Women’s World Cup: Phil Neville says England Women can reach the final
Written by News on 23/05/2019
Phil Neville believes he is managing the “best prepared” England Women’s team ever and are capable of at least reaching the Women’s World Cup final.
Two years ago England were knocked out in the semi-final of the Women’s Euro 2017 championships. Four years ago England finished the Women’s World Cup in third.
But momentum is growing as England lifted the SheBelieves Cup in USA earlier this year, beating Japan and Brazil en route to winning the tournament for the first time.
Neville says his squad have the goal to more than simply compete with the world’s best ahead of the 24-team showpiece event, starting with a group opener against Scotland on June 9.
“When I took over 16 months ago we spoke openly about our ambitions,” he told Sky Sports News at England Women’s open media day at St George’s Park.
“They said they wanted to challenge to win a World Cup and go one step further than the semi-final. We’ve made a semi-final in the Euros and we’ve made a semi in the World Cup. Now we want to make that next step.
“The biggest thing [about winning the SheBelieves Cup] was to stand on that platform in the end with the winners trophy.
“To celebrate as winners with USA. Brazil and Japan watching. That was the most important thing because that success keeps breeding people to want it more.
“We beat Japan, we beat Brazil and we drew against USA.
“The confidence of being in a big tournament was great practice for what we’re going to experience in 20 days time when we go against Scotland, Argentina and Japan.
“It’s going to be a similarly tight situation with not much time between games and we’re going to have to utilise the whole squad.”
Neville, who took over the England Women’s national team in January 2018 and has won nine of his 15 games in charge, believes they have sufficient depth to have a deep run.
He added: “Are we going to bring it home? We’re going to do our best. We’re probably the best prepared England senior women’s team that’s ever gone to a major tournament.
“The backing by the FA they have given me and my players is fantastic.
“We will enjoy ourselves and play a brand of football that we’ve developed over the last 16 months and we’re going to give it a right good go.”
(c) Sky News 2019: Women’s World Cup: Phil Neville says England Women can reach the final
