Phil Neville has questioned the “etiquette” of Women’s World Cup semi-final opponents the United States after they visited England’s team hotel on Sunday.
Neville’s side will meet the reigning world champions in Lyon on Tuesday night, with the final held at the same venue next Sunday.
A member of US staff is understood to have scoped out the Marriott Lyon on Sunday, with a view to staying there ahead of the weekend’s final.
Even though England were training and not present at the hotel at the time, Neville was left bemused by the visit and suggested it was not something his own staff would do.
“It’s not an unfair advantage. It’ll have no bearing on the game. I actually found it quite funny,” he said.
1/16 1. United States
With France out of the way, it looks theirs to win. Megan Rapinoe’s brace saw them through at the Parc des Princes, but their defence showed why Jill Ellis’ side will not be easy to break down.
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2/16 2. England
Excellent against Norway, in their most complete performance of the World Cup to date. Lucy Bronze demonstrated why she is among the world’s best. Her and her team-mates need a repeat performance on Tuesday.
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3/16 3. Netherlands
Their patience paid off against Italy, with two set-piece goals deep in the second half finally seeing them through. Room to improve and work to be done, but will be confident of reaching a first final.
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4/16 4. Sweden
Produced the shock of the tournament so far to beat Germany and earn their fourth semi-final appearance, having initially gone behind too. Well-organised at the back and Stina Blackstenius is a nuisance up front.
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5/16 5. France
Eliminated in quarter-finals. Easily good enough for a semi-final place but ran up against the United States and made the mistake of going behind early against a well-drilled defence.
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6/16 6. Italy
Eliminated in quarter-finals. As expected, the Netherlands proved a bridge too far for the tournament’s surprise package, but they will return home with their heads held high after an impressive showing.
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7/16 7. Norway
Eliminated in quarter-finals. Another team who fell behind early in the last eight and rarely looked like coming back. Deserve credit for reaching the quarters but overshadowed in Scandinavia by the Swedes.
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8/16 8. Germany
Eliminated in quarter-finals. Unconvincing for so long, they always seemed to do enough, but those displays finally caught up with them, but even so, few saw defeat coming against Sweden.
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9/16 9. Brazil
Eliminated from the last 16. Deserved to go further, having taken six points from the toughest group and taken the hosts to extra time, but France proved to have too much for Marta and her team-mates.
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10/16 10. Canada
Eliminated from the last 16. Leaving so early is a disappointment given their no. 5 world ranking, though you would never have guessed it from their conservative approach. Rarely looked like scoring against Sweden, the missed penalty aside.
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11/16 11. Japan
Eliminated from the last 16. Reaching a third successive final was always likely to be beyond this squad, though will still depart with a hint of disappointment. Their exit meant there are no Asian sides in the quarter-finals for the first time in Women’s World Cup history.
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12/16 12. Spain
Eliminated from the last 16. Saved their best performance of the tournament until their last game. On another day, could have upset an out-of-sorts United States but must add incision to their patient possession game.
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13/16 13. Australia
Eliminated from the last 16. Entertainers throughout, responsible for three of the tournament’s best games so far, though never looked long for this World Cup. Despite her penalty miss, Sam Kerr is a loss to proceedings.
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14/16 14. China
Eliminated from the last 16. Once a force in the women’s game, defeat to Italy reflected their diminished status. A little unlucky to be placed in one of the toughest groups and thereby only qualify in third.
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15/16 15. Nigeria
Eliminated from the last 16. The meek exit at the hands of Germany was a mismatch, but Thomas Dennerby’s side arguably deserved more from their group stage performances having tested both France and Norway.
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16/16 16. Cameroon
Eliminated from the last 16. Deserve credit for reaching the knock-out stages when unfancied, though will be remembered for their conduct and loss of composure in their defeat to England.
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1/16 1. United States
With France out of the way, it looks theirs to win. Megan Rapinoe’s brace saw them through at the Parc des Princes, but their defence showed why Jill Ellis’ side will not be easy to break down.
Getty
2/16 2. England
Excellent against Norway, in their most complete performance of the World Cup to date. Lucy Bronze demonstrated why she is among the world’s best. Her and her team-mates need a repeat performance on Tuesday.
