Semi-final defeat for England would 'represent failure' says Neville

England Women head coach Phil Neville wants his side to "develop the serial winner mentality" - and warned going home from the World Cup on the back of a semi-final defeat "would represent failure".

The Lionesses produced the most impressive display of their campaign in France so far with a 3-0 win over Norway on Thursday to progress to the last four of a major tournament for the third successive time.

Waiting next in Lyon on Tuesday night are defending champions the United States, who ended the hosts' challenge with a 2-1 win at Parc des Princes as they remain very much focused on what would be a fourth World Cup triumph.

It is such determination to be the best which Neville believes the current England squad must emulate if they are to make the most of their opportunity.

"A semi-final defeat would represent failure. This England team is ready to win now," Neville said, quoted in several national newspapers.

"I think the FA (Football Association) know I am doing a good job but I said to the players this morning that it would be easy now for them to think 'whatever happens now, we have got to the semi-final, my reputation is intact, we'll probably get invited to Downing Street, everybody loves us at home'. I don't want that.

"We have to develop the serial winner mentality. We have to develop that ruthlessness.

"I don't want us saying that there is no pressure on us. That's the safe way to think. We have to be even braver.

"The only way for us to go back home is as winners. If we don't, we have to keep striving to understand that losing in a semi-final is not OK."