England fans took over a pub in Lyon this afternoon as they countdown to the big kick off against USA in tonight’s World Cup semi-final.
Supporters who have made the journey over to France to cheer on the Lionesses invaded The Wallace pub on the banks of the Rhone.
Among those with St George flags and Three Lions shirts was Linda Stevens, 42, from Harlow, Essex.
She said: ‘It is wonderful to see women here with their daughters, wives, sisters, husbands and children sharing the excitement and sharing it in the best spirit.
‘You are only going to find passion for the on-field events and making friends when you travel with the Lionesses.’
England fans who made the journey over to Lyon to cheer on their Lioness heroes have taken over The Wallace pub on the banks of the Rhone as they get ready for tonight’s big kick off
Freya Buckley, 16, (pictured) who has just signed for Derby County, made the trip with her family as excitement builds in the French city
England fan Patrick Martin (pictured centre), from Cambridge, poses with a group of US fans who told him, ‘We’re glad to find an Englishman!’
England fans before the FIFA Women’s World Cup Semi Final match at the Stade de Lyon today
Jane Phillip, 54, of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, added: ‘Everybody is saying people back home are mad for it and loads of men are tuning in and that’s great.
‘The men’s team has starved us of success for such a long time so it’s great that the Lionesses are on the verge of bringing a World Cup trophy home.
‘I hope the men stay with the ladies games and allow it to flourish in a family atmosphere.’
Sarah O’Neill, 53, of Cheltenham was driving to her holiday home in Antibes with her daughter Molly when she managed to buy two tickets for tonight’s match online for £15 each.
She said: ‘I was amazed. Absolutely gobsmacked. It is a World Cup semi-final and England are in it. I don’t know why Lyon isn’t rammed with England supporters. But our luck is in.’
Molly, 23, a chef added: ‘We bought two Lion masks this morning. We hunted all over Lyon for them as we were looking for a way to show how proud we are at the team’s achievements.’
Alice Bennion and Laura Collins (top) have spent months refurbishing a blue Peugeot into a campervan, and have started their journey to Lyon for the semi final. They have been charting their progress on social media
Alicia Langdon, 48, an accounts clerk from Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, who was with her wife Susan, said: ‘The team have already made us proud. Most of the French people we have spoken to are right behind England too.
Flight prices to Lyon for the Women’s World Cup final hit £800 a ticket
England fans are jetting to Lyon in their droves dreaming for Women’s World Cup glory forcing flight prices to rocket four times in price to over £800.
The Lionesses are just one game away from reaching the final but have to face the USA tonight in the semis.
If they get through the tricky tie against the tournament favourites, they will face the winners of the Netherlands and Sweden on Sunday in the southern French city.
But the fastest direct flights are now £801 jetting out on Friday from Heathrow with British Airways and flying home on Monday with easyJet.
That is more than four times the cost of making the same trip a week later.
British Airways are flying direct – again from Heathrow – on Friday, July 13 and back on Monday, July 15 for just £190.
Non-direct flights to the final which stop-over in Frankfurt, Germany take three times as long and are still £358
Fan Rachel Major tweeted: ‘I have so much belief that the £lionesses can beat the USA that I’ve spent all my money on flights and hotels and will be in Lyon for the World Cup final!
Jack Target posted: ‘Hotel & flights booked! Can’t wait to see the WORLD CUP FINAL in Lyon this summer!
‘Let’s hope the @Lionesses can make it there too! £FIFAWWC £Lionesses.’
‘In this bar, a lot of us are beginning to feel the nerves kicking in. But when you look at the team, they are so cool and look unworried.
‘That’s fine as we’ll do the worrying for them and they can concentrate on winning the World Cup.’
These fans are expected to be joined with thousands more in Lyon as the lionesses bid to become the first England team to reach the World Cup final since 1966 as they take on USA at the 59,000 capacity Parc Olympique at 8pm.
Millions more are expected to watch at home or pack out pubs and bars, as the record 7.6million who tuned in to watch the quarter final against Norway looks set to be smashed.
Fans have been charting their journeys on social media, as the board ferries and the Eurostar to make their way to France.
Alice Bennion and Laura Collins have spent months preparing for a trip to Lyon in anticipation that the Lionesses would make it though.
They have spent months refurbishing a blue Peugeot van they bought for just £200 into a camper van and set off for Lyon two days ago.
Ms Bennion, from South Oxfordshire, wrote on Twitter two weeks ago: It’s nearly time for the trip we have wanted to do since we brought the van about 9 months ago!
‘The van is all ready to go and all decorated ready for the trip around France! We are both very excited and cannot wait.’
In an Instagram post yesterday she wrote: ‘First night in #france. We stayed over in #dieppe and now we are heading south towards #Lyon to watch the @lionesses play in the semi finals.
Fans have been charting their journeys on social media, as the board ferries and the Eurostar to make their way to France
‘It was always our intention to try and get out over the #womensworldcup2019 and catch a game or two.’
Another fan posted an image of her with her friends on the deck of a ferry and wrote: ‘Off to cheer on the LYONesses.’
Another post showed two vans on the Eurostar. Cassie Goodison wrote: ‘On our way! To Paris then to Lyon See you there Lionesses.’
Carole Bates wrote: ‘It’s @Lionesses semi final day! Nervous, excited and can’t wait to get to Lyon later!’
USA fans are already threatening to outnumber England supporters at this evening’s game, which kicks off at 8pm.
England’s Lionesses celebrate after winning the quarter-final against Norway and now face favourites USA tonight in the biggest game for years
Ticket sales suggested that the majority inside the Groupama Stadium for the evening kick-off would be waving the Star Spangled Banner.
A national police source in Paris said: ‘There certainly seems to be a lot more American supporters around than English ones
‘They are very vocal and enthusiastic, but also extremely well behaved. Very few of them drink alcohol. They are certainly not the kind of football supporters we are used to!’
In extraordinary scenes yesterday England’s security staff threw out a suspected spy from their training ground in Lyon – just 24 hours after two members of the USA’s backroom staff were discovered in England’s hotel.
Back home, England fans celebrate after watching the quarter-final at Glastonbury
England’s manager Phil Neville has declared that his players cannot contemplate anything other than victory tonight.
But his team will have to beat the favourites, led by star winger Megan Rapinoe, who has scored five goals while also urging her USA teammates to ‘think hard’ about associating themselves with Donald Trump if they win and are invited to the White House.
The Lionesses will be in the final of the competition for the first time if they can get past the defending champions at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium.
The USA are the favourites to win the World Cup and are the reigning champions
As winger Nikita Parris insisted it was ridiculous to suggest the Americans, reigning world champions, might be tougher than England and full back Lucy Bronze said Neville’s players were more ‘destined’ to reach a final than ever, the manager said he senses a breakthrough moment. ‘We’re at that moment now where it’s so close and we’ve spoken long and hard about this,’ Neville said.
‘I want my players to realise that we are so close and we have to deliver. We have to.
‘There is no upside to defeat. Losing in a semi-final would mean nothing to me. Every single meeting, every single training session, every five-a-side we’ve had, we’ve spoken about winning.
‘Winning is the most important thing. It’s about winning — that’s the mentality we’ve brought in.’