Getty Images
3/16 3. Netherlands
Their patience paid off against Italy, with two set-piece goals deep in the second half finally seeing them through. Room to improve and work to be done, but will be confident of reaching a first final.
Getty Images
4/16 4. Sweden
Produced the shock of the tournament so far to beat Germany and earn their fourth semi-final appearance, having initially gone behind too. Well-organised at the back and Stina Blackstenius is a nuisance up front.
Getty Images
5/16 5. France
Eliminated in quarter-finals. Easily good enough for a semi-final place but ran up against the United States and made the mistake of going behind early against a well-drilled defence.
Getty Images
6/16 6. Italy
Eliminated in quarter-finals. As expected, the Netherlands proved a bridge too far for the tournament’s surprise package, but they will return home with their heads held high after an impressive showing.
Getty Images
7/16 7. Norway
Eliminated in quarter-finals. Another team who fell behind early in the last eight and rarely looked like coming back. Deserve credit for reaching the quarters but overshadowed in Scandinavia by the Swedes.
Getty Images
8/16 8. Germany
Eliminated in quarter-finals. Unconvincing for so long, they always seemed to do enough, but those displays finally caught up with them, but even so, few saw defeat coming against Sweden.
Getty Images
9/16 9. Brazil
Eliminated from the last 16. Deserved to go further, having taken six points from the toughest group and taken the hosts to extra time, but France proved to have too much for Marta and her team-mates.
Getty Images
10/16 10. Canada
Eliminated from the last 16. Leaving so early is a disappointment given their no. 5 world ranking, though you would never have guessed it from their conservative approach. Rarely looked like scoring against Sweden, the missed penalty aside.
Getty Images
11/16 11. Japan
Eliminated from the last 16. Reaching a third successive final was always likely to be beyond this squad, though will still depart with a hint of disappointment. Their exit meant there are no Asian sides in the quarter-finals for the first time in Women’s World Cup history.
Getty Images
12/16 12. Spain
Eliminated from the last 16. Saved their best performance of the tournament until their last game. On another day, could have upset an out-of-sorts United States but must add incision to their patient possession game.
Getty Images
13/16 13. Australia
Eliminated from the last 16. Entertainers throughout, responsible for three of the tournament’s best games so far, though never looked long for this World Cup. Despite her penalty miss, Sam Kerr is a loss to proceedings.
Getty Images
14/16 14. China
Eliminated from the last 16. Once a force in the women’s game, defeat to Italy reflected their diminished status. A little unlucky to be placed in one of the toughest groups and thereby only qualify in third.
Getty Images
15/16 15. Nigeria
Eliminated from the last 16. The meek exit at the hands of Germany was a mismatch, but Thomas Dennerby’s side arguably deserved more from their group stage performances having tested both France and Norway.
Getty Images
16/16 16. Cameroon
Eliminated from the last 16. Deserve credit for reaching the knock-out stages when unfancied, though will be remembered for their conduct and loss of composure in their defeat to England.
Getty Images
“I just thought: ‘What are they doing?’ It’s not etiquette really, is it? I just think that’s not something I would allow from our organisation.”
Neville said that if he were Jill Ellis, the US head coach, he would not be happy with conduct of his operations staff.
“It’s not a concern, the only thing I would say is it’s not something I would want my team ops person doing,” he said.
“I hope they enjoy the hotel, but it’s not something we’d do, sending somebody round to another team’s hotel.
“But it’s their problem. I’m sure Jill wouldn’t have been happy with that arrangement. I wouldn’t have been, if that was my team ops person going around. I’m sure she’ll be dealing with their infrastructure within their own discipline.”
Yet when questioned on the subject earlier on Sunday, Ellis had said such practice was “normal” and denied it hinted at arrogance on their part.
“I would assume everyone’s doing that. You have to plan ahead,” she said. “The only two people who think about planning ahead on my team are my administrator and her boss.
“Everybody else, we don’t worry about that. That’s probably who the two people [visiting the hotel] were. I think it’s important to do your job.
“In terms of arrogance, that has nothing to do with us. That’s planning and preparation for our staff. I think that’s pretty normal.”
