ENGLAND vs SWITZERLAND

Forward momentum

by Glenn Lavery

Wednesday, 08 September, 2010

Sophie Bradley eyes further international recognition.

Tickets are priced £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions (U16 and over 60)
Ticket hotline 01743 273943
Charter Standard booking form
Group booking form

Sophie Bradley only made her senior team debut last month but she is already determined to become a permanent fixture in Hope Powell’s squad.

The 20-year-old defender is currently preparing to face Switzerland on Sunday in the first leg of a World Cup play-off - a game you can see live on BBC Three - and after her England bow in the 4-0 win over Austria in August, Lincoln Ladies’ new recruit now has designs on receiving further international recognition.

“It was unbelievable, a really proud moment,” Bradley said, of her England debut.

“Playing for your country is something you strive to do. It’s what every player plays and trains for and ever since I was a little girl that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.

“To get the chance to play for the senior side was fantastic and I’m glad my opportunity came about. Now I just want to keep performing to sustain my place in the squad.”

After replacing Faye White at half-time, Bradley certainly did enough in her 45-minute appearance in Krems to be retained for this play-off, and, now looking ahead, the former U19 captain believes England have got what it takes to progress to next year’s Finals.

“We need to play the football we know we can play and then I think we’ll have every chance,” she said. “[Switzerland] have got a really good team and we’re expecting a difficult game, but whoever we drew we knew it was going to be tough. It’s all about performing over the next two games now and making sure we qualify.”

Bradley was dealt a cruel blow in 2008 when injury forced her to miss the U20 World Cup in Chile, though she did travel to France four months earlier to skipper the U19s at the European Championship Finals, an experience she plans to call upon should Powell mastermind a route through to Germany 2011.

“Being a part of youth sides at European Championships and World Cups gives you the experience of tournament football,” Bradley said. “A senior World Cup would be on a totally different level but things like match preparation, training schedules and the need for a quick recovery would largely be the same as I’ve experienced with the U19s, so if we do get to the World Cup, I’ll know how to cope with it a bit better."

The former Leeds player won’t turn 21 until October but her career is seemingly on an upward trajectory. She has worked her way through the England Development teams and has been included in the last five Senior squads, a figure she intends to increase.

“Each year I seem to be making progress,” Bradley reflected. “I’ve moved up from the U17s, through to the U19s, last season I was in the U23 squad and now I’ve made my senior team debut, so I just want to keep that going.

“I’ve always wanted to play for England and at a high club level so I want to keep improving my own game and my role within the team to make sure I’m always in Hope’s thoughts when she is selecting her next squad.”

You can read more from Sophie in the England v Switzerland matchday programme which will be on sale at the Greenhous Meadow Stadium on Sunday.

Meanwhile, England have been forced into making one squad change ahead of the first leg with Chelsea midfielder Dani Buet replacing the injured Karen Carney, who picked up a knock in America at the weekend.

England squad in full