Belgium and Norway games again exposed frailties at the back but manager should be given a chance to make improvementsFive goals conceded, four scored. England’s travels to Belgium and Norway have been bountiful. Just not in the right way.If England’s 3-0 victory in the World Cup quarter-final against Norway gave the impression that Phil Neville’s team had clicked, then a 2-1 defeat by the same side just over two months later, albeit in a friendly and pre-season, has had a chastening effect. Related: England manager Phil Neville says links to USA manager’s job are ‘flattering’ Continue reading...
Post-World Cup research reveals big rise in fans of the women’s game and large increase in pitch bookings by women’s teamsFollowing record-breaking television audiences for England at the Women’s World Cup, research has revealed a big rise in fans of the women’s game and a large increase in pitch bookings by women’s teams.The FA Women’s Super League season kicks off on Saturday and, according to the WSL sponsors Barclays and a YouGov poll, an impressive third of adults consider themselves interested in the women’s game, while 69% of those believe women’s football deserves the same profile as the men’s game and 28% of people who followed the World Cup are becoming fans of women’s football. Related: Lucy Bronze in spotlight...
From kindly taxi drivers to great goals, great games and the universally impressive Megan Rapinoe, here’s how our writers felt about their month in FranceMatch of the tournament England 1 USA 2. Yes, England lost and, on balance, they deserved to be defeated but it was tense and tight and a wonderful advert for the women’s game. An evening when many of those who have long patronised the sport were surely won over, with even the most stubborn refuseniks having to admit that it is rather good after all. Related: Lucy Bronze: Phil Neville is ‘not the best coach’ but made England better Related: USA’s Megan Rapinoe says equal pay talk must ‘move to the next step’ Continue reading...
Women’s World Cup has given us fantastic role models but elite success is not enough to get more people playing sportThe most seductive theory in sport has had one hell of a hearing during the past month. As the Women’s World Cup captured more hearts and minds, so the assumption intensified that England’s run will be a gamechanger, with elite success encouraging large numbers – particularly girls – to play football and get active. It sounds logical enough. Lucy Bronze, Megan Rapinoe, Wendie Renard and Rose Lavelle are fantastic role models, after all. There’s just one problem. There isn’t much evidence for what academics have called the “role‑modelling” or “trickle-down” effect. Related: English women's football seeks legacy from France 2019...
The England coach should not have changed a winning formation that put key players out of positionI have incredible admiration for USA and the determination they possess as a unit of 23 players and staff to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Winning means everything to them. England came up against a better and more experienced team, and now need to think about how they can make a difference to get to the same level.The tournament has been hugely positive in terms of how we see the women’s game and there is no disgrace in losing to the holders and favourites in the semi-finals, but England were, in the end, tactically deficient and fell short. Related: England...