England vs USA: A coveted spot in the final awaits

England will lock horns with reigning champions USA in what will be a titanic tussle between two of the top teams in women’s football.

A lot is at stake, and this game would have made a great final. The Three Lionesses are hoping to become the first English team to feature in a final since 1966. Meanwhile, the USA are aiming to win an unprecedented fourth title – and become the first team since Germany to defend their crown.

Two teams with fantastic records come to a head

Both teams have been simply outstanding this summer in France. Phil Neville’s squad come into this game having won all five of their World Cup matches. That includes a resounding 3-0 win over Norway in the quarter-finals. In fact, England have not conceded a single goal so far in the knock-out rounds, outscoring both Cameroon and Norway by six goals to nil. They completed the group stage having conceded just once during a 2-1 win over debutants Scotland, and Ellen White, with five goals, is in contention for the Golden Boot.

Not to be outdone, the USA also finished their group stage with a perfect nine points out of nine. Jill Ellis’s ladies outscored their opponents 18 to zilch – although 13 of those goals came against minnows Thailand. However, although Team USA have yet to lose at this summer’s tournament, it’s been hardly smooth sailing.

Whereas England appeared confident and assured against Norway and Cameroon, the Stars and Stripes did have to navigate through some tricky tests. Spain proved to be much tougher than most had expected, and for the first time this summer, the reigning champions were unable to score from open play. Megan Rapinoe proved to be the heroine on the day, netting a brace via two spot-kicks, but for once, the no. 1 team in the world did not appear to be in full control.

Hosts France also nearly put them on the back foot. After Rapinoe had completed her brace, she was subbed off as Ellis wanted to avoid her picking up an injury or another yellow card that would see her miss the semi-final. However, Les Bleues clawed a goal back through towering center-back Wendie Renard, and were nearly punished after a ball struck Kelley O’Hara in the penalty box.

That could have been a spot-kick in some circumstances, but fortunately for Team USA, they were not punished and now will face the team who edged them out in this year’s SheBelieves Cup: England.

England looking to finally bring it home…

After the men’s team were unfortunately denied a spot in the final by tournament upstarts Croatia, England’s women will be hoping to make history. However, the USA are by no means just a team with some good fortune behind them – they are the reigning champions and are not the no. 1 team in the world just by chance. However, it’s been clearly obvious that if anyone can beat the Yanks, they’ve put themselves in pole position to win the coveted prize.

Will England take one step closer towards writing their names in the history books? This is their second straight semi-finals appearance; four years ago, they had to settle for third after losing 2-1 to Japan in heartbreaking fashion in the semi-finals. This is the second time the two sides will meet at a World Cup with England losing 3-0 back in 2007 during the quarter-finals.

…but the USA seeking to make history as the no. 1 side in the world

The USA, meanwhile are looking to feature in a fifth straight final – which is a tournament record. They’ve now won their last 10 World Cup games, which ties a record set by Norway and could overpass that with a victory over the Three Lionesses in Tuesday’s mouth-watering tie.