Phil Neville answered critics with a win in his first match as England's women's coach.

England routed France 4-1 on Thursday in the opener of the SheBelieves Cup with Fran Kirby setting up the first goal for Toni Duggan and then slotting in the fourth herself.

England coach Phil Neville instructs his team against France during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

"We're in a bit of a transition, with a new manager coming in and trying new things," Kirby said. "I think we can't get ahead of ourselves."

Jill Scott and Jodie Taylor also scored for England, which reached the semifinals of the World Cup and European Championship in recent years.

England players celebrate a goal against France during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

"It was a really pleasing performance, and I think we all enjoyed it," Neville said.

While the 41-year-old Neville is a coaching novice, he has vast experience as a player.

England's Nikita Parris, right, trips France's Sakina Karchaoui during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

He made 59 appearances for England from 1996-2007 and won six Premier League titles with Manchester United. He was hired by the Football Association in January, 1½ years ahead of the Women's World Cup, in a move criticized because Neville had only previously been involved in the men's game.

England's Toni Duggan, left, France's Faustine Robert, center, and Kadidiatou Diani chase a loose ball during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Since completing his playing career at Everton in 2013, he had worked as a commentator and as first-team coach at Manchester United and as an assistant at Valencia.

"It's not about me. I know my qualities," said Neville, who played alongside brother Gary at United and England. "I've said that from Day 1. I knew what I wanted from these players, and the players did it today. Full credit to the team."

England's Jill Scott, left, tries to steal the ball from France's Amandine Henry during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Neville replaced Mark Sampson, who was fired over inappropriate behavior involving his relationship with players in a previous job. Sampson was later found to have directed racially offensive remarks at two England players.

"It's been a difficult year," Duggan said. "No one is going to hide from that. In the light of the position we're in, (it's a) great win for Phil in his debut game. What better way to get off to a good start?"

England's Anita Asante, left, and France's Ouleymata Sarr chase the ball during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Goals from Duggan, Scott and Taylor gave England a 3-0 lead at the break. Kirby strengthened the lead a minute into the second half. Gaetene Thiney scored in the 77th for sixth-ranked France.

France, which will host the Women's World Cup next year, is also getting used to life under a new coach. Corinne Diacre, a defender in the France team from 1993-2005, was hired in August.

France's Sakina Karchaoui, left, and England's Nikita Parris fight for the ball during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

The SheBelieves Cup also includes the top-ranked United States and No. 2 Germany.

United States' Megan Rapinoe celebrates her goal against Germany during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Rapinoe's goal lifts US women's team over Germany 1-0

The U.S. women's soccer team fought nasty central Ohio weather to get a "workmanlike" win over Germany in a matchup of the world's top two teams.

Megan Rapinoe scored in the 17th minute and the U.S. held on for a 1-0 victory Wednesday night in a game played in mid-30s temperatures, howling wind and a mix of rain and snow at Mapfre Stadium.

Germany's Svenja Huth, left, dribbles past United States' Lindsey Horan during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

"It was miserable," Rapinoe said. "The wind was everywhere and it was cold and kind of sideways rain."

The top-ranked Americans prevailed in an opening-round game of the SheBelieves Cup, a four-team round-robin tournament that also includes England and France. The exhibition is a challenging tune-up for World Cup qualifying this fall.

Germany's Dzsenifer Marozsan, left, and United States' Kelley O'Hara vie for the ball during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher preserved the shutout when she fell on a shot from Hasret Kayikci in injury time in what was just the second on-target shot of the night by the Germans.

The opportunities were limited for both teams because of the wind.

"The wind was going across the field, side-to-side," U.S. forward Alex Morgan said. "It wasn't even going from one end to another end. That's where we had difficulty."

United States' Mallory Pugh, left, and Germany's Verena Faisst race for the ball during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Sara Dabritz got a point-blank shot for Germany inside the box in the game's 16th minute but misfired and pulled it right. Less than a minute later, Morgan headed a long goal kick to Rapinoe, whose subsequent in-stride shot squirted through the legsof goalkeeper Almuth Schult. "Once we got the goal, it was a game of keeping that lead," Morgan said.

Germany got another good chance in the 20th minute when Dzsenifer Marozsan hit the post. U.S. team captain Carli Lloyd, who is just two goals short of 100, nailed an accurate shot in the 57th minute, but Schult made a terrific leaping save. It was the best chance of the second half for the Americans.

United States' Abby Dahlkemper, left, tries to clear the ball away from Germany's Alexandra Popp during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

"It was a workmanlike game in challenging conditions," U.S. coach Jill Ellis said. "We were doing the best we could with what we had against a good opponent."

Rapinoe was surprised the 1-0 lead held up.

United States' Carli Lloyd, left, and Germany's Linda Dallmann chase the ball during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

"I thought there was going to be a lot more in the game," she said. "I think the weather got a little bit worse throughout the game."

Earlier in the day at the stadium, No. 3 England routed No. 6 France 4-1 on goals by Toni Duggan, Jill Scott, Jodie Taylor and Fran Taylor.

Germany's Linda Dallmann, right, clears the ball past United States' Taylor Smith during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

The tournament continues Sunday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, with the U.S. facing France.

In last year's tournament, the U.S. women's team lost consecutive home games for the first time in 17 years, dropping games to England and France after beating Germany in the opening round.

Germany's Alexandra Popp, right, kicks the ball away from United States' Abby Dahlkemper during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)