ENGLAND MANAGER PHIL Neville rallied behind captain Steph Houghton after she saw her penalty saved in the Lionesses’ devastating Women’s World Cup semi-final exit to the US women’s national team.
Houghton stepped up after a VAR review adjudged Ellen White to have been fouled by Becky Sauerbrunn, but saw a scuffed effort easily saved by goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
But England had relied on the 31-year-old’s leadership and inspirational defending throughout the tournament – and Neville had nothing but praise for her.
“I couldn’t ask for more,” he said after the game.
“We had the time of our lives. Steph Houghton has had an incredible year. She’s an amazing person on and off the pitch.
She’ll be upset. She’s been phenomenal. No blame should be attached to her.”
England’s dream collapsed around them in the second half as they saw the penalty missed, White’s apparent equaliser ruled out by VAR for a fractional offside, and Millie Bright deservedly sent off late on for a second yellow.
Phil Neville says he's proud of his players, saying 'should be no tears' and they've 'touched the hearts of the nation' back in England #rtesoccer #WomensWorldCup2019 pic.twitter.com/iIcQLr2eLM
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 2, 2019
But manager Neville was pleased with the character and quality shown by his side against the reigning champions and the world’s number one-ranked side.
“We just ran out of steam. I asked them to play football the way we wanted. We’ve done our very best. I’ve told them no tears tonight,” he said.
“The disallowed goal was offside, we’ve had VAR decisions go our way. We got on with it. Millie Bright shouldn’t have been booked in the first half.
The referee wasn’t really in control of the game. Then we went to three at the back and got stretched.
“That’s football. That’s sport. You’ve got to pick yourselves up. We’ve got a big game on Saturday. We’ll go again.”
England will find out on Wednesday their opponents for Saturday’s third-place play-off game, with the Netherlands and surprise package Sweden taking to the field in the second semi-final.
The match will be a chance for the Lionesses to move beyond Tuesday’s disappointment and end the tournament on a high, before resetting and looking forward to the next competition.
With Euro 2021 hosted on home soil, England will be hoping Tuesday’s setback is just another step on a larger journey towards vindication in a major tournament.
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Those Neville Brothers are some whinge bags
@Martin Brennan: and so say all of us
@Richard O’Brien: and so say all ye poo fans
Nitpicking here, but neville said when bright was sent off they were down to 10 men. I need to get out more.
I actually thought the ref was unbelievably good throughout.
Neville seems to have this weird thing about right and wrong when it come to the woman’s game. The U.S were smarter, cynical, and did everything right to get over the line. The way I look at it is Phil Neville is subconsciously sexist in that he seems to regard women’s football as this pure form of the game.
@De Zach Same: how did you get that from what he said?
@De Zach Same: Unconscious sexist!! Did he not play enough women on the team for your liking!! Utter nonsense.
Probably could and should have won the game. But there was no excusing that penalty, and if she was too tired to take the penalty, perhaps Neville needs to look a bit closer to home for blame and ask himself if she should have still being on the pitch.
England made a great game of it. There was everything in the game – non stop attacking by both teams, some great skill, mistakes and what more do you want. Very enjoyable to watch and better than perfection any day.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at the standard, as I didn’t expect the standard to be that good, especially the goals.
However it will probably be another 4 years before I watch another game because it’s not a scratch on the men’s game
England were by far the better side in the 2nd half and it was robbery that they did not get at least a draw.
@Eli Fant: She should have been nowhere near that penalty. Her passing for the whole match was really poor and her body language was not great either. I admire her courage to step up and take it but if you’re not playing well then dont step up. England were generally very sloppy in their passing for the whole game
@Eli Fant: we was wobbed by aw own stwikers.
If any other manager hugged a person under them like in the photo there would be war! But its Phil Neville so nobody will be shouting “me too”
What an idiotic headline.What was Neville going to say about her?
Ah she is only a **** for missing it !!
@John Kelly: It would make for a great TV interview
@John Kelly: I’d have gone 5* myself!
@John Kelly: hahaha yeah can you imagine it
‘this was as bad a decision as Valencia giving Gary the job… and the time deliberating as to whether it was a penalty or not with var was almost as long as Gary’s time in that gig…. ‘
cry cry cry, never ending