Different gender but the same old story. My first experience of watching England's women's football team play live in their 1-0 defeat to the United States at Milton Keynes Dons' Stadium MK last night was largely a reflection of supporting their male counterparts for as long as I can remember - uninspiring, dull and ultimately frustrating.

With the BBC cameras on them and the nation ranked second in the world in town, you'd probably be within your rights to expect that the Lionesses would be up for putting on a strong performance for the 14,369 spectators who turned out to see them continue their preparations for this year's FIFA World Cup in Canada. 

Arriving at the Stadium, I paid £5.00 ($7.70/€6.80) for my ticket having paid an extra couple of quid to park my car. I questioned at the time how that was logical, but after putting myself through an hour-and-a-half of what can be described at best as a "flat" England display, I came away thinking that a handy parking space and quick getaway home had given me much better value for money.

I must make it clear that this is by no means a criticism of the US team who demonstrated why they're one of the powerhouses of the women's game. Although they didn't lay siege to England's goal by any stretch of the imagination, they never really looked as though they needed to with forward Alex Morgan's first-half header proving enough to settle the contest. Their only real moment of panic came when goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris was forced to tip Fran Kirby's shot onto the crossbar, after which Jodie Taylor's rebound was controversially ruled out for offside.

Although television replays showed the goal should have stood, anything but a US win would have been unjust on the night. England flattered to deceive and my overriding feeling was that they'd missed a fantastic opportunity. Yes, it has to be taken into account that they're currently in pre-season ahead of the fifth edition of the Women's Super League, which starts next month, but with media coverage of the women's game in this country so scarce, the chance to promote it in front of a national television audience passed them by as far as I'm concerned. 

The United States' Alex Morgan headed home the decisive goal in the first half
©Getty Images




Women's football has a long way to go to earn the respect of your "typical" male football fan, many of whom I could hear to be subversively mocking the action at Stadium MK with audacious cries of "shoot" as either one of the two teams held possession in their own half. At times, it seemed like certain sections of the male audience had come down to have a bit of a laugh and a few cheap beers as a preamble to their Friday night out on the town.

This sort of mockery of the women's game can't be condoned but in order for it to be taken more seriously in England, the quality of football on show has to be better than that displayed last night. The US provided enough evidence that it's achievable with a composed and accomplished passing game which seemed to be beyond England's capabilities for the most part.

Perhaps the fact it's pre-season made it the wrong time to put them under the spotlight, and maybe in a few months' time we will see a much more vibrant and energetic team grace our screens as the World Cup comes into sharper focus. Having lost their previous international 3-0 at home to Germany, FIFA's top-ranked team, improvement is definitely required if they're to have an impact on the latter stages of the tournament in Canada.

The US, two-time World Cup winners, arrived at Stadium MK on the back of Sunday's (February 8) 2-0 defeat to France, who England face in their opening World Cup match on June 9. If France, ranked third in the world, are two goals better than the US, it's a good job England have a few more months to prepare for that encounter.

England's Jodie Taylor found the back of the net in the second half but it was wrongly ruled out for offside, ensuring victory for the United States ©Getty Images







After playing the French, England go onto meet Mexico on June 13, followed by Colombia on June 17. With Mexico currently ranked 25th in the world and Colombia 28th, a place in the round of 16 should be well within sixth-ranked England's grasp. If indeed they do advance to the knock-out stages, and dependent on whether they finish first or second in the group, they will face either the runners-up in Group E, which contains Brazil, South Korea, Spain and Costa Rica, or the second-placed team in Group B, which features two-time champions Germany, Ivory Coast, Norway and Thailand.

Prior to a final friendly on home soil in April, England will take part in the Cyprus Women's Cup between March 2 and 12. The tournament, which has been held annually since 2008, is made up of 12 teams divided into three groups of four. Australia, Finland and The Netherlands await England, winners of the competition in 2009 and 2013, and will all be vying for top spot in Group B and a place in the final.

The 18 days between now and their first match against Finland on March 4 will allow time for reflection on the defeat to the US and give head coach Mark Sampson the opportunity to pick the bones out of a below-par performance. He remained upbeat after the match claiming that his team had learned they can be a threat on the counter attack, but it's now up to England to get back on the front foot and show they have what it takes to challenge for the game's ultimate prize.

Daniel Etchells is a reporter for insidethegames. To follow him on Twitter click here.