‘Haha – it’s the hope that kills England!’ Jubilant Scottish and Irish fans toast US win over Lionesses as traditional football rivalries resurface
- The Lionesses were beaten by two goals to one in a close-fought affair in Lyon
- A tense game saw England miss a penalty and have a player sent off
- Aside from Americans, many Scottish and Irish took to Twitter to celebrate
It all ended in tears for England with another World Cup semi-final loss as the US progressed to the women’s final.
A tense affair ended with a missed penalty from England’s captain Steph Houghton and a red card for Millie Bright in a 2-1 defeat.
But not everybody this side of the water were saddened. Along with the jubilant Americans, Irish and Scottish fans took to social media in their droves to toast England’s loss.
The tears at full time were ‘sweet sweet tears’ according to one cynical Irish fan from Derry called Ruarí.
A dejected Ellen White of England acknowledges the crowd after the Lionesses were beaten
Among many tweets congratulating the Lionesses, some rival fans couldn’t help themselves
Scotland fans celebrate the USA beating England in the Women’s World Cup from a pub in Aberdeenshire. Pictured is: Scott Cimmung, Cameron Fraser and Joe Main
The 22-year-old, whose Twitter says he lives in the States, tweeted: ‘Haha bottle job England again! In the Semis much like their male counterparts! Those sweet sweet tears #seeya #ENGvUSA #ENGUSA #nogoal’
He was joined by a whole host of happy Scots who were very vocal, despite the Lionesses beating them in the group stage and putting six past them in the European Championships two years ago.
One Twitter user with a Glasgow Celtic FC picture tweeted: ‘Haha it’s the hope that kills them.’
He was joined by another Celtic fan who admitted he didn’t even watch the match but was glad England lost regardless.
Phil Neville, the England coach, consoles his captain Steph Houghton who missed a penalty
This man admitted that he likes to watch England lose simply because he’s Scottish
An England fan queried whether Scots want England women to lose as much as they do the men
Among many tweets from Scots, Irish and of course Americans, there was even Welsh input
He said: ‘I don’t watch women’s football but I see England got beat. I like that. Haha.’
Another Scot said: ‘HAHAHAHAHAHA I’m f****** loving this’, before quoting a non-existent person saying: ‘You’re just a bitter Scottish person enjoying watching England lose at a tournament your team will never win’.
He then shared a meme of a popular TV character saying: ‘You’re God damn right.’
Steph Houghton stepped up to take a penalty with the chance of levelling the scores in Lyon
Alyssa Naeher of the USA saved the penalty from Steph Houghton and Gaelic Twitter reacted
Yet another Scottish person kept it even more simple, tweeting: ‘Haha f*** England man.’
Even the former US First Lady and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton joined in the mocking, sharing a picture of American striker Alex Morgan’s controversial tea-sipping goal celebration.
She accompanied the picture with the message: ‘Congrats to the #USWNT for earning that tea. On to the final!’
Hillary Clinton got in on the act, sharing a picture of US striker Alex Morgan’s edgy celebration
Morgan struck back to make it 2-1 to the USA, before directing her provocative celebration towards the England supporters – which Dailymail.com editor-at-large Piers Morgan called ‘bordering on a declaration of war’.
Phil Neville’s side headed to Lyon with dreams of becoming the first senior England team – male or female – to contest a World Cup final since 1966.
However, the Lionesses’ third penalty miss of the tournament proved costly.
The US will now be back at the Groupama Stadium on Sunday to take on the winners of the second semi-final between Holland and Sweden.
England – who had Millie Bright sent off for a second bookable offence before full-time – will face the loser of that match in Nice a day earlier, now hoping to achieve a third-place finish for a second successive World Cup.