Win is spot on for Brent
Saturday, 21 July, 2007
Brent Hills says his players should have senior team ambitions after seeing them beat Germany.
England 2-2 Germany (England win 3-0 on penalties)
Women's U23 Nordic Tournament
Friday 20 July 2007
Vassa, Finland
Brent Hills says his young outfit should have ambitions of playing in the senior side after watching them beat Germany on penalties.
The Three Lions twice took the lead against their famous rivals but after drawing 2-2 they emerged victorious after a 3-0 win in the shoot-out – a rarity against Germany.
"We have been practising our penalties," revealed Hills. "It really paid off. All our penalties were solid."
Just two days after losing 4-1 to Finland, the Three Lions took to the field against their famous old rivals in desperate need of a confidence boosting performance.
They started well, taking the lead through Gemma Davison who netted after ten minutes.
The Germans responded with a 50th minute equaliser, but England regained the lead within minutes through substitute Jodie Taylor.
However, the resilient Germans refused to buckle and made it 2-2 with ten minutes to go.
"England v Germany is always a special fixture," said Hills. "The players knew they could put in another performance like the last one. They competed as well as they ever have done in this age group."
Hills told the England players they need to add a level of consistency to their game, adding that a similar performance against Finland could have been enough to warrant a victory.
"We need to work on that," he said. "The players have missed an opportunity.
They could have been playing against the USA in the Final had they put in a performance against Finland.
"But this is a good tournament with good opposition. You want to play against the best teams. They will learn from the loss against Finland. But it’s about development and the players should be striving to reach the senior side."
England Squad: Nicola Hobbs (Leeds United), Carly Telford (Sunderland), Rachel Axon (Ottawa Fury), Kylie Davies (Chelsea), Michelle Hickmott (Birmingham City), Katie Holtham (Charlton Athletic), Kimberley Dixson (Charlton Athletic), Amy Kane (Everton), Kelly McDougall (Everton), Lynda Shepherd (Blackburn Rovers), Danielle Bird (Birmingham City), Carla Cantrell (Doncaster Rovers Belles), Gemma Davison (Arsenal), Jo Potter (Charlton Athletic), Dunia Susi (Chelsea), Jodie Taylor (Ottawa Fury), Emma Thomas (Watford), Grace McCatty (Bristol Academy)
Goals: Gemma Davison 10, Jodie Taylor 55