England set for Women's World Cup semi-final against Japan

  

Women's World Cup semi-final: Japan v England
Venue: Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada Date: Thursday, 2 July Kick-off: 00:00 BST Coverage: Live on BBC One, BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Sport

England manager Mark Sampson wants the backing of the nation when his side face Japan in the Women's World Cup semi-final in Canada on Thursday.

Sampson's squad are only the third England team to reach a World Cup semi-final, after the 1990 men's side and the 1966 World Cup winners.

England will be the underdogs against Japan, who are the reigning champions.

There will be live coverage on BBC One, BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website from 23:10 BST on Wednesday.

The Duke of Cambridge, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Harry Potter actress Emma Watson are among the fans who have been swept away by the Lionesses' displays so far, while former England striker Gary Lineker told the BBC the run to the last four is a "game-changer for women's football in this country and a watershed moment".

Their quarter-final win over hosts Canada was watched by 1.6m television viewers, with more than 2m people following the match online, despite a 00:30 BST kick-off. More than 10.7m people have followed the World Cup on the BBC.

Lie-in for the Lionesses

Sampson, a 32-year-old Welshman who as recently as 2011 was managing Welsh amateur side Taff's Well AFC, has called for his adopted country to "stay with the team" and has even drafted a cut-out-and-keep letter for fans to help persuade bosses to agree to a late start on Thursday morning.

Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn said: "It will be great for the whole country to get behind the Lionesses and wear their colours with pride on Wednesday.

"Where possible, we are encouraging colleagues to stay up late and roar on the squad, even if that means starting a bit later on Thursday.

"Have a 'lie-in for the Lionesses' is our message. After all, moments like this are special and help bring the nation together. Come on England!"

England defender Laura Bassett said: "We've had so many messages of support - it really seems to be kicking off back home. It's been lovely to hear, but it's new territory for us.

"It's a great feeling to know that everyone at home is behind us and we want to keep that support going by carrying on our journey over here. The last two games have been massive in the history of English women's football. Now we want to create more history."

How did England get this far?

England began the World Cup with a lacklustre 1-0 defeat by France on 9 June but improved steadily to beat first Mexico and then Colombiaand qualify for the knockout stages.

They had never won a knockout game in a World Cup before and their chances of progressing looked slim when they trailed Norway with half-an-hour remaining of their last-16 tie.

But goals from captain Steph Houghton and right-back Lucy Bronze putSampson's side into the last eight, where they faced hosts Canada.

A crowd of over 54,000 packed into BC Place in Vancouver to cheer Canada on but early goals from Jodie Taylor and Bronze put England 2-0 up.

Canada captain Christine Sinclair pulled one back to ensure a nervy finish for the team - and the fans watching back home in the middle of the night - but England held on to secure a famous win.

The result ensured they will record their best World Cup finish - England had never before been past the quarter-final stage, having reached the last eight in 1995, 2007 and 2011.

Who are the key players?

Coach Mark Sampson has changed his side around for every match, using 22 of his 23-player squad, making it difficult to predict who will start against Japan.

But captain Houghton is a certainty in central defence, as the Manchester City player is a leader at both ends of the pitch and a threat from set-pieces. She scored the crucial equaliser against Norway andscored three times for Team GB during the 2012 Olympics.

In midfield Fara Williams - who was homeless for seven years - forms a partnership with Jade Moore, who needed heart surgery at the age of 17 and claims that football literally saved her life, while the skilful Karen Carney has scored twice from the left-hand side.

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Right-back Bronze has scored two crucial goals, while up front a fit-again Jodie Taylor was excellent against Canada - though Sampson has also used Eni Aluko, Toni Duggan and Fran Kirby in that position so far.

Goalkeeper Karen Bardsley is available after an allergic reaction affecting her eye forced her off against Canada, while Sampson says midfielder Jordan Nobbs can feature, despite a post on her social media account before the Canada game saying her World Cup was over because of a hamstring injury.

What are their chances?

Japan provide ominous opposition.

The World Cup holders have won all of their matches in Canada and have conceded just twice in five games.

But England beat them in the group stages of the last World Cup in Germany, and Japan were unconvincing in their quarter-final win over Australia.

England have never lost to Japan - although the teams have only met three times - and Sampson is confident his side will become the first English side in 25 years to reach a World Cup final.

"This tournament has transpired in a way that gives us huge belief that whatever happens against Japan, this team will find a way to get themselves through to the final," said Sampson. "This England team will be the last team to leave Canada.

"We know the task ahead is huge, but we really feel that something is happening that gives us that sense of belief, that higher purpose, that we will find a way to be the last team to go home."

Lineker, who scored in England's 1990 semi-final defeat by West Germany, said: "It is hard to give advice on how to handle a pressurised situation like a World Cup semi-final. The important thing is not to leave anything behind. Go out there, give your all and enjoy the experience.

"They should be almost boastful and arrogant about being part of this because confidence is vital in sport and they should have bags of it."

And what about the final if they get there?

Should England beat Japan, then they will face either Germany or the United States in the final in Vancouver at 00:00 BST on Monday.

Germany are the world's top-ranked side and the reigning European champions, while the United States are ranked second and are the Olympic champions.

But if England succeed in knocking out holders Japan - the only team to have won all five of their games at this World Cup - they will believe they can become only the second English team to win a World Cup.

"We are two wins away from being world champions and if you had said that to us 18 months ago, I'm not sure anyone in our group bar myself and some of the staff would have believed that would be true," said Sampson, whose players stand to earn £32,000 each if they win the tournament.

"But as time has gone on the players have grown in belief and now the team feels as if something is happening, something is going on."