England women's forward Toni Duggan says her nation must match the achievements of three-times world champions the United States and 'put trophies on the table' before they also ask for equal conditions as the men's team.
All 28 members of the U.S. 2015 World Cup winning squad have filed a lawsuit against their national federation, complaining about wages and working conditions compared to the men's side, who failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
'You look at the U.S. team and they're a lot more successful than the men's and that's their argument. So first and foremost England need to be more successful,' Duggan told Reuters in an interview at Barcelona's training ground.
Toni Duggan believes England must win trophies before they can push for equal pay
All 28 members of the US 2015 World Cup winning squad have filed a lawsuit
'I can't sit here and say we're going to get to that stage, we need to be putting trophies on the table. Hopefully one day we'll be like that, but fair play to the U.S. team because it (equal pay) is what they deserve.'
Duggan was part of the England side which reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2015 and the last four of the 2017 European Championships.
After the Lionesses piped the U.S. to win the four-nation SheBelieves Cup in March, she challenged the team to take the next step and go all the way in this year's World Cup in France.
'I believe we can, we've got to two semi-finals at major tournaments, we've beat all the tough opponents. So it's possible but it's OK saying it, it's about doing it,' Duggan said.
The former Manchester City striker is confident that England can achieve World Cup success
She is also confident her side will be able to continue the feel-good factor Gareth Southgate's men's side provided back home with their run to the last four in Russia, which she said began with the women's excellent 2015 World Cup campaign.
'To be honest,
