Backroom staff discovered on secret trip to team’s hotel

wandering around. Nobody is sure how long they were at the hotel or what they saw, although it is not thought any sensitive information was left on display for them to view.

Although their presence initially raised spying concerns, it seems to be more like a power play from the US to try to intimidate the English, an unsubtle attempt to convey the message they will be moving in when they have knocked England out.

“It’s not a concern, but it’s not something I would want my team’s operations doing,” said Neville when he was asked about the incident.

“England would not do it. I am happy with our hotel and we were out training. I hope they enjoyed our hotel. It is not something we would do, send somebody round, but it is their problem.

“It’ll have no bearing on the game, to be honest I found it funny. I thought ‘What are they doing?’. It is not the correct etiquette, that’s not something I would allow from our organisation.”

Praised for its privacy on Tripadvisor, the Fourviere was assigned to England by Fifa at the start of the knockout stage should they reach the semi-final and it seems the Americans would have preferred to be there. However, when challenged, the US said there was nothing underhand in their behaviour.

“I would assume everybody is doing that, you have to plan ahead,” said Jill Ellis, the US manager. “The only two people who are thinking of planning ahead is my administrator, because she has to book all the flights and do all of that stuff, and her boss.

“Everybody else, we don’t worry about that so that is probably who the two people were. I think that is important to do your job.

“So, in terms of arrogance [thinking we are going to win the game] that has nothing to do with us, that is planning and preparation for our staff. That’s pretty normal.” England v United States Tomorrow, 8pm, Lyon Holland v Sweden Wednesday, 8pm, Lyon Both games live on BBC One

Goalkeeping coach Graeme Abel was born in Liverpool, and head coach Jill Ellis grew up in Portsmouth until she moved to the States aged 15, and has since become an American citizen.

Alex Morgan, who is leading the Golden Boot race along with Rapinoe and England’s Ellen White with five goals each, says their coaches’ allegiance is not in doubt however, quipping that they “have adopted the American mentality”.

That belief has brought them two World Cups and they beat England in their one meeting in the tournament, in the 2007 quarterfinals. However, England have won three of their past five meetings, the last of which ended in a 2-2 draw at the Shebelieves Cup in March.

“They dominated against Norway, it was a great game for them,” said Morgan. “They’ve really evolved their game. They have a ton of experience. We have to look at the wingers and the speed they have; they have a lot of talent.”

The US were the only nonEuropean team to reach the last eight, and Rapinoe acknowledged the continent’s progress since 2015, when Japan joined them in the final.