Williamson and Beckham among those to send messages to the Lionesses

Leah Williamson and David Beckham are among those who have sent good luck messages to the England players ahead of their FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final against Australia.

Williamson, who captained the Lionesses to UEFA Women’s EURO glory last summer, is missing the World Cup due to injury.

But the 26-year-old flew out to Australia for the World Cup quarter-final win over Colombia, where she shared a video of her singing ‘Sweet Caroline’ alongside England legend Jill Scott and was also pictured with good friends Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh.

Williamson has since sent a video of support, which was shared with Stanway on Tuesday’s episode of Lionesses: Down Under connected by EE.

She said: “G, hello. I love you. I miss you! I can’t tell you how proud I am of you and the girls. You have been so humble, and you have gone about your business so quietly and now all of a sudden you are in the semi-final with everything to play for.

“I can’t tell you how much I wish I was there with you but for now, I am your biggest fan and I can’t wait to watch Wednesday. So let’s get into another final.”

Lionesses centurion Eni Aluko and England cricketer Lauren Bell also appeared alongside Stanway on Tuesday’s episode, which you can watch in full above.

The episode finished with a number of good luck messages, including former Lionesses Sue Smith and Faye White.

White said: “Good luck ahead of your semi-final. Every single challenge which has been put in front of you so far, you have overcome with character, with resilience, with fight and with such passion. Keep it going.

“Those scenes we saw last summer, you are making them happen again back home. We are all supporting you and we are willing you on.

“Become that special group of players who get us further in a World Cup than we have ever been before. We believe in you. You can do it. Come on!”

It wasn’t just footballers who provided messages and one of those was Denise Lewis, who won Heptathlon gold in the same stadium where the Lionesses will play Australia 23 years ago.

“I believe in you, the rest of the country believes in so let’s get it!” Lewis said.

Another sporting legend to send in a video was 115-cap Beckham, who has spoken previously about how the Lionesses’ EURO win has helped inspire his daughter Harper.

Beckham said: “I just wanted to say, wow, what a tournament it has been so far. It has been so much fun to watch, and we are all so proud as a nation of what you have achieved already.

“Seeing you girls play as a team has been really incredible so continue to do so and good luck in the next game and just know that our whole nation is behind you as always. Good luck.”

The camera then panned to Harper who wished the Lionesses good luck, before Beckham added: “Keep inspiring these girls because it is incredible to watch and I am very, very happy you are doing it for this one. Good luck girls.”