Phil Neville’s Lionesses have won the tournament for the first time
England Women have won the SheBelieves Cup after a clinical display over Japan in Tampa on Tuesday night.
A 3-0 victory, with first-half goals from Lucy Staniforth, Karen Carney and Beth Mead, was enough for the Lionesses to clinch the title, topping the table in the four-team round-robin competition.
Prior to the game with Japan, England had recorded a 2-1 victory over Brazil before drawing 2-2 with hosts the USA.
The SheBelieves Cup is an invitational competition, first played three years ago. This is the first time England have won it, having finished second to the US in last year’s tournament, which also featured France and Germany.
This success bodes well for Phil Neville’s side ahead of the World Cup in France this summer. Japan, who knocked them out of the last tournament at the semi-final stage in 2015, have been drawn in the same group as England.
“It was a sensational performance,” Neville told the BBC. “I wasn’t that bothered before the tournament whether we won or lost, I just wanted to see an improvement and we go home knowing we are definitely in the right direction.
“We just keep listening to the USA, Japan and Brazil talk about how good we are. But we remain humble, have fun and enjoy moments like this.
“You don’t get many chances to get your hands on a trophy. It is my first as a manager so I am just going to enjoy it. It’s great for everybody but I think we have bigger things to aim for. We will enjoy it but tomorrow we will look forward to the April camp.”
