Before the match even started it looked like England advancing to the semifinals would be questionable. England’s coach, Phil Neville, said that starters Steph Houghton and Millie Bright were doubtful for their game against Norway. Houghton was recovering from a tough tackle and Bright had come down with a virus. Also, starter Lucy Bronze was feeling ill and missing training sessions for the Lionesses. They were a game time decision and in the end Neville thought they were fit enough as all three started the game. But how their injuries and illnesses would affect them was still in question.
Facing a quality opponent in Norway and having their struggles coming into the match, a commanding start to the game would be key for England. And they did just that.
In only the second minute of play, Lucy Bronze, who showed no signs of an illness, took the ball to the end-line and crossed it into the box. Initially, Ellen White of England whiffed at the ball, but luckily a trailing Jill Scott took the opportunity and slid the ball into the lower left corner of the goal. The goal was scored in just two minutes and seven seconds into the game, the fastest goal in England’s World Cup history.
The rest of the first half was all England, who dominated the game and kept creating scoring chances. England could not get their second goal of the game however until the 40th minute. Bronze once again dribbled the ball up the right side of the field this time crossing an early ball into Nikita Parris. Defenders became swarming Parris who saw an open White in front of the net. Parris passed the ball to White, who did not whiff at this chance and instead tapped the ball into goal. England would take the 2-0 lead into halftime.
The second half would be much of the same. England controlling the game and Norway being dominated on both ends of the field. Norway who had looked impressive up until this game just could not get anything going. Their top forward, Caroline Graham Hansen, had poor touches and looked hesitant in front of goal. And England kept finding holes in Norway’s defense.
England would add to their 2-0 lead in the 57th minute. They were awarded a free kick just outside the box on the lower right side. Instead of crossing the ball into the box like a typical free kick from that spot, Beth Mead passed the ball to the top of the box where a wide open Lucy Bronze sat waiting. She hit an absolute one-touch rocket into the top of the net.
England was far from perfect in this game with their back-line falling apart on numerous occasions, but Norway could just not capitalize. One instance where the England goalkeeper, Karen Bardsley, misplayed a ball leaving the goal open for Lisa-Marie Utland, but a last minute slide from Houghton sustained the shutout.
Even with the uneven scoreline England did not let up in their attack. They were once again given a free kick in the offensive half. This time they chose to cross the ball into the box. Houghton jumped up for the ball, but Maria Thorisdottir shoved Houghton in the back pushing her to the ground. The push was bad enough that the referee awarded a penalty kick.
Parris stepped up to take the penalty hoping to improve her 1/2 conversion rate so far at the World Cup. She hit the ball hard but high, giving Ingrid Hjelmseth a chance to save it. Hjelmseth was able to knock the ball wide and give Norway one bright spot to take away from this match.
England would go onto win this game 3-0 earning their fourth shutout of the tournament. They are headed back to the semifinals for second straight World Cup. But this time around they are hoping to get one game further and play for the championship and not third place.
England will play the winner of France vs the United States on July 2nd. But regardless who England plays they are relishing their win now and unfazed by who will line up against them. When asked about their semifinal game Neville expressed the team’s confidence with, “We’re not bothered who we play. We want to play both of them [USA or France]. We’re going to go to Lyon, the atmosphere and the occasion will be incredible. My players have proven tonight the bigger the occasion, they better they are.”
France and the United States face-off tomorrow at 3:00 pm ET on FOX.