VALENCIENNES, France — After all the rage and rebellion in the stadium, England players received a far more convivial reception back at their hotel they shared with Cameroon.
It came remarkably from Cameroon supporters who were far more graceful than some of their dissenting national team players earlier on Sunday evening in the humid cauldron of Stade de Hainaut.
England players who had denied their country a place in the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals by winning 3-0 were applauded back into the Royal Hainaut Spa and Resort Hotel.
The England traveling party led by Phil Neville welcomed the unexpected reception.