Women’s World Cup LIVE: England prepare for Colombia clash after Sweden set up Spain semi-final | OneFootball

Lauren James 'lost her emotions for a split second' over red card stamp, Wiegman says

England are preparing to face Colombia in the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals as the Lionesses continue their knockout campaign in Sydney on Saturday.

Earlier, Sweden held off a late Japan fightback to reach the semi-finals, leaving the tournament without a former winner in the last four ahead of England’s quarter-final against Colombia.

Sweden will play Spain in the semi-finals after La Roja defeated the Netherlands 2-1 to reach their first ever Women’s World Cup semi-final, thanks to Salma Paralluelo’s extra-time winner.

It’s England’s turn on Saturday as they face Colombia. The European champions survived a major scare against Nigeria in the last-16 and know they will need to improve when they take on a dangerous Colombia side, who shocked heavyweights Germany in the group stages.

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Women’s World Cup LIVE: England vs Colombia

Women’s World Cup LIVE: England vs Colombia

Sarina Wiegman is one of the best coaches in the world at figuring out a tactical problem, but even she has now wondered whether she got it right against Nigeria. After hours of analysis following the last-16 tie, the thinking has been England should have gone to a back four.

It has influenced some of the approach ahead of the quarter-final against Colombia. Wiegman and her staff are expecting a similar game, and another battle. The latter, like with Nigeria, is not to just reductively describe Colombia as a “physical” team - although that is precisely how England have been preparing. Wiegman has also been planning for the fine side the South Americans are, with special attention paid to star forward Linda Caicedo.

It is more how England are now into classic tournament football, even if it is far from the historic surge through Euro 2022. While that almost became free-wheeling at times, this has been a slog.

The quarter-finals of the World Cup are where the challengers are separated from the pretenders, as the Lionesses look for the ‘balance’ against Colombia that will reveal how far they can go

Jamie Braidwood11 August 2023 20:01

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Women’s World Cup LIVE

Mary Earps on England’s defence at the World Cup, which has yet to concede a goal from open play:

“We can take a lot of pride in the work we’ve done so far in the tournament. Some of our defensive work has been fantastic as a whole team. We have more gears we can go, I really do feel that. Every game it can be over in any moment. Nigeria was a fierce contest and I’m glad we could see that out. We showed great resilience. I think it’s always a reminder but we know that. We love the game, we love playing in World Cups and we want to be here as long as possible.

“I really believe the best is yet to come. There’s so much talent in the group and so many more levels we can go. That said, I think there’s an incredible wealth of talent and experience that we’ve had together as an international team but also with the teams we play for at club-level. I think it’s an exciting time to be an England player but we have to earn that right every day. We’re constantly looking to improve, drive our performances and our standards. We’re not sitting here happy to be here - we’re not satisfied, we’re not done, there’s more levels to go.”

Jamie Braidwood11 August 2023 17:29

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Women’s World Cup LIVE

Mary Earps on the support she has received to her shirt not being on sale: “I spoke about that before the tournament and expessed my views on it. I know that it is being looked into by the relevant parties at various levels, and it will be a conversation that we pick-up post tournament.

“I just want to thank everyone for their support on that. But I’m very much football-focused at the moment.”

Jamie Braidwood11 August 2023 16:56

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Women’s World Cup LIVE: Sarina Wiegman has another problem to solve

As Sarina Wiegman gathered with her staff in Lang Park, the mood was really one of relief rather than raucous celebration; puffed cheeks instead of pumped fists.

The England manager admitted she felt “10 years older” after Nigeria put her team through it for well over two hours. This unprecedented World Cup may be losing most of the biggest names, but nobody will be able to say the path was easy if the European champions do get to the final here. Quite the opposite, and for reasons greater than the fact Nigeria have clearly been underestimated.

Wiegman actually said it was as “intense” a game as she’s ever faced. One other reason for that, however, is exactly why this tournament has been so arduous as a whole.

Every time the manager solves one problem, it feels like an even bigger one presents itself. There’s always something bigger to fix.

Now, after impressively reshaping the team in the wake of Keira Walsh’s absence, she has to do so again for Lauren James’ red-card suspension.

By Miguel Delaney

The England manager admitted she has ‘never experienced so many problems’ as Lauren James faces being suspended for the rest of the World Cup

Jamie Braidwood11 August 2023 15:32

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Women’s World Cup LIVE: The lowdown on Colombia ahead of England quarter-final

Pedigree: At 25th, the South Americans are the lowest placed of the quarter-finalists in FIFA’s rankings, but, having already helped see off one of the pre-tournament favourites Germany in the group stage, they cannot be under-estimated. Runners-up to Brazil in last year’s Copa America Femenina, they travelled to Australia and New Zealand not only determined to better their previous best of reaching the last 16 in Canada in 2015, but of making a significant impression. Victory over an England side who, barring their thumping 6-1 Group D victory over China, have not been at their best, would certainly do that.

Style of play: Colombia have been described as “raw” in their approach to the game, an expression which says as much about their physicality - a behind-closed-doors warm-up game against the Republic of Ireland was abandoned at Ireland’s request after a bruising 20 minutes - as it does their freedom of expression. Abadia is not afraid to tinker with a system in which it is pace out wide which provides the threat, although his team is based on the solid foundation of a back four which have conceded only two goals so far in the tournament.

Jamie Braidwood11 August 2023 14:44

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Women’s World Cup LIVE: The lowdown on Colombia ahead of England quarter-final

Coach: Renowned for developing talent, 67-year-old Nelson Abadia initially learned his trade in youth and lower-division football and has worked across South America. After a spell in charge of the America de Cali women’s team, he was appointed Colombia boss in 2017 and guided them to World Cup qualification via an impressive Copa America Femenina campaign.

Key players: Two women at opposite ends of their careers have carried the nation’s hopes in some style Down Under. Inspirational skipper Catalina Usme, 33, and Real Madrid’s 18-year-old Linda Caicedo, widely regarded as a superstar in the making, have each scored two of the five goals they have managed in the competition to date. As well as Usme and Caicedo, who finished top scorer in the Colombian league as a 14-year-old, Abadia has Atletico Madrid midfielder Leicy Santos, Levante forward Mayra Ramirez and Real Sociedad defender Manuela Venegas at his disposal.