Getting into our one day on one day off routine today was our day ON. It was gameday, and what a big one at that. A chance to book our place in the semi finals of a major tournament. Standing in our way was Ireland, our apartment neighbours who will no doubt wanna put one over on us.
Today we played at a different stadium to usual but fortunately it is our training venue so we already have had a feel of the pitch. It's smaller than the previous one but nicer 4g surface, so catch 22 really... Before the game people have their own routines don't they? Well it seemed ours today we all kind of bonded together and has a collective buzz going round. Maybe because we had plenty of time before kick off I don't know but whatever we did it clearly worked and I hope we emulate that in the next game please because it was ledge!
To the game, in the last 2 games the first 2minutes has been significant so today we wanted to be on the better end of a quick start. And boy did we do that! Courtney beating the offside trap and lobbing over the keeper. 1-0. Great start. Ireland were clearly hurt by this and began to create, they hit the bar and got through a couple of times. Warning signs that they weren't going to sit down and get beat, we had to up our game again and press on for a 2nd. This came by virtue of a penalty, link up play between Courtney and Aileen down the right in which a cross was handled in the box. Michelle stepped up to cooly convert, 2-0. A foothold was now in the game to us, starting our flowing football and waves of attacks at the Irish goal. Another consultant goalscorer was to pop up with the next goal, Fran Kirby as always cutting in from the left and curling a shot into the far corner. 3-0 at halftime.
Do we settle for 3-0 and sit back second half or do we continue to press for goals? Ireland had nothing to lose now so the next goal would be crucial. About 5minutes into the second half Dan Carter, desperate to open her WUGS account finally did. Drilling a shot home under the keeper, her celebration showed her relief at scoring! Literally 2minutes later it was to become 5-0. Diagonal ball specialist Jemma Rose (pinging'ell today girl!) drove a ball from the halfway line into the box for Courtney to notch her second and our 5th with a accurately placed header over the keeper... The goals were beginning to flow now and Courtney wrapped up her hat trick after good pressing high up the pitch to stun the Irish players. 6-0! They didn't know what had hit them. With still over 30minutes to go aswell.
Were we finished, were we heck! On the hour mark Fran doubled her tally with again another low shot into the goal. 7-0.... We continued to enjoy long spells of possession of the ball and introduced 4 subs into the game. Ireland had a 5minute spell where they desperately wanted a goal but a super stop from Ash Baker ensured it wasn't to be for them. With not long left we won a free-kick by the right touchline in line with the box. A cleverly routined short free-kick from Michelle to Courtney who then picked out Dan with a low pass to volley home and make it 8-0. Unbelievable stuff. Full-time and we booked our place in the semi final.
Potentially we could have got more but to have scored that many is such a positive thing for us. Now we need to not get ahead of ourselves and think we're on cloud nine. It's one game, and one game closer to the final. We meet our first game opponents Brazil in the semi which believe me will not be an easy task. They are on a high after finishing the group strongly and beating Chinese Taipei today who topped their group. But positives is we know we can beat them if we turn up and I believe we have it in us to not let this chance slip.
With Japan being knocked out of the competition tonight v South Africa it has blown the tournament wide open. It's now between us, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa to be crowned champions. Semi finals is next up and we cannot wait to play it, it's been such an incredible journey so far and we dont want to let it up at the next hurdle. It's ours for the taking and after today we can be so positive looking forward.
Naomi Cole, Team GBR #3.
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