13 August 2023 , 11:00
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Lucy Bronze kicked off the war of words with Australia by saying that England know how to win big games.
The Barcelona defender said she was looking forward to ‘a feisty affair’ with the old enemy as attention turned to Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final following victory over Colombia. It will be the third consecutive occasion that Bronze has reached the last four on the biggest stage of them all.
Both in Canada and France those clashes ended in defeat - to Japan and the United States respectively - but the Lionesses ended that sorry record of semi-final failure at last year’s Euros.
While Bronze admitted that home advantage does count, she also pointed out that the experience of making it to the final was invaluable.
She said: “We are the only team to be in three consecutive World Cup semi-finals which obviously puts us in good stead. We know what we’re facing for the next game. And we got over the hurdle last year in the Euros and finally made it to the final.
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“We got past that dreaded feeling of always getting beaten in the semi-finals - so we’ve got that in the locker.
Bronze starred as England beat Colombia (Keith McInnes/SPP/REX/Shutterstock)“Many players in the squad were part of that so we know how difficult it is to get this far and also how to get to the final and how to win games. But for me, this tournament very much reminds me of 2015 - having to fight in every single game.
“In those 2-1 wins throughout the tournament or the 1-0 win over Germany. It reminds me of those fights. I think the difference with this team - we have won trophies - we have won tournaments, so we do know what to do.”
England will take on hosts Australia in the semi-finals (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)Bronze was part of the England squad under Mark Sampson that defeated hosts Canada in the quarter-finals eight years ago. She believes the pressure on the hosts can be viewed as both positive and negative, saying: “It can be a lot of pressure to put on teams.
“I remember playing Canada and it gave them a lot of fight. It was the same thing for us in the Euros last year. The 12th man as they say - it really helped us. It was a key part to us winning and I think that’s been a key part for Australia - when they’re backs have been against the wall in this tournament.
“It wasn’t hostile against Colombia but their fans were very loud so that’s something we’re used to now.”
Bronze and her colleagues withstood the retirement and injury to key players that has weakened Sarina Wiegman’s squad before arriving Down Under.
They have coped with ten players following Lauren James ’s dismissal and suffered an injury scare over Keira Walsh.
England’s players have talked repeatedly about character and resilience. So far, they’ve backed it up.
Bronze said: “If we hadn’t reached the semi-final, I would have said that we would have underperformed. A lot of people said that England were the team that was going to flop. Granted, our performances haven’t been the best but the results have been there. And we’re in the semi-final.”
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