than the last two matches.”
She added: “It was nice to be out here today to support them. The atmosphere has been really good and there were lots of people. The weather has been a bit hit-and-miss but that is the British summer for you.”
Bella Oglethorpe, 16, who described England’s World Cup performance so far as “mixed”, took her father Chris to watch the match on the big screen in their hometown of St Albans.
Dressed in her England football kit, she said after their victory: “It has been nice to see loads of people are here supporting the women and they ae such great role models.
“The Colombia goal was quite unfortunate. They did not have too many chances and it was a shame that the one chance they had, they scored but overall I think England played really well.
“I think England had a lot more determination to get the ball.”
Her father Chris said England had put on a “gritty” performance, adding: “It has been really interesting. They’re playing better today and now after all the rain, the sun has come out to celebrate the result. It has been good.”