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Alex Morgan said her ‘tea-drinking’ celebration was a response to everything “thrown at” the United States during the Women’s World Cup .
Morgan’s first-half header made the difference in Lyon, as reigning world champions beat England 2-1 to progress to Sunday’s final.
The 30-year-old was criticised in some quarters for poking fun at England, with international Lianne Sanderson describing it as “distasteful”.
But Morgan said the ‘tea-drinking’ was her way of answering the US’s critics, who have accused Jill Ellis’ players of arrogance.
“I wanted to keep it interesting,” she said. “I know Megan Rapinoe has the best celebration. I had to try and step up this game.
Player ratings from England vs USAShow all 22 1 /22Player ratings from England vs USA Player ratings from England vs USA Carly Telford - 5 out of 10 Carly Telford - 5 out of 10: Made a handful of important saves but hesitant at times and shaky when playing out from the back.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Lucy Bronze - 6 Lucy Bronze - 6: Not her usual domineering self. Attempted several breaks out from the back but they produced little.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Steph Houghton - 6 Steph Houghton - 6: Dependable until the moment England truly counted on her. Does not deserve to be the fall guy.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Millie Bright - 4 Millie Bright - 4: Uncertain in and out of possession, it was not her best night, even before the red card.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Demi Stokes - 7 Demi Stokes - 7: Settled into the contest, becoming a useful attacking outlet in the second half.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Rachel Daly - 6 Rachel Daly - 6: Battled well enough and deserved another start, but did not expose Dunn's defensive limitations.
Player ratings from England vs USA Jill Scott - 6 Jill Scott - 6: Did her level best despite being outnumbered, but threatened to lose her head at one point.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Keira Walsh - 7 Keira Walsh - 7: Arguably her best showing of the tournament, with her inventive passing leading to England's goal.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Beth Mead - 7 Beth Mead - 7: Sublime delivery for White's goal but miscued on several occasions before early substitution.
Player ratings from England vs USA Nikita Parris - 5 Nikita Parris - 5: Missing in action, though appeared to be targeted and even bullied a little.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Ellen White - 8 Ellen White - 8: Two brilliant finishes, though one was ultimately disallowed. Why couldn't she take the penalty?
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Player ratings from England vs USA Alyssa Naeher - 7 Alyssa Naeher - 7: Much-maligned but delivered when it mattered, comfortably saving Houghton's penalty.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Kelley O'Hara - 8 Kelley O'Hara - 8: Picked out Press superbly for the first. Tenacious in the tackle at the other end.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Abby Dahlkemper - 7 Abby Dahlkemper - 7: Marshalled her back line effectively, though troubled by White's movement on occasion.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Becky Sauerbrunn - 5 Becky Sauerbrunn - 5: Can have few complaints about the penalty she conceded; only relief that Naeher spared her blushes.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Crystal Dunn - 7 Crystal Dunn - 7: Not a left-back, though covered herself well, not allowing England to overlap.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Lindsay Horan - 8 Lindsay Horan - 8: Restored to the starting line-up and brilliantly effective, setting up Morgan's decisive header.
Player ratings from England vs USA Julie Ertz - 8 Julie Ertz - 8: Composed in possession and comfortable dictating the tempo, she won the midfield battle decisively.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Rose Lavelle - 9 Rose Lavelle - 9: Ran the initial stages with bright, imaginative play. England struggled to contain her.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Tobin Heath - 8 Tobin Heath - 8: Always a threat running in behind, she kept Stokes pinned back for much for the first half.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Alex Morgan - 8 Alex Morgan - 8: A consummate team player of late, she was rewarded with the goal her work rate deserved.
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Player ratings from England vs USA Christen Press - 7 Christen Press - 7: Made sure Rapinoe was not missed, popping up with an early goal that set her team on their way.
“I feel like this team has had so much thrown at them and us. I feel like we didn’t take an easy route through this tournament and ‘that’s the tea’.”
The US were caught in the middle of controversy from their very first game, when they celebrated every goal in a record 13-0 victory over Thailand.
Rapinoe, Morgan’s team-mate, was targeted by President Donald Trump last week after it emerged she would not accept a post-tournament invitation to the White House.
And then before Tuesday’s semi-final, Phil Neville questioned the US’s “etiquette”, having found two of their officials visiting private rooms at England’s team hotel.
Morgan could only praise England after the final whistle, having seen their captain Steph Houghton miss a late penalty to force extra time.
“I felt like England had a great game,” Morgan said. “They were unlucky. It came up huge for us with the penalty save.”
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