In the absence of Steph Houghton the centre-back and acting captain was on inspired form again against AustriaWhen Millie Bright lashed the ball goalwards from 25 yards in the first half, it flew wide of Manuela Zinsberger’s net. It was inconsequential, an unremarkable moment in a comfortable win in uncomfortable conditions, but it spoke to the confidence of the centre-back, who has flourished as anchor at the base of England’s spine.Steph Houghton, England’s captain, has not played a minute of international football since Team GB’s heartbreaking 4-3 extra-time defeat to Australia at the Olympics. An ankle injury has limited her to just four games this season with Manchester City. Continue reading...
Neville exits after one World Cup semi-final, several outbursts and an arrogance not befitting a coach with such limited experience After the longest of goodbyes the Phil Neville experiment is finally over. He leaves the England job not on the crest of a wave following major tournament success, or tail between legs having fallen short on the biggest of stages, but with a muted press release that sums up a muted and, dare we say it, tepid tenure.As he leaves to become Inter Miami manager, five days short of his three-year anniversary, what to make of it all? There has been praise for aspects of the 43-year-old’s spell. His holistic approach and the big-game experience he had from his career...
Players must learn lesson after damaging Dubai trip while Chelsea top WSL after beating Manchester UnitedIt has been a difficult few weeks for the WSL amid the fallout from some players going on a trip to Dubai during the winter break. The trip resulted in positive Covid tests for a number of returning players, leading to games being postponed, and it brought into sharp focus the fact that the spotlight is so much bigger on these players these days. This is good news in many respects and this is what we have wanted for a long time. Related: Fran Kirby hits winner as Chelsea beat Manchester United to go top of WSL Related: Manchester United's Leah Galton: 'Press and Heath...
Issues the FA was willing to overlook have come home to roost and a quick decision must be made over the Tokyo OlympicsThe appointment of Phil Neville as manager of the Lionesses was shambolic. Not on the initial shortlist, or even longlist, rumour has it Neville’s name was dropped into the ring by a jesting journalist. As candidate after candidate fell out of the running, the Football Association’s handling of Mark Sampson and the increased scrutiny associated with the role putting some off, suddenly Neville was appointed.Unveiling a manager with no experience in women’s football raised eyebrows but was not necessarily a problem, in fact his lack of baggage within the women’s game was a plus. Giving the top job...
The 12-month delay to the women’s European Championship in England offers the FA time to reset its insipid planThe queue for security inside Charles de Gaulle airport moved at a snail’s pace and, easily distinguishable in their tracksuits, the England women’s team were trapped amid the shuffling throng.In that increasingly distant time BC – before coronavirus – the absence of physical distancing felt reassuringly normal. The players, heading to London and Manchester from Paris following a friendly defeat against France in October 2017, raised no objections. Related: 'Baptism of fire': meet two female footballers working in hospitals | Suzanne Wrack Continue reading...