ervous however excited England followers gathered on Saturday within the hopes of cheering the Lionesses to victory within the World Cup quarter-finals.

Chants of “come on England” could possibly be heard as followers ignored the summer season drizzle to look at the large display screen in St Albans, Hertfordshire, as supervisor Sarina Wiegman’s group kicked off towards Colombia in Sydney’s Stadium Australia.

Football fan Joanna King mentioned “the best is yet to come” for England, regardless of a run of accidents to high gamers forward of the event and high scorer Lauren James, 21, being despatched off within the last-16 penalty shootout victory over Nigeria earlier within the week.

Speaking on the McDonald’s massive display screen in St Albans, the 31-year-old gross sales advisor from Oxford, mentioned: “I think we have been playing OK. The last game was a bit nerve-racking to be honest. I am not going to lie.

“I personally feel they can do it. I think Sarina is playing mind games – she is not making us play bad but she is not making us play our best at the moment.”

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The winner of England v Colombia will play Australia in final 4 after the event’s joint hosts scored a dramatic win over France on penalties in Brisbane earlier on Saturday.

Ms King added: “I would have preferred to have Australia rather than France, I know that. I think that the Matilda’s are very good.

“It is good to be here among everyone who is supporting at the same time – there is an atmosphere and it is better than sitting at home.”

England arrived on the event as one of many favourites after being topped European champions final yr.

While the Lionesses have struggled to search out high type to this point, followers in St Albans mentioned they will draw confidence that a few of the largest groups in ladies’s soccer, together with the US, Germany, Canada and Brazil all didn't make later levels of this event.

Bella Oglethorpe, 16, took her father Chris to look at the match on the large display screen of their hometown, and mentioned she can be happy if England confronted Australia within the semi-final.

She described England’s World Cup efficiency as far as “mixed”, including: “If we make it to the semi-finals I feel we have a good chance, although Australia do have the advantage of a home crowd.

“I think that Colombia are quite a physical team and England struggled with that against Nigeria – hopefully they have learned from that.”

Her father added: “Bella really wanted to come. It is fantastic to watch it on the big screens and to have the atmosphere.

“Women’s football has really grown in popularity and recognition since the Euros last year.”