Kelly Smith: Phil Neville spoke out in the heat of the moment

In her final column, Betfair Ambassador Kelly Smith talks about England's disappointment and reviews the final- According lớn the best free soccer tips page!

Disappointment and deflation

It's always difficult to get yourself up after being so deflated and knocked out; it zaps your energy, you didn't win the game, you didn't manage it. You have lớn stay for a few more days and it can feel quite meaningless.

I think the first 28 minutes in that game, England's heads were elsewhere because their play was slow, mistakes seeped in and they didn't seem to be at the races. After going two goals down, it shook them up a little. Then when Fran Kirby scored the Lionesses woke up, got a rhythm going and got themselves back into the game.

Again in this game too, it was down lớn fine margins, with the handball decision given against Ellen White for what would have been an equaliser. They hadn't been lucky with the VAR for the last couple of soccer today and that's what makes it frustrating, it's those small aspects that people have been talking about that could or couldn't have gone your way.

Obviously it's not what they wanted, they wanted to come home with a medal and they failed on that part.

And it doesn't look good on paper coming fourth or doesn't sound very good in your head but I believe it was a very good tournament off the pitch. I said this in my last column, in changing perceptions, breaking tivi viewing records, getting the nation behind the game and falling in love in with the Lionesses.

It was the heat of the moment

When Phil Neville said, "It was a nonsense match," straight off after the heat of the match and it was full of emotions and upset. It was in the heat of the moment being interviewed after the game, and I don't think it was intended or his aim lớn bring any negative feeling towards those 23 players who won the bronze in 2015. I saw Karen Carney say that she's glad they didn't win it because they'll become hungrier to succeed and reflect on themselves both individually and as a team lớn see how they can get further especially with the Olympics next year.