The messaging app proves the ultimate team-bonding tool with efficient sharing of logistics, ‘bantz’ and devastating newsGood news for sportsmen this week: they can now forget the pre‑tournament boot camps, and the on-tour karaoke. Travel agents, too, can cancel those large group tours to Gallipoli. Because the Ryder Cup gave us conclusive proof that the ultimate team-bonding tool is already here, and its name is WhatsApp.The European team’s app-inspired love-in has removed all doubt. Even we on the outside could practically see the heart-eyed emojis fluttering between Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood. If Theresa May really wants to rally her cabinet behind her at the Tory conference, she should surely be changing her profile pic to Justin Thomas in a...
The Welsh FA has chosen Newport’s ground for a World Cup qualifier when a larger venue would have boosted the game’s profileThe Three Lions may have roared their way to a World Cup semi-final for the first time since 1990 but it was at the 2015 World Cup that their female counterparts went one better, retuning with bronze medals to the embrace of a new audience.Next summer the Lionesses should be back in World Cup action, this time as one of the favourites, but qualification is yet to be secured. While France, who are the hosts, Spain and Italy have already secured their passage, at the top of Group One things are less certain. Related: Russia’s World Cup was great...
Phil Neville has made a quietly impressive start as manager and Lucy Bronze has grown in stature but there are still faults to be ironed out in time for next year’s tournament in FranceThe World Cup is just days away and while Gareth Southgate’s side attempt to write a more cheerful chapter to the long Three Lions story, in the background the Lionesses are cruising to qualification for the Women’s World Cup next year.On Friday Phil Neville’s team leapfrogged Wales to once again top their qualification group with a comfortable 3-1 win against third-placed Russia. It was their fifth qualifying win (fourth under Neville) and Elena Danilova’s strike to reduce a 2-0 lead was the first goal they have conceded....
The new manager has made an impression on the Lionesses despite their narrow defeat against the USAAt 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. Related: Lieke Martens, Alex Morgan...
Former Manchester United player has a desire to learn – and this will be tested very soon in the She Believes CupThere were many banana skins for Phil Neville to navigate around in his first flurry of interviews since being appointed the new England women’s national team manager last week.With the FA’s stewardship of the women’s game under scrutiny following the Eni Aluko and Mark Sampson sagas, its choosing of Sampson’s successor hasn’t filled many with the confidence that much has been learned, or changed. Related: Phil Neville has rocky ride on first outing as England women’s manager Continue reading...