In future decades this slightly nervy win watched by a 54,000 strong crowd a long goal kick from the Pacific may well be regarded as a transformative moment in the development of women’s football in England. Doing what their male counterparts have failed to manage since 1990, Mark Sampson’s Lionesses reached the semi-finals of a World Cup. It is the furthest an English female team has gone in such a tournament and they will be hoping to make additional history in Wednesday’s semi-final against Japan, the holders, in Edmonton. After early goals from Jodie Taylor and Lucy Bronze propelled England into a two-goal lead, a ghastly goalkeeping error on Karen Bardsley’s part allowed Christine Sinclair to pull Canada back into the match. As the tension rose things became increasingly exciting but the hosts were destined for crushing disappointment in front of a fiercely partisan crowd. A feisty off-pitch preamble had seen Sampson call for protection from the referee against a side he termed the tournament’s “most aggressive”. By way of reply John Herdman, Canada’s coach, revealed he had instructed his players to “go out there and give England hell”. This, he added, would entail being as “physical” as possible and…