England into semis with France win Women’s Euro 2017

ENGLAND beat France for the first time in 43 years to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2017 on a night of high tension in Deventer.
The Lionesses secured a semi-final against hosts Netherlands as they finally overcame Les Bleues, who had beaten them in the past three major tournaments.
The result means England are now the highest-ranked team left in the competition following Denmark’s shock victory over Germany, the winners of the past six European Championships.
Striker Jodie Taylor was England’s match-winner, clipping in on the hour for her fifth goal in three Euros matches after being set up by the excellent Lucy Bronze.
It leaves the Arsenal forward on course to win the Golden Boot as no other player has scored more than twice so far.
England hung on after Taylor scored, with injured goalkeeper Karen Bardsley being replaced by Siobhan Chamberlain, as France created several goalmouth scrambles.
The only blemish on an otherwise historic night was a yellow card for Jill Scott, who will now miss the semi-final.
The result ensured boss Mark Sampson created his own history by becoming the first England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey in 1968 to reach consecutive semi-finals at major tournaments, having also guided his team to third place at the 2015 World Cup.
And if England beat Netherlands in Enschede on Thursday, Sampson will become only the third senior England manager, after Ramsey in 1966 and his own predecessor Hope Powell in 2009, to lead the national side to a major final.
(BBC)