England Women: SheBelieves Cup tournament preview
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England Women are back in action tonight as they take on current holders France in the SheBelieves Cup.
Phil Neville takes charge of the Lionesses for the first time since his controversial appointment last month.
And the former Manchester United star believes his side have a great chance of victory. Not just tonight, but over the course of the tournament.
Neville has spoken at length about the need for England’s Women’s team to believe in themselves, aptly, ahead of the games.
Lucy Bronze, England’s stand-in captain for the tournament, has been quoted about the new discipline Neville has already instilled among the squad.
The Lionesses are the third-ranked side in the world and face France – currently ranked sixth – in the invitational competition tonight.
Neville isn’t without issues going into the game in Ohio this evening. Regular captain Steph Houghton is out with injury. As is Gilly Flaherty and Gemma Bonner. One of Abbie McManus or Gabby George is likely to step in.
England lost to an 89th-minute winner when they last played France in October, and have only beaten them once in their last 10 meetings, but Bronze is optimistic about their chances.
It’s certainly a tricky opening fixture for the Lionesses. France have a cracking record against England in recent fixtures. They’ve lost just once to England in the previous 10 games.
Plus the French broke English hearts last October with an 89th-minute winner. The betting is incredibly even going into tonight’s game.
England are 33/20 to win, with France at 6/4, and the Draw backable at 19/10.
Following on from that, Neville then brings his squad to the Red Bull Arena, New Jersey on Sunday, where they will play Germany.
The Lionesses will then finish the tournament off with a game against the United States in Orlando, Florida the following Thursday.
You can watch England’s Women in action tonight live on the BBC Red Button.
Click here for more SheBelieves Cup odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
