England 1-2 United States: Lionesses’ frenetic play trumped by controlled game plan in Women’s World Cup semi-final July 2, 2019 In the end, a familiar feeling. Sinking to the turf, overcome with emotion. Not for the first time England were knocked out of the World Cup in the semi-finals. Phil Neville said in the build-up anything other than progression to the final would amount to failure and judged in the harshest terms he was right: [...]
England v United States: Phil Neville seeks World Cup final as crowning moment of his personal turnaround July 1, 2019 As soon as Phil Neville was announced as manager of the England women’s football team in January 2018 he was on the back foot. Questions over his suitability for the job and experience were swiftly followed by a media storm as historic tweets surfaced in which he made comments disparaging to women. Given his predecessor, [...]
Norway 0-3 England: Lucy Bronze stars as Lionesses reach World Cup semi-finals in style June 27, 2019 News of England’s injury problems may have been greatly exaggerated. If the build-up to the Lionesses’ World Cup quarter-final against Norway was dominated by discussion over the potential absentees, then the event itself could hardly have been more different. All those said to be struggling played – and played their part in what felt like [...]
England v Norway: Lionesses have injury problems for World Cup quarter-final June 26, 2019 Phil Neville might not have acknowledged it but England go into their World Cup quarter-final against Norway tomorrow evening with a problem. Centre-backs Steph Houghton and Millie Bright are both “major doubts” to play in Le Havre, while right-back Lucy Bronze is also a worry. Houghton is battling against an ankle injury picked up in [...]
Trevor Steven: He may be lacking experience, but there is no better candidate for the Chelsea job than Frank Lampard June 25, 2019 On the face of it, one year of experience in management is not enough to take on a challenge like Chelsea. But if one man can do it, it’s Frank Lampard. Chelsea were granted permission to speak with Lampard yesterday over their vacant manager’s position. If I was the decision-maker I’d consider him to be [...]
England 3-0 Cameroon: Phil Neville laments shameful behaviour of Lionesses’ opponents at the World Cup June 23, 2019 England are through to the quarter-finals of a World Cup, and yet the post-match talk in Valenciennes was about everything other than the result. “It didn’t feel like football,” fumed Lionesses manager Phil Neville after the final whistle. “I didn’t enjoy it, my players didn’t enjoy it.” Goals from captain Steph Houghton, in-form striker Ellen [...]
African Cup of Nations: Why Liverpool’s Premier League preparations will be affected by the tournament June 20, 2019 Together they have conquered all of Europe. Now it’s time to take on Africa. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will both go in search of a maiden Africa Cup of Nations title over the coming weeks, but this time only one of them can come out on top. Salah’s Egypt, the hosts, kick off [...]
Copa America: The reasons behind Qatar’s involvement in South America and what the future holds June 20, 2019 There is something odd about the Copa America this summer. In among the usual suspects – hosts Brazil, holders Chile, 15-time winners Uruguay – sits a jarringly incongruous name: Qatar. The surprise winners of this year’s Asian Cup have travelled 12,000km to play in Group B alongside Colombia, Paraguay and Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who they [...]
Japan 0-2 England: Lionesses pass the test but still have things to work on at Women’s World Cup June 19, 2019 Phil Neville has made clear his desire to shape England into a possession-based side. By this evidence it remains a work in progress. After unspectacular wins over Scotland and Argentina, the Lionesses were faced with their biggest test of the Women’s World Cup against Japan in Nice. They passed the test – but, despite the [...]
England could do with loosening the handbrake in Women’s World Cup clash with Japan June 18, 2019 If England’s 3-0 victory over Japan to clinch the SheBelieves Cup in March was the perfect statement of intent for one of the Women’s World Cup favourites then it’s the sort that Phil Neville’s team could do with repeating when the teams meet again on Wednesday. Because while the Lionesses have taken maximum points from [...]