SM
Watford vs. Oxford Utd: 7 hrs 32 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

England Women

England Women coach Phil Neville admits "tremendous challenge" of rising expectations

:Headline: England Women coach Phil Neville admits 'tremendous challenge' of rising expectations: ID:373997: from db_amp
The Lionesses face Brazil in Middlesbrough this weekend before hosting Germany at Wembley next month

England coach Phil Neville has ordered his Lionesses to shrug off the rising weight of expectation ahead of their sold-out clash with Brazil at the Riverside Stadium.

Neville's side endured a post-World Cup slump last month when they were forced to salvage a 3-3 draw with Belgium before surrendering the lead to lose to Norway.

With a Wembley clash against Germany fast approaching, followed by a host European Championships in 2021, Neville has acknowledged there will be no let-up in the level of external pressure.

Neville said: "The challenge for the players is that we've got the home Euros coming up and there's going to be so much expectation on the players to win the competition.

"What you'll see tomorrow and at Wembley in November is a team that now has to deal with that kind of expectation, and I think it's a tremendous challenge and one we're not going to hide from.

"It's where we've wanted to be. Over the last 15 to 20 years for the players who have worked so hard to break down barriers, tomorrow is a big reward for them."

“It's where we've wanted to be. Over the last 15 to 20 years for the players who have worked so hard to break down barriers, tomorrow is a big reward for them.”
- Phil Neville

Key to the continued women's football revolution has been captain Steph Houghton, born less than 30 miles from the Riverside Stadium in Durham, who can recall the dark days when sold-out stadiums seemed simply a fantasy.

"When the likes of me and Jill Scott started at Sunderland we were 13 or 14 years old and we had to pay to play," recalled Houghton.

"You're having to get hand-me-down kits from the men's side that are all extra-large.  I've seen every side of it in the last 10 to 15 years but I wouldn't change any of it for the world."

Steph Houghton is relishing England's return to the north-east (Ian Hodgson/PA)

The Riverside clash will see the Football Association team up with the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation to raise awareness of motor neurone disease, following the diagnosis of Houghton's husband Stephen Darby last year.

"As soon as Stephen was diagnosed his thought process was about how he could help others, and that's why the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation was set up," said Houghton.

"It's been tough on a personal level but with the Foundation it gives us something important to focus on. We are trying to support as many people as we can over the next few years."

Phil Neville has demanded a reaction from the Lionesses (Tess Derry/PA)

Neville has endured injury concerns for the match with Fran Kirby and Abbie McManus forced to withdraw from the squad, but Jordan Nobbs is set to return after missing the World Cup with a knee injury.

For Neville, the importance of bouncing back with a good result against a Brazilian side which will include their superstar striker Marta is not to be understated.

"We need to produce performances over the next two games," admitted Neville.

"The last camp was a strange one and there was an emotional hangover from the World Cup. Tomorrow is about the performance – we want to get that sparkle, that enjoyment and that freedom to play, and if we do that the result will look after itself."

amp_article__373997 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-10-04 18:10:27:
html db last update - 2019-10-04 18:10:27 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Phil Neville

Click here for more stories about England Women

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .