MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 01:22:06| >> :600:702846:702846:

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

Phil Neville admits
© Reuters
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."

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
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
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."

ID:373997: cacheID:373997:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7369:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jordan Nobbs in action for England on April 6, 2018
Read Next:
Jordan Nobbs returns to England squad after long-term knee injury
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!