Women’s football in England got a massive boost when the Lionesses became Euro champions last summer. Millions watched their matches on tv, and girls were inspired to play.

The World Cup is now just over a week away, and fans will be hoping for another strong performance. But today a new government-commissioned report into the future of women’s football by former England player Karen Carney has revealed a picture of underfunding, lack of career pathways and missed opportunities to grow the sport.