England v USA: Five classic encounters
The World Cup semi-finals are upon us and England will face the USA hoping to reach the final for the first time ever.
The Lionesses are bidding to become the first England team to reach a World Cup final since 1966 but face the sternest possible test if they are to book their place in Sunday’s showpiece.
The Americans are the reigning world champions and have reached at least the semi-finals in all seven previous tournaments.
Fans are expected to watch the latest clash between England and USA in record numbers.
The two countries have contested historic matches in both the men’s and women’s game, here we look back at the most significant.
USA 1-0 England - 1950
Arguably the best team in the world at the time, England were odds-on favourites going into their first ever World Cup in Brazil.
The Three Lions had the likes of Tom Finney, Billy Wright, Alf Ramsey and Stan Mortensen in their ranks, and such was the strength of the team, Stanley Matthews and Jackie Milburn were left out of the line-up against a team of largely part-time players essentially cobbled together for the tournament.
However, this group match didn’t go to plan as Haitian-born Joe Gaetjens scored the only goal of the game to give USA a 1-0 win in what is widely considered one of the greatest World Cup shocks of all time.
The defeat cost England dearly as both teams exited at the group stage, but the Americans must have felt like they had won the entire thing.
USA 2-0 England - 1993
Graham Taylor’s side were in the middle of what was shaping up to be a disastrous qualification campaign for the USA ‘94 World Cup when they travelled stateside for the four-team US Cup with Brazil and world champions Germany.
Facing the hosts in their opening game, goals from Thomas Dooley and Alexi Lalas saw England humbled at the Foxborough stadium in Boston.
While not as humiliating as 1950, it still served as something of a shock and highlighted England’s struggles at time.
Draws against Netherlands and Poland coupled with defeat to Norway before the tournament meant England would struggle to return to the US the following summer - an outcome effectively confirmed by defeat in Rotterdam four months later.
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USA Women 3-0 England Women - 2007
Under Hope Powell, England impressed in China qualifying second in their group behind Germany, picking up a valuable point against the eventual winners.
In the quarter-final, they were clear underdogs against the No. 1 ranked side in the world but managed to hold their own for 45 minutes, keeping the score at 0-0.
Unfortunately, the second half saw the US establish their dominance as goals from Abby Wambach, Shannon Boxx and Kristine Lilly in the space of 12 minutes broke England hearts and secured safe passage to the semi-final against Brazil.
England 1-1 USA - 2010
Much of the talk ahead of the World Cup opening game in Rustenburg, South Africa was the fact it was 60 years on from Gaetjens’ heroics in Belo Horizonte.
Bob Bradley’s side spied a similar upset but Fabio Capello’s England had been imperious coming into the tournament having won nine and lost just one of their 10 qualifying matches.
Things seemed to be going to plan for England as Steven Gerrard gave them the lead just four minutes in, but Clint Dempsey levelled the scores when his speculative effort from distance slipped from the grasp of Rob Green and into the back of the net.
The goal and result set the tone for a lacklustre tournament performance from England, culminating in a 4-1 thrashing to Germany in the second round.
England Women 2-2 USA Women - 2019
The most recent encounter between the two sides took place at this year’s She Believes Cup and could serve as a precursor for the Lyon clash.
Megan Rapione gave the hosts the lead with a stunning right footed screamer before Steph Houghton equalised after curling home for England.
Nikita Parris’ calm, well-taken finish gave England the lead but Tobin Heath scrambled home an equaliser to deny England victory.
However, pushing the world champions all the way will be encouraging for England as they look to make history.
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