England women's manager Mark Sampson has claimed that his players deserve to be remembered as "heroes" following their 2-1 loss to Japan in the World Cup semi-finals.

Sampson's charges created the better chances after the two sides each scored a penalty in the first half, but England's dream was ended when Laura Bassett inadvertently sliced the ball into her own net in stoppage time.

"It really is heartbreaking. I think we have to first and foremost congratulate the players for an incredible tournament," he told BBC Sport.

"Laura Bassett's name is on that scoresheet but she has epitomised the team. She has been courageous, strong and she doesn't deserve that [to score an own goal]. She is a hero, an absolute hero, that is how she will be remembered.

"I've told them it's OK to cry, they left everything on the field and it's a really tough way to go out. I'm so proud of them. We came here as a huge underdog with the weight of a nation on our back. We had critics, and they have inspired a nation and they deserve to go home as heroes."

Japan will meet the USA in Saturday's final.