Fara Williams column: England must improve or face semi-final exit

England's World Cup dream is still alive — but the Lionesses must improve to beat co-hosts Australia in the semis. 

They came from behind to beat an impressive Colombia side yet it was another poor performance and wasn't pleasing on the eye. 

The performances have to get better. I don't think we were good enough in either of the knockout victories over Nigeria or Colombia. 

There are some key questions and issues that need to be answered and resolved.

Keira not clicking

We changed our formation against China and had huge success but the personnel also switched in order for us to get the victory and performance.

Keira Walsh was out and she's a key part of our plans in and out of possession. 

Since she's come back in, the formation hasn't suited her and we haven't been able to get her involved in the game, which has really hindered our attacking play. 

It's a question of whether we go back to 4-3-3, which suits Keira and allows her to be more expressive, or stick with the back three Sarina Wiegman's now comfortable with and change the personnel?

Elite mentality

The shift in mentality Sarina has brought to this group of players has been key to getting this far once again. 

She's been the difference in taking us from a side that can win one-off games against the very top nations to consistently winning against them with good or bad performances. 

That's the main thing with this group — that's how they won the Euros last summer. 

The resilience and togetherness has been over and above any other nation and I believe that's why we've got the results we have even when we haven't been at our best.

 But I'm just being hyper-critical of the overall performances because I don't think you get away with it against top, top opposition.

Start Sam

I actually think England will hope Australian poster girl Sam Kerr starts the game. 

She’ll be lacking match fitness and I think we saw when it went to extra-time against France that it was probably too many minutes for her right now. 

She's been out for a long time. As an England fan, I'd actually rather her start because she's not fresh. She's not up to the pace. 

You're not getting a fully-fit Sam — if anything, it will be an advantage for England if she starts on Wednesday.

England's to lose

I don’t think anybody has predicted anything correctly during this tournament. It's been bizarre and probably the craziest one I can remember. 

Holders the United States have gone out, as have fellow finalists from the last World Cup the Netherlands.

Germany and Japan — teams I'd touted as favourites earlier on — have also been sent packing.

I think it's now England's to lose. Out of the four teams left, we should be bringing the trophy home but I don't want to jinx us!

Fara Williams was speaking to Jamie Gordon