Emphatic England dismantle Norway to reach semi-finals

Phil Neville's England side made it five wins from five at the tournament with a resounding victory in Le Havre against a Norway side that looked fatigued after their penalty shoot-out exertions against Australia on Saturday.

The Lionesses got off to a dream start as they opened the scoring just after the two minute mark and in truth never looked back from there. The ever-dangerous tandem of Lucy Bronze and Nikita Parris combined down the right, as they have done to great effect all tournament, before the former cut the ball back from the byline. Ellen White missed her shot, but the tall figure of Jill Scott was on hand to scuff an effort across goal and into the back of the net via the far post to record England's fastest ever Women's World Cup goal.

 

June 27, 2019

Parris was then again heavily involved, missing a couple of her good chances herself and setting up White with a lovely dinked ball that the England striker volleyed across goal and against the far post.

White had another chance just two minutes later, however, and this time made no mistake as she tucked Parris' cutback from the right into an open net to give England a comfortable two goal cushion heading into the break. This strike brought up a milestone for White, as it her saw her overtake Fara Williams to become England's top Women's World Cup goalscorer of all time with six goals.

 

June 27, 2019

Norway started the second half in the ascendency and did at times threaten England with balls in behind, but Lucy Bronze - described by her manager as "the best player in the world" - repeated her heroics from England's last meeting with Norway at the 2015 World Cup to put the game out of the reach of the Scandinavians.

The 27 year-old lurked on the edge of the box as Beth Mead stood over a free-kick from the right, with the Norway defence apparently oblivious to her whereabouts. Mead cut the ball back to Bronze, who connected sweetly with a first-time effort from the edge of the D which flew past Norway keeper Ingrid Hjelmseth and into the roof of the net.

 

June 27, 2019

Norway continued to ask questions of an England defence that has conceded just once at this tournament, but couldn't find a way past as Steph Houghton put in a solid display that included a crucial goal-line clearance after Millie Bright had put her team in trouble with a short backpass.

England then had a chance to put the cherry on the cake late on as they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Maria Thorisdottir on Houghton, but Parris missed from 12 yards for the second time this tournament as Hjelmseth guessed right to bat her tame effort away.

So, England are through to their second-consecutive Women's World Cup semi-final after a convincing display against the Norwegians. They will face either hosts France or favourites and holders USA in Lyon on Tuesday, with Neville's girls hoping to go one step further than their male counterparts could manage in Russia last summer...maybe football is coming home after all.