England and Chelsea goalkeeper Carly Telford has hit out at the lack of organisation at this summer's World Cup in France.

The 32-year-old, who played three times for the Lionesses including the semi-final defeat to the USA, said if it hadn't been for the English, Australian and American fans it would have been a 'sad tournament'

She highlighted the difficulties both players and fans suffered throughout the summer, particularly the amount of travelling involved.

Telford said: "We didn't get the easiest group for travel, in terms of having to fly south-north-south.

"They could have just kept groups south, east, north, west. It would have been easier.

"Then create a buzz around a group in those regions rather than having people traipsing all over the country and making it a little bit more difficult than it needed to be."

England played their first and third group games in Nice, but inbetween had to make the journey to Le Havre to play Argentina - a 1400 mile round trip.

The Jesmond-born shot-stopper was baffled by the lack of organisation given the sophistication of the previous major tournaments and the fact that France hosted the men's World Cup just 21 years ago.

"Ultimately it was left to the French people to do that for us and it kind of let things down," she added.

"If it wasn't for the English, French and American fans, it would have been quite a sad tournament really.

"Considering how well Holland [Euro 2017] and Canada [2015 World Cup] had hosted their tournaments, you were kind of a bit disappointed, especially because you'd class Europe as one of the biggest hosts of football.

"France, as well, having hosted a men's World Cup not long ago, you'd have think (sic) they'd have nailed it on the head."