England's sharp-shooters take to the beach in France as Lionesses prepare for World Cup quarter-final with Norway by firing foam dart guns

  • England are preparing for World Cup quarter-final with Norway on ThursdayĀ 
  • They took to the beach in Deauville, Normandy for a fun training sessionĀ 
  • Lionesses players were given X-Shot foam dart guns to play about withĀ 
  • Phil Neville's side defeated Cameroon 3-0 in bad-tempered last-16 fixtureĀ 

England's Lionesses brought a new definition to sharp shooting as they took to the beach in northern France ahead of their World Cup quarter-final.

Phil Neville's team were on the sands in the town of Deauville, a short distance down the Normandy coast from Le Havre, where they will take on Norway on Thursday night.

And spirits certainly seemed to be high during the mobility session as they played games with toy revolvers that fire foam darts.

England's Beth Mead, Toni Duggan and Rachel Daly pose with their foam dart guns as the Lionesses trained on the beach in Deauville ahead of Thursday's World Cup quarter-final

England's Beth Mead, Toni Duggan and Rachel Daly pose with their foam dart guns as the Lionesses trained on the beach in Deauville ahead of Thursday's World Cup quarter-final

The Lionesses prepared for their meeting with Norway with some fun on the beaches

The Lionesses prepared for their meeting with Norway with some fun on the beaches

The aim appeared to be to catch the form darts is plastic glasses during the fun training

The aim appeared to be to catch the form darts is plastic glasses during the fun training

Beth Mead, Toni Duggan and Rachel Daly did their best Charlie's Angels impression while the others tried to catch the darts in plastic cups.


They'd been 'armed' with a Zuru X-Shot revolver which, according to the makers, can fire six form darts up to 80 feet within seconds from a rotating barrel.

The Lionesses remain on course for glory at the World Cup in France having overcome Cameroon in an ill-tempered last 16 fixture in Valenciennes on Sunday.

England's Karen Carney smiles after catching one of the darts from the X-Shot gun

England's Karen Carney smiles after catching one of the darts from the X-Shot gun

The Lionesses pose for a team picture in Deauville ahead of their quarter-final with Norway

The Lionesses pose for a team picture in Deauville ahead of their quarter-final with Norway

Karen Carney and Steph Houghton pictured during England's training session on Tuesday

Karen Carney and Steph Houghton pictured during England's training session on Tuesday

Toni Duggan (centre) stretches on the beach during England's mobility training session

Toni Duggan (centre) stretches on the beach during England's mobility training session

Steph Houghton holds up two plastic cups as they wait for the foam darts to be fired

Steph Houghton holds up two plastic cups as they wait for the foam darts to be fired

Jill Scott and Demi Stokes pictured as England took to the beach on Tuesday

Jill Scott and Demi Stokes pictured as England took to the beach on Tuesday

Watching brief

ENGLAND vs NORWAY

FIFA World Cup quarter-final

Thursday, kick-off 8pm

Live on BBC OneĀ 

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Goals from captain Steph Houghton, Ellen White and Alex Greenwood saw England ease to a 3-0 win but the match was overshadowed by Cameroon's vicious foul play and their reactions to VAR decisions that went against them.

Having kept their heads, England now take on Norway in the last eight with either France or the United States, the two tournament favourites, awaiting them should they progress.

According to the BBC, Sunday's game set a new record as the UK's most watched women's football match, with a peak television audience of 6.9million.

This is expected to be exceeded if England continue their progress through the tournament.

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