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FIFA Women's World Cup 2019: Lionesses fans plan for semi-final | FIFA Women's World Cup 2019: Lionesses fans plan for semi-final |
(about 2 hours later) | |
England's women's football team will take on the USA in Lyon, France, in the semi-final of the FIFA Women's World Cup later. Their fans have been making plans to watch the big game. | England's women's football team will take on the USA in Lyon, France, in the semi-final of the FIFA Women's World Cup later. Their fans have been making plans to watch the big game. |
For the second summer in a row, England has been gripped by World Cup fever. | For the second summer in a row, England has been gripped by World Cup fever. |
And once again, fans are getting ready to watch their country compete in a semi-final - although hopefully Phil Neville's team, affectionately known as the Lionesses, can go at least one better than Gareth Southgate's side which lost 2-1 to Croatia in Russia last July. | And once again, fans are getting ready to watch their country compete in a semi-final - although hopefully Phil Neville's team, affectionately known as the Lionesses, can go at least one better than Gareth Southgate's side which lost 2-1 to Croatia in Russia last July. |
Many fans are going to Lyon to watch the game live in the stadium. | Many fans are going to Lyon to watch the game live in the stadium. |
Among them will be Rachel Hopkinson and her 11-year-old daughter Reese from Darrington, near Pontefract. | Among them will be Rachel Hopkinson and her 11-year-old daughter Reese from Darrington, near Pontefract. |
The duo left their home at 10:30 BST on Monday to arrive in Lyon on match-day morning, having travelled by train to London and then taken an arduous 14-hour overnight bus ride to the French city. | The duo left their home at 10:30 BST on Monday to arrive in Lyon on match-day morning, having travelled by train to London and then taken an arduous 14-hour overnight bus ride to the French city. |
"I had been looking at going for a while but as soon as they made it to the semi-final I know we just had to go for it," Ms Hopkinson said. | "I had been looking at going for a while but as soon as they made it to the semi-final I know we just had to go for it," Ms Hopkinson said. |
She said seeing the Lionesses live should be a good influence on Reese, herself an aspiring footballer and member of the Leeds United academy. | She said seeing the Lionesses live should be a good influence on Reese, herself an aspiring footballer and member of the Leeds United academy. |
They previously went to support England at the UEFA Women's Euro Championships 2017 in the Netherlands, and have watched numerous Lionesses matches around England. | They previously went to support England at the UEFA Women's Euro Championships 2017 in the Netherlands, and have watched numerous Lionesses matches around England. |
"I want to give Reese an idea of what it could be like for her," Ms Hopkinson said. | "I want to give Reese an idea of what it could be like for her," Ms Hopkinson said. |
"The players are always fabulous with the fans at the end, coming over and posing for selfies; there is always really good fan engagement with the Lionesses. | "The players are always fabulous with the fans at the end, coming over and posing for selfies; there is always really good fan engagement with the Lionesses. |
"I want Reese to remember that, should she ever get to be where they are. But this is also a little adventure and really good quality time for me and my daughter. | "I want Reese to remember that, should she ever get to be where they are. But this is also a little adventure and really good quality time for me and my daughter. |
"My mum used to take me to Manchester United matches when I was a girl so to be able to do that with my daughter is brilliant." | "My mum used to take me to Manchester United matches when I was a girl so to be able to do that with my daughter is brilliant." |
Also heading to Lyon on a "spontaneous adventure" are former Nottingham Forest Ladies player Amy White and her boyfriend Mark Bullock. | |
They bought their tickets on Sunday and are driving for 14 hours to get there. | |
Ms White said: "There's something about this World Cup campaign that has captured our imaginations and we thought, 'When is the next chance we will get over to see a World Cup semi-final?' | |
"Whatever the score, it's going to be a great atmosphere and a great game." | |
Those unable to travel to France are also making alternative plans to watch the game. | Those unable to travel to France are also making alternative plans to watch the game. |
Battersea Park in London is preparing for a big turnout as it will show the game as part of its Summer in Battersea Park series of events. | Battersea Park in London is preparing for a big turnout as it will show the game as part of its Summer in Battersea Park series of events. |
