England in 2015 vs England in 2019: How Neville's transformation led Lionesses back to World Cup semifinals

The Opta data shows 2019 Women's World Cup semifinalist England has been far more impressive than it was in 2015.

England has already scored more goals across five matches in 2019 (11) than it did in seven games in 2015 (10), with Neville's side netting three times in each of its wins over Cameroon and Norway.

England has reached the Women's World Cup semifinal again, but the manner in which it has done so has been far more impressive.

Four years ago in Canada the Lionesses were one of the competition's surprise packages, beating Norway and the host in the knockout phase before being eliminated when Laura Bassett scored a stoppage-time own goal against Japan in the last four.

Phil Neville's class of 2019 has returned to that stage in France and meet the United States, the defending champion and tournament favourite, in Lyon on Tuesday.

Here we crunch the Opta numbers on Mark Sampson's 2015 team and Neville's squad to show how England have been considerably better at both ends of the pitch in 2019.

Expected goals excluding penalties (0.9 per game in 2015 v 2.1 per game in 2019)

England has already scored more goals across five matches in 2019 (11) than it did in seven games in 2015 (10), with Neville's side netting three times in each of its wins over Cameroon and Norway.

READ | Points proven, Women's World Cup heads into grand finale

Ellen White could yet replicate Three Lions star Harry Kane and win the Golden Boot too as she is in a four-way tie at the top with five goals. 

The Lionesses are having more shots per game (13.6) than four years ago (12.7) and they are creating better quality chances, as displayed by their xG.

Total shots faced (15.6 per game in 2015 v 8.6 in 2019)

There have been suggestions that England has been too open and look vulnerable at the back, but the numbers indicate Neville's team is far more resolute than Sampson's.

Since conceding to Scotland in its first group game, England has kept four clean sheets and has faced 43 shots across the entire tournament.

There were 109 efforts attempted against a 2015 team that shipped seven goals and did not keep a clean sheet until beating Germany 1-0 in the third-place play-off.

Successful passes (193 per game in 2015 v 435 per game in 2019)

Neville preaches a possession-based style that he refuses to budge from and the stats show it is working.

England has already completed 2,173 passes in its five fixtures, compared to 1,354 in seven games in 2015. It has also averaged a 60.1 per cent share of possession, having had only 44.3 per cent four years ago.

Right-back Lucy Bronze, who also featured in 2015, has been key for Neville and has had more touches than any other player in France.