Tuesday 23 June 2015 16:56, UK
England can win the Women’s World Cup, according to 129-cap winger Rachel Yankey.
England’s reward for winning their Round of 16 tie with Norway in Ottawa is a quarter-final match against host nation Canada in Vancouver on Saturday night.
But with Germany, USA and France – the three highest ranked teams in the world – all in the other half of the draw, Yankey believes England have a viable route to the final on July 5.
“When you look at the draw I can see us going all the way to be honest,” she told the Sportswomen show on Sky Sports News HQ.
“We must keep on the same route of getting those wins. I’d like to see better performances but the main thing is winning the games, and they are winning the games.
“That side of the draw is definitely the better side and I think the girls can feel confident that they can go and beat Canada. And if it’s Australia, Japan or the Netherlands (in the semi-finals), I think they can go and be confident that they can get a win there.
“Then you are in the final and that is pot luck. Teams like USA, Germany and France would be favourites in the final - the same way Canada will probably be on Saturday - but the underdogs can take it.”
England beat Canada 1-0 to lift the Cyprus Cup in March but lost to the Women’s World Cup hosts by the same scoreline in a pre-tournament friendly in Hamilton at the end of last month.
A hostile atmosphere awaits at BC Place on Saturday, but Yankey is confident England can use it to their advantage and reach the Women’s World Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history.
“It will be difficult but there are big players there who like to play in front of crowds,” the Arsenal Ladies midfielder added.
“I'm a player that likes to play in front of a crowd, either to please the crowd or quieten them down. Players like Karen Carney and Fran Kirby will want to excite the crowd and they will definitely want to show the Canadian fans what they have got, but on the other hand Canada will want to do the same.
“Everybody was talking about how fabulous Canada skipper Christine Sinclair was going to be but she hasn't had the best of tournaments so far. She’s done well against England in the past and maybe this is going to be the game where she kicks on.
“It’s really going to be about who manages their emotions the best between the two teams.”