A spokesman for organisers Wandsworth Council said it was hoped a "sizeable" crowd will watch the match, with "all welcome". | A spokesman for organisers Wandsworth Council said it was hoped a "sizeable" crowd will watch the match, with "all welcome". |
London mayor Sadiq Khan has given his support to the screening, saying: "Everybody is hugely excited by the success of the England Women's World Cup team and I know that Londoners of all ages and backgrounds will want to cheer on the Lionesses." | London mayor Sadiq Khan has given his support to the screening, saying: "Everybody is hugely excited by the success of the England Women's World Cup team and I know that Londoners of all ages and backgrounds will want to cheer on the Lionesses." |
Boxpark venues in Wembley, Croydon and Shoreditch will also show the match as they have done for England's previous five games, while pubs across the nation are also planning parties. | Boxpark venues in Wembley, Croydon and Shoreditch will also show the match as they have done for England's previous five games, while pubs across the nation are also planning parties. |
A Boxpark spokesman said: "We've seen a great turnout for our Women's World Cup screenings and with every Lioness win, the number of supporters watching at Boxpark sites grows." | |
Showcase Cinemas has been screening the games for free at 21 cinemas. | Showcase Cinemas has been screening the games for free at 21 cinemas. |
General manager Mark Barlow said hundreds of fans had been attending to "cheer on the Lionesses", adding: "We are expecting the semi-final to be the busiest screening so far and we wish England the best of luck." | General manager Mark Barlow said hundreds of fans had been attending to "cheer on the Lionesses", adding: "We are expecting the semi-final to be the busiest screening so far and we wish England the best of luck." |
In Newcastle, the Screen on the Green in Old Eldon Square will show the final, with fans particularly rooting for the city's own Carly Telford, Berwick-born Lucy Bronze, team captain Steph Houghton from Durham, Jill Scott from Sunderland and Demi Stokes from South Shields. | In Newcastle, the Screen on the Green in Old Eldon Square will show the final, with fans particularly rooting for the city's own Carly Telford, Berwick-born Lucy Bronze, team captain Steph Houghton from Durham, Jill Scott from Sunderland and Demi Stokes from South Shields. |
Cafe Football in Manchester, which is co-owned by Lionesses manager Neville with his brother Gary, and fellow former Manchester United teammates Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, is also showing the match. | Cafe Football in Manchester, which is co-owned by Lionesses manager Neville with his brother Gary, and fellow former Manchester United teammates Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, is also showing the match. |
Neville has even designed a special World Cup menu for the restaurant. | Neville has even designed a special World Cup menu for the restaurant. |
Other fans are planning simpler affairs. | Other fans are planning simpler affairs. |
Demi Andrews from Quorn in Leicestershire said she planned to sit in her (hopefully) sun-filled garden and watch the game on her laptop. | Demi Andrews from Quorn in Leicestershire said she planned to sit in her (hopefully) sun-filled garden and watch the game on her laptop. |
Holidaymakers are also working the match into their breaks. | Holidaymakers are also working the match into their breaks. |
Twitter user Lems said she would watch the game in her hotel in Tunisia; while Andrew Mansell will follow it from a sports bar in Fuengirola, Spain. | Twitter user Lems said she would watch the game in her hotel in Tunisia; while Andrew Mansell will follow it from a sports bar in Fuengirola, Spain. |
Janice Bardwell will be in the TV room of her campsite in Cornwall, the same place where she watched last year's Croatia semi-final. | Janice Bardwell will be in the TV room of her campsite in Cornwall, the same place where she watched last year's Croatia semi-final. |
And some fans have found themselves Stateside for the tie. | And some fans have found themselves Stateside for the tie. |
Jon Rogers and a small group of English friends will be in a pub in San Diego "surrounded by Americans" and sat with his American wife. | Jon Rogers and a small group of English friends will be in a pub in San Diego "surrounded by Americans" and sat with his American wife. |
"Come on you Lionesses," he said. | "Come on you Lionesses," he said. |
The match kicks-off at 20:00 with live coverage on on BBC One or iPlayer, commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. | The match kicks-off at 20:00 with live coverage on on BBC One or iPlayer, commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. |
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