England 1 USA 2 – Heartache for Lionesses as World Cup dream is ended in Lyon

PHIL NEVILLE insisted his players could hold their heads high after England were cruelly denied a place in the Women’s World Cup final last night by the USA in Lyon.
NOT TO BE: USA Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saves a penalty from Englands Steph Houghton in last nights World Cup semi-final at Stade de Lyon. Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty ImagesNOT TO BE: USA Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saves a penalty from Englands Steph Houghton in last nights World Cup semi-final at Stade de Lyon. Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
NOT TO BE: USA Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saves a penalty from Englands Steph Houghton in last nights World Cup semi-final at Stade de Lyon. Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
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Steph Houghton had an 84th-minute penalty saved as the Lionesses’ dreams of becoming the first senior England team – male or female – to contest a World Cup final since 1966 were dashed.

Neville insisted there should be no tears from his England players after their semi-final defeat.

England's Jill Scott is dejected after the final whistle in Lyon. Picture: Richard Sellers/PAEngland's Jill Scott is dejected after the final whistle in Lyon. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA
England's Jill Scott is dejected after the final whistle in Lyon. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA
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“My players give me everything,” said the England boss. “We said before the game we wanted to leave our hearts and souls on that pitch and they did, they gave everything.

“We’ve gone toe-to-toe with the best team in the world, they showed great experience at the end with taking the ball into the corner.

“We went down to 10-men and we’ve just probably run out of steam but I asked them to play football the way that I wanted them to play.

“We’ve come to this tournament, we’ve done our very best. We’ve not left anything in that dressing room and I’ve told them that there should be no tears tonight.

England head coach Phil Neville (centre) talks to the players after the final whistle in Lyon. Picture: Richard Sellers/PAEngland head coach Phil Neville (centre) talks to the players after the final whistle in Lyon. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA
England head coach Phil Neville (centre) talks to the players after the final whistle in Lyon. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA
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“We should be proud, we’ve touched the hearts of the nation back home and they’ve left their hearts on that football field so I’m happy.”

Christen Press deservedly headed USA in front after 10 minutes, but Ellen White’s sixth goal of the campaign pulled England level.

Alex Morgan then matched White in the race for the Golden Boot with the goal that restored the USA advantage in the 31st minute, before the England forward had a second-half effort disallowed on a marginal offside call after VAR was consulted.

England were then the beneficiaries of a second VAR intervention, when White was awarded a penalty after Becky Sauerbrunn made contact with her trailing leg in the box.

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However, captain Houghton – on spot-kick duty after Nikita Parris missed England’s last two – produced a poor effort from 12 yards, with Alyssa Naeher comfortably making the save low to her right.

The US will now be back at the Groupama Stadium on Sunday to take on the winners of the second semi-final between Holland and Sweden.

On whether emotions got the better of the England players, Neville added: “The disallowed goal was offside.

“We’ve had VAR decisions that have gone our way, we got on with it we came back, we obviously got the penalty.

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“We score them, we miss them – that’s football. Then Millie (Bright) who shouldn’t have got booked in the first half, 100 per cent, I thought the referee wasn’t in control of the game to be honest with you, but she sent Millie off then we had to go to three at the back and it became stretched.

“I can’t ask anything more –we’ve had the time of our lives and they’ve really played their hearts out.”

On Houghton’s penalty miss he said: “She’s had an incredible year. She’s an amazing person on and off the pitch and she’ll deal with it the way that she does.

“She’s been phenomenal and no blame should be on her.”

White had to hold back the tears and spoke of the “bitterly disappointing” outcome.

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“I’m devastated not to get the final but all I feel is pride for my team-mates,” she said.

“USA had an amazing match but we couldn’t quite match them. (I’m) disappointed with that one offside but I’m just proud to be English really.

“We gave everything. In the first half we were a little bit sloppy.

“We got ourselves back into the game with the goal and I thought second half we tried to play and create some chances and it’s just bitterly disappointing.

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“We had so much belief going into the game and throughout that we’d reach that final.”

England: Telford, Bronze, Houghton, Bright, Stokes, Walsh (Moore 71), Scott, Mead (Kirby 58), Daly (Stanway 89), Parris, White. Unused substitutes: Bardsley, Greenwood, Taylor, Duggan, Williamson, McManus, Carney, Staniforth, Earps.

USA: Naeher, O’Hara (Krieger 87), Dahlkemper, Sauerbrunn, Dunn, Horan, Ertz, Lavelle (Mewis 65), Heath (Lloyd 80), Morgan, Press. Unused substitutes: Harris, Pugh, Brian, Davidson, Sonnett, Rapinoe, Long, McDonald, Franch.

Attendance: 53,512

Referee: Edina Alves Batista (Brazil).

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