Women's World Cup 2015: England are going all the way, says Lucy Bronze

Though Japan lifted the trophy at the 2011 tournament in Germany, they lost 2-0 to England at the group stage then

England players and coaching staff celebrate their quarter-final victory over host nation Canada at the Women’s World Cup early on Sunday (Getty)

Match-winner Lucy Bronze is confident England can reach the Women’s World Cup final for the first time after the right-back scored her second decisive goal in as many matches to send the Lionesses into the semi-finals.

Mark Sampson’s team, 2-1 quarter-final victors over the host nation Canada here early on Sunday, will meet world champions Japan in Edmonton late on Wednesday evening, with the prospect of facing either Germany or the United States – the world’s top two teams – in the final here next Sunday.

However, Bronze sees no reason for England to be fearful of Japan, who sit two places higher than England at fourth in the world rankings. “We know we can beat them, we know how we can beat them, it’s just about, can we do it on the day?” Bronze said. “I think we can – England are going all the way.”

Though Japan lifted the trophy at the 2011 tournament in Germany, they lost 2-0 to England at the group stage then. When the two teams met in a friendly at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium in 2013, a 1-1 draw could have ended in an England win if Bronze’s late header had not been ruled out for offside.

“It wasn’t me who was offside it was another player, that was frustrating,” recalled Bronze, whose headed goal against Canada followed her superb winner in the round-of-16 tie against Norway on Monday. “I might be able to recreate that moment at Burton and this time make the goal count.

Mark Sampson’s attention to detail paid off with the second England goal from a set piece (AFP)

“Japan are obviously the favourites,” she added, “we know that, but we’re confident. They’re the reigning world champions and that’s a big deal. But for us to play one of the great teams at a World Cup is exciting.

“We’ve come across Norway, a hard European team, a couple of South American teams and now we’ve beaten the host nation. Japan will be a different challenge again, but we’re looking forward to it.”

Bronze’s 14th-minute goal against Canada, which came from a Fara Williams free-kick and followed the striker Jodie Taylor’s opener, was scored from a rehearsed set piece based on extensive research by coach Mark Sampson’s back-room team.

Bronze outjumped the full-back Allysha Chapman, Canada’s smallest player, to head the ball in off the bar. “I knew that Chapman was going to mark me on those set pieces because she always marks the widest player,” said Bronze.

“That’s all down to our staff. Lee Kendall [goalkeeping coach] said to me, ‘Luce, back post, this kid’s going to mark you. You’re two foot taller than her, just get your head on it.’ And that’s how it worked.”

Sampson added: “You name a football team in the world, we’ve seen their set pieces over the past six months.”