England calm on Canada test in Women's World Cup quarter-final
Friday 26 June 2015 13:19, UK
The England women's team are staying cool ahead of the biggest game of their lives against Canada in the World Cup quarter-finals this weekend.
Mark Sampson's side resume their campaign on Saturday night when they face the hosts and goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain told Sky Sports News HQ nobody is getting carried away.
England recorded their first ever knockout victory when beating Norway 2-1 to book their place in the last eight earlier this week.
A goal from captain Steph Houghton and a stunning effort from right-back Lucy Bronze against the Norwegians have led to fans dreaming of further success, but Canada go into the game as favourites.
“You cannot really look too far ahead,” said Chamberlain, one of three keepers in the England squad. “If you start looking past Canada, and look through to the semi-final, then you are probably going to fall down.
“I think you need to take each game as it comes, as cliché as it is. But first we have to get past Canada and it is pointless looking anywhere else.”
The Arsenal Ladies keeper is playing understudy to current No 1 Karen Bardsley, named FIFA’s Player of the Match for her performance against Norway.
Despite the intensity for competition in training between the goalkeepers, Chamberlain believes the togetherness they are all showing is the reason for Bardsley’s outstanding performances on the pitch.
“It's important to make sure we are in a good place together,” the 31-year-old added.
“If there are two people that are sulking over not playing, that will impact on Karen when she is playing. We are all very close together. We work hard together and Carly (Telford) and I are pushing Karen to be the best she can be.
“If you have got someone in your back, pushing you to be your best, then that is going to improve all of us.”
