ngland took a step nearer to World Cup glory with a hard-fought win towards Colombia to the delight of gamers and followers again house.

The 2-1 victory means the Lionesses will play Australia, the house nation, within the final 4 after the Matildas scored a dramatic win over France on penalties earlier on Saturday.

Congratulations for the Lionesses got here from the Prince and Princess of Wales who tweeted the message: “Bring on the semi-finals! A hard-fought win, well done”.

England had scrambled an equaliser within the remaining minutes earlier than half-time to the cheers of Aston Villa defender Anna Patten, 24, plus Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier, 21, and Leah Galton, 29, and followers who watched the sport at a McDonald’s screening in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

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Alessia Russo was awarded the Player of the Match after scoring England’s winner within the 63rd minute, to the enjoyment of followers who put up with lengthy bouts of summer season drizzle to observe the sport on massive screens again house.

Le Tissier, whose omission from England’s World Cup squad was one thing of a shock after a powerful debut marketing campaign for Manchester United, instructed the PA news company: “I am so confident.

“It is only two games left and hopefully we can win both of them and become world champions.

“In the second half I think they played very well – obviously a World Cup quarter-final is not going to be easy but they got the job done and I am really happy to see Alessia on the scoresheet.”

Le Tisser, who stated she loved mingling with the followers to assist the Lionesses, added: “Just to be here supporting the girls is great. I really enjoyed my time when I was with them (the England team) and I think it was really beneficial for me. Now I think I can watch it as a fan and enjoy it.

“I think it has been a really good community feeling.”

Patten, 24, stated: “They (England) have got the job done and that is the most imporTant thing. It has been a 2-1 victory and into the semi-finals. I think they will be happy.

“They did their jobs, stayed solid at the back and capitalised on the chances they had. I am so happy they slotted it home.”

Of England’s probabilities towards Australia within the semi-final, she stated: “It is going to be really tough. Obviously playing the home nation, the crowd is going to be against them and there will be a big build-up to that game.

“I am hoping the Lionesses can go on and win it all but they are obviously going to have to be ready for a competitive game in the semi-final.”

While the Lionesses have struggled to search out prime kind thus far within the World Cup, followers in St Albans stated they might draw confidence that among the largest groups in girls’s soccer, together with the US, Germany, Canada and Brazil all did not make the later levels of this event.

They stated a few of England’s gradual begin might be put all the way down to accidents suffered by key gamers within the run-up to the event and the truth that their prime scorer Lauren James is now suspended after her sending off towards Nigeria, who the Lionesses squeezed previous within the earlier spherical on penalties.

After Saturday’s end result Joanna King, a 31-year-old gross sales advisor from Oxford, stated: “I had thought that it might go to extra-time but we were lucky to have done it.

“I think a lot of the players had a better game today than the last two matches.”

She added: “It was nice to be out here today to support them. The atmosphere has been really good and there were lots of people. The weather has been a bit hit-and-miss but that is the British summer for you.”

Bella Oglethorpe, 16, who described England’s World Cup efficiency as far as “mixed”, took her father Chris to observe the match on the large display of their hometown of St Albans.

Dressed in her England soccer equipment, she stated after their victory: “It has been nice to see loads of people are here supporting the women and they ae such great role models.

“The Colombia goal was quite unfortunate. They did not have too many chances and it was a shame that the one chance they had, they scored but overall I think England played really well.

“I think England had a lot more determination to get the ball.”

Her father Chris stated England had placed on a “gritty” efficiency, including: “It has been really interesting. They’re playing better today and now after all the rain, the sun has come out to celebrate the result. It has been good.”