ENGLAND GEARING UP FOR CYPRUS CUP DEFENCE.
England's women will soon be preparing to defend their Cyprus Cup crown they won last year. Under Hope Powell, the Lady Lions took revenge on Canada, beating them 1-0 in last year's final. Canada knocked Team GB out of the Olympic competition in 2012 by the same score in London at the quarter-final stage. Following their success, the stage was set for England's finest female footballers to shine in the Euro 2013 competition in Sweden under the biggest media coverage they had ever had. England's poor performance added to the disappointing showing from almost all levels of English football on the international stage and were dumped out in the group stages. Under new boss Mark Sampson, the girls are refreshed and looking forward to their first competition under new management for almost two decades.
England have been drawn in Group A with Canada, Finland and Italy. They'll begin their defence on Wednesday March 5 against Italy (3:30pm). England will face Finland two days later (12:30pm) before taking on big fish, and last year's runners-up, Canada (12:30pm) on the 10th. They will play one of the other teams from from Group B or C two days later on the 12th.
Arsenal player/coach Kelly Smith has been recalled to the England squad following a long standing calf complaint. The rest of the squad consists of players who travelled to La Manga last month. Manager Mark Sampson said: "I was pleased with the way the group worked in La Manga so the most difficult part about selecting the squad was leaving people out who did well in that camp.
"But I had to make some decisions and I have selected a balanced squad that gives us as many options, both tactically and in terms of the character of the team.
"We have added Kelly to the group who is now back to full fitness so it's a great chance for her to be involved again and get some game time at international level.
"The Cyprus Cup represents another opportunity for us to grow as a group and for me to learn more about the players.
"We will go there to work very hard.
England's under 23's squad has also been selected for the La Manga Tournament which, also takes place early in March and includes Jemma Rose, Rachel Daly, Isobel Christiansen and Danielle Carter who all travelled to La Manga last month with Sampson's senior squad that drew 1-1 against Norway.
Eniola Aluko scored England's goal against Norway in La Manga in former Bristol Academy manager Mark Sampson's first game in charge of the England team. Aluko said of the Welshman: "It's so far so good - Mark is a really energetic guy, he's really enthusiastic. He's got a real way about him on the training pitch in terms of motivating players.
"He's got a style of play which he is going to look to implement - an attacking style of play with an emphasis on winning the ball back as soon as possible defensively.
"It's always good to hear a different voice and I think the girls have responded really positively to it.
"I think as individuals it is going to be very competitive for us in terms of getting into his squad and we'll be looking to do that and play well for him so it's exciting times for us all."
England Squad:
Goalkeepers;
Karen Bardsley (Manchest City), Rachel Brown-Finnis (Everton), Siobhan Chamberlain (Arsenal)
Defenders;
Laura Bassett (Chelsea), Gemma Bonner (Liverpool), Sophie Bradley (Notts County), Lucy Bronze (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Everton), Stephanie Houghton (Manchester City), Alex Scott (Arsenal), Demi Stokes (University of Florida)
Midfielders;
Anita Asante (Malmo), Karen Carney (Birmingham City), Gemma Davison (Liverpool), Toni Duggan (Manchester City), Jade Moore (Birmingham City), Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Fara Williams (Liverpool)
Forwards;
Eniola Aluko (Chelsea), Natasha Dowie (Liverpool), Lianne Sanderson (Boston Breakers), Kelly Smith (Arsenal), Ellen White (Notts County)
Arsenal player/coach Kelly Smith has been recalled to the England squad following a long standing calf complaint. The rest of the squad consists of players who travelled to La Manga last month. Manager Mark Sampson said: "I was pleased with the way the group worked in La Manga so the most difficult part about selecting the squad was leaving people out who did well in that camp.
"But I had to make some decisions and I have selected a balanced squad that gives us as many options, both tactically and in terms of the character of the team.
"We have added Kelly to the group who is now back to full fitness so it's a great chance for her to be involved again and get some game time at international level.
"The Cyprus Cup represents another opportunity for us to grow as a group and for me to learn more about the players.
"We will go there to work very hard.
Eniola Aluko scored England's goal against Norway in La Manga in former Bristol Academy manager Mark Sampson's first game in charge of the England team. Aluko said of the Welshman: "It's so far so good - Mark is a really energetic guy, he's really enthusiastic. He's got a real way about him on the training pitch in terms of motivating players.
"He's got a style of play which he is going to look to implement - an attacking style of play with an emphasis on winning the ball back as soon as possible defensively.
"It's always good to hear a different voice and I think the girls have responded really positively to it.
"I think as individuals it is going to be very competitive for us in terms of getting into his squad and we'll be looking to do that and play well for him so it's exciting times for us all."
England Squad:
Goalkeepers;
Karen Bardsley (Manchest City), Rachel Brown-Finnis (Everton), Siobhan Chamberlain (Arsenal)
Defenders;
Laura Bassett (Chelsea), Gemma Bonner (Liverpool), Sophie Bradley (Notts County), Lucy Bronze (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Everton), Stephanie Houghton (Manchester City), Alex Scott (Arsenal), Demi Stokes (University of Florida)
Midfielders;
Anita Asante (Malmo), Karen Carney (Birmingham City), Gemma Davison (Liverpool), Toni Duggan (Manchester City), Jade Moore (Birmingham City), Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Fara Williams (Liverpool)
Forwards;
Eniola Aluko (Chelsea), Natasha Dowie (Liverpool), Lianne Sanderson (Boston Breakers), Kelly Smith (Arsenal), Ellen White (Notts County)
England's Group A schedule:
March 5 v Italy 3:30pm
March 7 v Finland 12:30pm
March 10 v Canada 12:30pm
March 12 v ?
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