Two of England’s Women's Euro 2005 starlets Eniola Aluko and Karen Carney have been selected by England U19 Head Coach Mo Marley to boost England’s UEFA European U19 Championship challenge.
After two qualifying group stages in September 2004 and April 2005, when England won five of their six matches, scoring eighteen goals, Mo Marley’s eighteen-player squad will face Scotland, Russia and France, with the top two teams in each group earning a place in the semi-finals.
Whilst 17-year-old Carney - who celebrates her 18th birthday the day after the final in Zalaegerszeg - and Aluko will be expected to turn on the style in Hungary, England have four Evertonians to call on, three of whom have already played in an FA Women’s Cup Final.
Danielle Hill, who performed so ably last season for The Toffees - whilst Rachel Brown recovered from injury - will be battling Sunderland’s Carly Telford for the goalkeeping spot, with Telford due to take up a football scholarship in America immediately after the tournament.
Both ‘keepers will be learning from one of the best ‘keepers in the country, as Rachel Brown again assumes the role of Goalkeeping Coach, as she did at the U17 International Tournament in Cork, in April.
Elsewhere in the squad, the experience of Bristol Rovers’ Katie Holtham will be looked to by Marley, as will the firepower of Fulham’s Danielle Bird (left) who has scored a phenomenal seven goals in her last eight U19 internationals from midfield.
Another goal threat will be Arsenal’s 17-year-old striker Lianne Sanderson, who scored four goals in England’s six qualifying games and demonstrated her undoubted talent for Arsenal in last season’s FA Nationwide Premier League Cup Final victory.
England kick-off their challenge against Scotland on 20 July, followed by Russia on 22 July and France on 25 July.
France were twice beaten finalists in 1998 and 2002 before finally winning the trophy in 2003 when Les Bleus defeated Norway 2-0 in Leipzig.
Whilst Scotland have reached the Finals for the very first time, Russia secured their place with a 3-1 win against Austria.
The Russians, semi-finalists last season in the 2004 Finals, eased to victory, scoring 33 goals in their six qualifying matches, and conceding only one.
Germany, Finland and Switzerland meet at the same stage of the same competition for the second year in a row in the other group, alongside hosts Hungary.
TheFA.com will be following the fortunes of the England team, with the semi finals and final due to be broadcast live on Eurosport.
England Women's U19 Squad, Euro Champs, July 2005