Lyon (AFP)
"There is no longer any gap between us and the others," said USA coach Jill Ellis on Sunday, while Team USA is a favorite of the World Cup, before its semifinal against England Tuesday in Lyon.
"I often have these kinds of questions, but we have no illusions about that, there are some excellent teams today, you can see it in major tournaments and at the Olympics. In Europe for example, Spain benefits from this strategy with players who progress constantly, "said the technician, at the head of a triple world champion team and four-time Olympic champion.
"It shows how much football has grown, the Netherlands has made progress, there are excellent ambassadors for women's football, that's exactly what we wanted to achieve, we wanted this sport to bring together a lot of teams in a position to win, "she adds.
Jill Ellis also laughed about her childhood in England, her country of birth, which gives a particular flavor to her semifinal against the English.
"I am completely American except when I go shopping at the supermarket with my shopping cart! It was in the United States that I became a footballer and coach, which was not planned at the start. England, it's a lot of memories, "smiles the one who moved during her childhood in the United States, did her studies and her life.
England and the United States compete Tuesday (21h) in the semifinals of the World Cup organized in France.
? 2019 AFP