Demi Stokes ready for her third major international tournament.

FIFA U20 Women's World Cup
The Finals
13 July - 1 August 2010
Germany 

Click here to watch the full FATV interview with Demi

Demi Stokes knows all about international tournament football.

In less than 18 months – since claiming her first cap for England Women’s U19s against Holland last year – the 18-year-old is now preparing for her third major international championship with England, the FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup.

“It’s my first World Cup so it’s very exciting and I’m just looking forward to the first game,” the Sunderland forward told FATV. “Hopefully we’ll win if we play right.”

Demi’s first experience of a major tournament could not have been more positive, being part of the successful U19s squad that lifted the UEFA European Championship trophy in Belarus last summer.

Although she got minimal game time during the Championship, there is little doubt that being part of a winning team provided her with added confidence, and that was clearly taken into the Three Lions’ 2010 title defence.

She played a significant part in each of England’s games as they marched into the Final of Euro 2010 in Macedonia and played the full 90 minutes as Mo Marley’s side were narrowly defeated 2-1 by France in the tournament showpiece. Once again, however, the experience was a positive one.

“All of [Euro 2010] was a highlight. It was just a shame we lost but there always has to be a winner and loser,” said Demi philosophically.

All eyes and minds are now focused on England’s World Cup campaign in Germany and Stokes recognises the importance of the tournament as a way of progressing in the international set-up.

“I’m looking forward to this [tournament] but my next step is to progress, hopefully into the senior team in the near future.”