David Beckham helps inspire Phil Neville’s England to impressive draw with Germany in SheBelieves Cup

Germany 2 England 2: The Lionesses twice fought back through Ellen White to claim a credible draw with the old enemy

Phil Neville's side salvaged a point (Getty)

It must have been a weird feeling for David Beckham.

Perched up high at Red Bull Arena, directly below him was an old friend treading new, unfamiliar water.

He goes back a long way with Phil Neville.

Brother Gary is his best friend and , together with the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt , they all famously combined as young bucks at Old Trafford to help create one of the most irresistible, trophy laden dynasties in English football.

Phil and David have a rich playing history.

But how times change.

Here was Beckham, that proud patriot, willing on the new Lionesses manager against the old enemy in the SheBelieves Cup, arriving in New York off the back of meetings in Miami where plans for his MLS franchise are , finally, moving forward after four years of frustrations.

Phil Neville's team currently top their group (Getty)

Neville, meanwhile, was directing his England women’s team to another creditable result in the SheBelieves Cup. France may have been emphatically dispatched in Columbus last Thursday though last night against Germany, the multiple European Championship winners ranked no2 in the world, a sterner test was taken on and , for the most part, passed with flying colours.

“David came into my office and we had a good laugh for 30 minutes, “ smiled Neville.

“We talked about his life and his plans for Miami.“

Beckham surprised Neville’s squad before the game , much to the delight of everyone. It’s all about having friends in high places, after all.

Germany twice held the lead (Getty)

“The minute I got the job David said he would come to the game, “ added Neville.

“He said a few words about what it means to play for England and gave caps to Siobhan Chamberlain for her 50th and Abbie McManus for her first the other night.

"His presence shows how far the women’s game has come in England.

“He would have liked the way we played.”

David Beckham was in attendance at the Red Bull Arena (Getty)

Beckham may have enjoyed the way Ellen White scored her double - one deflected shot from a Farah Williams long range effort which cancelled out an early German opener before an ice cool finish on 73 minutes which helped earn what was ultimately a well earned point.

But the former England captain , sat alongside FA technical director Dan Ashworth, would have squirmed with the rest of us at the two goals Germany scored.

With the injured Anita Asante already back home nursing a knee injury , captain Steph Houghton not even making the trip while the experience of Casey Stoney is now being utilised on the sidelines helping Neville direct affairs, England need to shore up at the back to ensure their creative forces aren’t nullified.

Both German goals were sloppily given away. Hasret Kayikci’s 17 minute opener was seized upon after the English backline failed on more than one occasion to clear their lines while the less said about Millie Bright’s second half own goal and the mess which preceded it , the better.

Ellen White goes close for England (Getty)

It was needlessly chaotic stuff yet Chelsea's Bright, who names John Terry as one of her inspirations, showed enough grit and steel to give hope for the future. Lucy Bronze, captain and right-back, is a world class performer who can help settle everyone down when needed.

Beckham , meanwhile, is confident Neville can take women’s football to the next level.

“To be honest out of Phil and Gary, I always expected Phil to go into coaching, “ admitted Beckham.

“Both of them were very intelligent in every way, on and off the field but I am not surprised to see Phil in the role and I think he is enjoying it. It is good for the girls to have some who is so experienced and who has won everything in the game.

“The team is in good hands with him. His experience will give them a lot of opportunity to push on.

“Having someone with his experience, who has played for the clubs he has played in; playing with the players he has played with and obviously working under the manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, and all the experience he got from those years there. It is great for the girls.

“It is really encouraging the way the game is growing. I played in the United States for six years and have seen how the game is received here. It is great to see the profile now and the money that is being invested. It is important to have that grounding again.”

White scored both of England's goals (Getty)

So , next for Neville, is the finale of this mini-tour . The acid test against the United States, the reigning world champions.

The displays against France and Germany have been tremendously encouraging.

But to beat the US again, just like they did last year at this tournament, would be a major feather in Neville’s cap ahead of the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers. Winning the trophy would be the icing on the cake.

The world champions are next up for Neville's team (Getty)

“It's no secret that when you're looking at these tournaments, with the USA game last, this was the one that we wanted to be peaking for, “ he said.

“We're going to treat this as a dummy World Cup final.

“First versus third best team in the world.This could happen in 12 months when we get to France for the World Cup.

“I can just feel the confidence and belief building and our team.”