Take your ticket and join the queue of other people agreeing with Phil Neville.
Most pundits and fans felt Norway would put it up to England in their World Cup quarter final, even without the self-exiled Ada Hegerberg. Lucy Bronze and her teammates had other ideas.
Phil Neville’s England side had won all three of their group matches and deservedly beaten an ill-disciplined Cameroon in the Last 16, but this was supposed to be their first tough test. Instead, they brought it to the Norwegians for a fantastic first hour and effectively sealed victory when, after 57 minutes, Bronze pummelled home a shot from the edge of the box to make it 3-0.
GOAL England
57mins: NOR 0-3 ENG
A stunning strike from Lucy Bronze as England put one foot in the semi-finals. The ball is hammered home into the roof of the net as England go 3-0 up.#RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/8CjzHmC7jn
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 27, 2019
England missed a late penalty but the goals from Bronze, Jill Scott and Ellen White were more than enough. They now face the winners of USA vs. France in the last four and Neville insists his team are having the time of their lives.
“We expected nothing else,” Neville said after the match, “and that’s not being arrogant. I thought it should have been four or five.”
“That is the level of performance we have been showing. We are having the time of our lives. We are just where we want to be.”
The former Manchester United and England defender heaped praise on the performance of Bronze, who plays her club football with a dominant Olympique Lyon side.
“What you have seen tonight is that Lucy Bronze is the best player in the world: there is no player like her in the world, no player who has her athleticism and quality.
“I played full-back but never to that level she played at.”
Neville won six league titles, three FA Cups and a Champions League with United, as well as earning 59 senior caps for England, so it was a humble claim from the 42-year-old. Humble and accurate.
As for who his side faces in the semi-finals, Neville said he wished his in-form team could play both.
Alex Ferguson, his old boss, would be proud.
