Intro:

England head coach Mark Sampson says he hopes his team will continue to "spoil the party" when the Lionesses face Japan in a FIFA Women's World Cup semi-final on Wednesday (1st July).

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Sampson, England head coach:

(On England making the semi-finals)

"Four teams left - world champions, European champions, Olympic champions and then us lot spoiling the party a little bit. But we're here to stay. We've upset the apple cart so far. We know we've made life very difficult for one of our opponents and that'll be our attention tomorrow."

SOUNDBITE (English) Jill Scott, England midfielder:

(On beating Japan at the last World Cup)

"We were the only team in that tournament to beat Japan so we can definitely take confidence going into that, but at the same time they are world champions and we have to respect that and we will do. We have beaten them before and why not again tomorrow?"

SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Sampson, England head coach:

(On goalkeeper Karen Bardsley and her swollen eye)

"We're still not exactly clear what the reaction was towards. In terms of (Karen Bardsley) she's in a much better place now. (Swollen) eye completely gone. So she's in a good place to be available for selection tomorrow and she'll train today with the team."

SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Sampson, England head coach:

(On the letter he wrote to bosses in England to let their employees "lie-in" after watching the England match)

"We're really hopeful when people get to around about midnight UK time and they're starting to fall asleep, they dig it out, they stay awake, they watch the game, they cheer in front of that TV. Because if they don't it might make a difference to us. So we're determined to inspire a nation, keep working hard, play in a way that makes our country proud and we really hope that the people back home can give us their support. It'll make a big, big difference to us."