The new manager has made an impression on the Lionesses despite their narrow defeat against the USA
At the end of a week in which he had looked increasingly sure-footed it was perhaps appropriate that Phil Neville reached for a mountaineering metaphor. “The last step of climbing Mount Everest is always the hardest and that’s where we are now,” said the new England women’s coach following his side’s creditable performance in the SheBelieves Cup.
A 4-1 victory against France in Columbus, a 2-2 draw with Germany in New Jersey and a 1-0 defeat to the USA, the tournament winners, in Orlando emphasised that, while both physically and tactically the Lionesses are a match for anyone, a slight technical shortfall remains.
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