LYON, France — One of Phil Neville’s first encounters with Megan Rapinoe left a mark.
He’d just taken over as manager of the England women’s national team and was at the 2018 SheBelieves Cup in the United States. A ball bounced on the touchline and he went to catch it. Rapinoe’s studs went right through his watch. Neville has admired Rapinoe ever since.
“She’s not repaid me back yet for that Apple watch,” Neville joked. “And what I liked about it, she didn’t say sorry, she just got on with it. She’s a winner.”
Now he’ll face Rapinoe again in a game with much more at stake than a watch.