PHIL NEVILLE has issued a rallying cry as the Lionesses stand on the brink of history.

England are 90 minutes from reaching their first senior World Cup final since 1966 — but they have to beat hot favourites USA to get there.

With heroes like Nikita Parris, Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze, England's women can go one better than they did in Canada four years ago by reaching their first final.

Then, a heartbreaking last-minute own goal saw Japan reach the showpiece match, before they lost to the Americans.

But this time Neville's players are mentally stronger and have the weight of the nation behind them, along with cheering David Beckham and daughter Harper.

Around 7.9million England fans tuned in to watch them beat Norway 3-0 on Thursday, while thousands at Glastonbury paused the party to watch the game on big screens.

And the pre-match mood has turned sour after FA security scrambled to hunt down a suspected 'spy' in the bushes at the Lionesses' training session.

Ex-Manchester United star Neville said: "They've got ice running though their veins.

"I want my players to realise that we are so close and we have to deliver. We have to.

"There is no upside to defeat. Losing in a semi-final would mean nothing to me.

"Every single meeting, every single training session, every five-a-side we’ve had, we’ve spoken about winning.

"Winning is the most important thing. It’s about winning — that’s the mentality we’ve brought in."

USA are hot favourites with wonder women Alex Morgan – and gay star Megan Rapinoe, who scored two against hosts France.

Rapinoe, 33, has had a war of words with US president Donald Trump for refusing to sing the national anthem — which has not gone down well in the States.

She said after USA's 2-1 win over France: "Go gays — you can't win a championship without gays on your team, it's pretty much never been done before ever. Science, right there."

You have to beat the best, and the USA are the best. They've proven it.

As for England, earlier this year they won the four-team SheBelieves Cup for the first time, a campaign that included a 2-2 draw with hosts the US.

And Neville said: "SheBelieves was my big moment, where we had to get on that platform and hold that trophy, get that medal around your neck.

"My first one (trophy as a Manchester United player), I won the league at Middlesbrough and I wore my medal for the next two or three days, because you think, 'I want this again', and the best want it again and again.

"When I got the job, the first three games I looked at were the USA.

"I was sitting in my house in Valencia and watched three games in one afternoon because I thought: 'How can we win the World Cup?'

"You have to beat the best, and the USA are the best. They've proven it.

"But we're ready for them. Sometimes, before these games, you can have fear and trepidation – but I can smell nothing but freedom, happiness and excitement."

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