England have reached the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup after a comprehensive victory over Norway.
The Lionesses were hugely impressive as goals from Jill Scott, Ellen White and Lucy Bronze secured a 3-0 win over the Scandinavian side.
David Beckham and his seven-year-old daughter Harper were at the Oceane stadium in Le Havre, northwest France, to watch the quarter-final tie as Phil Neville’s team took an early lead.
England showed no ill-effects from their heated clash with Cameroon in the previous round, as Scott’s shot hit the back of the net in the third minute – the fastest goal of the tournament so far.
White, England’s all-time top scorer at the Women’s World Cup, then followed up with the Lionesses’ second goal five minutes before half-time.
Bronze scored England’s third with a powerful strike from the edge of the box in the second half, ensuring a late penalty miss by Nikita Parris could not stop the team progressing in the tournament.
England will now face either World Cup hosts France or tournament favourites USA for a place in the final.
After the game, Neville hailed full-back Bronze as “the best player in the world” and said he had expected “nothing else” but victory from his team.
“We’re having the time of our lives,” he said.
“I thought it should have been four or five.”
It is now the third successive major tournament that the Lionesses have made the semi-finals, following their runs at the 2015 World Cup and Euro 2017.
Former England player Casey Stoney, who now manages Manchester United Women, wrote on Twitter: “After a performance like that now everyone starts to believe… maybe just maybe. It’s good to dream.”
Meanwhile, the Duke of Cambridge tweeted: “What a performance Lionesses, a superb display!
“The whole country is behind you going into Tuesday’s semi-final, bring it on!”
England will play their World Cup semi-final at the Stade de Lyon on Tuesday at 8pm UK time.
Source : Sky News : http://news.sky.com/story/womens-world-cup-england-beat-norway-3-0-to-reach-semi-final-11750333