England women’s boss Phil Neville has urged his players to prove they are one of the best sides in the world in tonight’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Wales.
The Welsh currently lead Group One by a point from England ahead of their meeting at Rodney Parade on Friday night.
England have a game-in-hand but defeat this evening would mean they were unable to qualify automatically and left to sweat over their place at the finals in France - the four best group runners-up head into the play-offs to compete for one further spot, going to the winners of a semi-final and then a final.
Neville, who has denied his future as manager is on the line should England fail to progress, believes England should be inspired by a 25-place gap in the FIFA rankings between Wales, in 29th, and England in fourth.
“I’m challenging the players to go out there and play like their reputations say,” he said. “Play like the fourth best team in the world because that’s what we’ll have to do. And that’s not me bragging about being the fourth best team in the world, that’s me saying how much we respect Wales – we are going to have to play right to our potential.”
The match is Wales’ final qualifier meaning an away win will push Jayne Ludlow’s side into second place and render England’s last qualifier against Kazakhstan an irrelevance.
“Win and go to the World Cup,” Neville added. “Lose and you're suffering."
