Coach Sampson: 'Team Went To Hell And Back'
England head coach Mark Sampson spoke of his immense pride after watching his side reach the Women’s World Cup semi-finals for the first time after their 2-1 win over hosts Canada.
Sampson hailed his players for standing up to the challenge against the Canadians, who had been backed by incredibly loud support at BC Place in Vancouver.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: “The first thing I want to say is how proud I am of the group. That game was a tough, tough game. On the field, off the field these players have been to hell and back today to find a way to get a result but they’ve been incredible.
“I really can’t emphasise enough how loud that crowd was today but this team stood up. We knew it was team 23 of England against Canada. They stood up, they found a way to get themselves through to a semi-final and I'm incredibly proud of their performance and most importantly the way they've stuck together.”
Sampson, who is only the third manager to lead an England side to the semi-finals of a World Cup after the men's teams of 1966 and 1990, said that he wanted to go one step further and felt his group had the momentum to do so.
“I'm really proud and honoured to be representing England as the manager of the team and I'm enjoying every second,” he added.
“I'm determined to give my all, the players will leave nothing on the pitch, our staff and myself, we’re going to leave nothing here. Everything we've got we've given to this team and at the moment it is paying off.
“But we want to keep going. There’s something happening with this team, there is some special momentum, there’s some special feeling in there and they really believe they can keep this journey going.”
Striker Jodie Taylor was making her first start at the tournament having been a doubt just eight weeks ago after undergoing knee surgery.
Captain Steph Houghton praised her and the team’s defensive performance and said the win highlighted how strong character is within the group.
The Manchester City player said: “Couldn't ask for any more. Two chances, two goals and that’s what it means to us. We needed big moments like that - Jodie Taylor coming back from injury and scoring with her first chance and Lucy Bronze scoring from a set piece.
“I think we were comfortable and obviously a bit disappointed about the goal that we conceded before half time but I think in the second half you saw a totally different England team.
“Canada threw everything at us, the kitchen sink, the lot, and if you look at our defending, we were outstanding and everybody ran through a brick wall for each other. It just shows how much character we have got in this team and how much belief we have to try and get to a final.”
Taylor, who plays her football in the United States with Portland Thorns said it was vital that England were able to silence the crowd quickly.
She added: “The game plan was to chase and challenge everything - be a living nightmare for them and then just play my normal game when we were actually in possession and fortunately it did pay off for us.
“As a group I think we handled it really well - tactics surrounding the crowd were ‘how can we silence them?’ And maybe taking a little extra time with things just to slow it down and silence the crowd because you heard it out there, as soon as they got on top or did something good the sound was crazy.
“We did well to dig deep and come out with a win.”
The Lionesses will have two full days to prepare before they face the 2011 winners Japan in Edmonton on Wednesday after they beat Australia 1-0.
Skipper Houghton is under no illusion as to how tough the game against the reigning champions will be and labelled them as one of the most consistent teams in the competition.
However, she said England were determined to advance to their first ever World Cup final.
She said: “We've got to have no fear, it is a one-off game and the best team wins, whoever performs on the day.
“We've had a bit of a history with Japan and credit to them they are the world champions and in my opinion they’ve played some really good stuff in this World Cup and they are one of the most consistent teams so we know that we’re going to have to match them physically and also technically and keep the ball."
