A REFRESHING CHANGE...

For all kinds of reasons I have been enjoying watching the England Lionesses in their Women`s World Cup campaign in France.   And not just for the fact that they keep winning, although the next game in the semi-finals between either France or the USA might possibly be a step too far.  For their sake, I hope not and that they can carry on progressing towards the World Cup Final.

What`s refreshing about it is the way the games are played.   By and large, unless you`re Cameroonian, there is a genuine feeling of sportwomanship, there are no tattoos on show, there are no histrionics, no diving or cheating and the games have been played in a good spirit despite the intense rivalry - all unless you`re Cameroonian of course.

The quality of the football shown by the Lionesses has been impressive - not least last night`s convincing win over Norway and I`m not surprised to read this morning that Manchester United are looking to sign Lucy Bronze along with the other 386 players they are reported to be tracking as Ole Gunnar Solskjar  tries to make sense of the task that awaits him in the new season.

But at least Liverpool have so far refrained from poaching the burgeoning Saintesses from St. Mary`s.  I wonder how long that will last.