Often Partisan

Lionesses Roar Into Semi-Finals

Birmingham City Ladies players Karen Carney and Jade Moore both played in England’s 2-1 victory over Canada which sees Mark Sampson’s team make history as the first England Ladies side to make it to the last four of a World Cup.

England Ladies raced into an early lead with goals from former Blues Ladies player Jodie Taylor and Lucy Bronze before a Karen Bardsley error late in the first half allowed Christine Sinclair to score from close range.

As much as it was pleasing to see England go through to the last four, it wasn’t exactly a vintage performance from the Lionesses. Statistics show that England have performed poorly when it comes to ball retention and that showed again in Vancouver as the defence in particular continually made mistakes that Canada should have capitalised on.

I thought that the two Blues players involved played well; Jade Moore being a contender for player of the match for her efforts breaking up play in the midfield while Karen Carney continually drove at the Canadian backline to try to force them into errors like the one made by Lauren Sesselmann for the first England goal.

England will face holders Japan in Edmonton on Thursday for a place in the final against either USA or Germany. England are the only team in the last four never to have won a World Cup with USA, Germany and Japan having won five of the previous six tournaments.

There is no doubt that the next game will be a tough ask but for England the tournament has already been a success; first knockout game win and first time into the semis represent a remarkable achievement for the Lionesses who came into the tournament in indifferent form.

The hope for Birmingham City Ladies is that players like Moore, Carney and Jo Potter return from Canada in fine form for the return of the WSL season at Manchester City’s Academy stadium on July 12 – particularly with Blues Ladies not having won a league game in the matches prior to the Women’s World Cup.

Blues Ladies - sponsored by Hollywood Monster

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27 Responses to “Lionesses Roar Into Semi-Finals”

  • Scott randle says:

    What’s your thoughts on out two new signings Dan? I have to say neither have excited me, my hope is that legzdins will be the 2nd choice keeper, and hopefully rowett will bring the best out of maghoma! Don’t get me wrong I am not expecting world beaters.

    • almajir says:

      I wrote about Maghoma yesterday

      As for Legzdins – I think he’s just backup. I’m slightly disappointed for Nick Townsend as I thought he was good enough to be #2 this year, but as long as he gets a good loan move it will work out for him.

  • rhees says:

    Congratulations to the lionesses they have done us proud.
    As for our signings I’m expecting more and exciting ones too shortly

  • Dave Mann says:

    Ime actually in ballycastle in N. Ireland at the moment and watching our girls win last night in the club bar was truly brilliant .. Just sobered up and now on our way to the republic ! Kro

  • Fantastic ladies , made the beautiful game more beautiful, on a more serious note ladies football needs more coverage than just Facebook to get more backing from the men to encourage them to greater all round fan base kro

  • BhamCityJulian says:

    Very enjoyable to watch but Bardsley needs to be dropped if we want a chance of winning.

    BCFC Ladies will continue to decline until they compete financially at the new level. Perhaps Panos can persuade TTA the benefits of upping the subsidy

  • ChrisG says:

    There is such a huge dirrerence between the mens & ladies game, although watching the ladies is how i’d imagine watching the vile week in week out!!

  • BhamCityJulian says:

    With Fotheringham waiting on QPR’s interest I would expect Gary will go for experienced 30+ goalkeeper now because he has said how much he rates Legzdins

  • Tony says:

    Watched the last two games of the ladies and I must say I enjoyed them, refreshing to see genuine efffort and no little skill. However as Daniel says the mistakes in defence were horrific thats the last three games they have allowed teams back in the game..
    Regarding the goalkeeper situation we need an expeprienced no 1 Iam biased for a goalie well over 6 ft
    Big men make better keepers that means im afraid townsend wont do.

  • Tony E says:

    I know they always say Bennet was 6 foot tall, I suspect that when they measured him he was stood on a box. Excellent keeper though, let’s hope Townsend gets somewhere near that standard.

  • The players could be buzzing but the fans are still not happy that a player that was sent back to his club has not been signed or been replaced by suitably talented player, plus a proven striker , centre back , and keeper ,then we will be buzzing,

  • waycoolblue says:

    Good news Koby Arthur just signs two-year extension

  • waycoolblue says:

    Is Cardiff’s Ben Turner in talks with Birmingham he was seen at digbeth coach station this afternoon
    according to radio Cardiff (98.7 FM).

  • paule says:

    He might be on his way home or out for a drink with his mates or family, he’s a Birmingham lad so could be loads of reasons he’s in Birmingham!!!

  • mark says:

    bigWell a big pat on the back for the England womens football team reaching the World Cup semi finals. They face a tough task against Japan if they are to get to the final but I would not put it past them.

    It’s amazing to think that in our pathetic men in the Brazil World Cup were on a bonus of £350,000 a man and the girls are only on £35,000 each. It begs the question do the F.A. think that a woman is only worth 10% of a man? well done to our english girls keep going and make history..

  • mark says:

    Well a big pat on the back for the England womens football team reaching the World Cup semi finals. They face a tough task against Japan if they are to get to the final but I would not put it past them.

    It’s amazing to think that in our pathetic men in the Brazil World Cup were on a bonus of £350,000 a man and the girls are only on £35,000 each. It begs the question do the F.A. think that a woman is only worth 10% of a man? go on girls make history


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