England women's national football team

England
Nickname(s) Three Lionesses
Association The Football Association
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Mark Sampson
Asst coach Marieanne Spacey
Captain Steph Houghton
Most caps Fara Williams (139)
Top scorer Kelly Smith (46)
FIFA code ENG
FIFA ranking 6 Steady (27 March 2015)[1]
Highest FIFA ranking 6 (July 2011)
Lowest FIFA ranking 14 (June 2004)
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Scotland 2–3 England 
(Greenock, Scotland; 18 November 1972)
Biggest win
 Hungary 0–13 England 
(Tapolca, Hungary; 27 October 2005)
Biggest defeat
 Norway 8–0 England 
(Moss, Norway; 4 June 2000)
World Cup
Appearances 4 (First in 1995)
Best result Quarterfinals (1995, 2007, 2011)
UEFA Women's Championship
Appearances 9 (First in 1984)
Best result Runner-up (1984, 2009)

The England women's national football team represents England in international women's association football. The team has been governed by the Football Association (FA) since 1993, having been previously administered by the Women's Football Association (WFA). England played its first international match in November 1972 against Scotland. Although most national football teams represent a sovereign state, as a member of the United Kingdom's Home Nations, England is permitted by FIFA statutes to maintain its own national side that competes in all major tournaments, with the exception of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament.

England has qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup three times, reaching the quarter final stage on each occasion in 1995, 2007 and 2011. They reached the final of the UEFA Women's Championship in 1984 and 2009.

History

Early years

The success of the men's national football team at the 1966 World Cup led to an upsurge of interest in football from women within England. The Women's Football Association (WFA) was established a few years later in 1969 as an attempt to organise the women's game.[2] That same year, Harry Batt formed an independent English team that competed in the Fédération Internationale Européenne de Football Féminine (FIEFF) European Cup.[3]:43 Batt's team also participated in two FIEFF World Cups held in Italy (1970) and Mexico (1971).[4][5] Following an UEFA recommendation in 1972 for national associations to incorporate the women's game, the Football Association (FA) rescinded its fifty year ban on women playing on Football League grounds.[6][7]

Shortly after, Eric Worthington was tasked by the WFA to assemble an official women's national team. England competed in its first international match against Scotland in Greenock on 18 November 1972, almost 100 years after the first men's international.[2][8] The team overturned a two goal deficit to defeat their northern opponents by 3 goals to 2, with Sylvia Gore scoring England's first international goal.[9] Tom Tranter replaced Worthington as long term manager of the women's national football team and remained in that position for the next six years.[3]:94

1979–1993: Progress under Reagan

Martin Reagan was appointed to replace Tranter in 1979.[3]:100 England reached the finals of the inaugural European Competition for Women's Football, after beating Denmark 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals. The England team lost the first away leg 1-0 against Sweden, after a header from Pia Sundhage, but won the second home leg by the same margin, with a goal from Linda Curl.[10] England lost the subsequent penalty shootout 4-3. Theresa Wiseman saved Helen Johansson's penalty but both Curl and Lorraine Hanson had their spot kicks saved by Elisabeth Leidinge.[11]

At the 1987 European Competition for Women's Football, England again reached the semi-finals but lost 3-2 after extra time against holders Sweden, in a repeat of the previous final. The team settled for fouth, after losing the third place play off against Italy 2-1.[12]

Reagan was sacked after England's 6-1 quarter-final loss against Germany at the 1991 UEFA Women's Championship, which left them unable to qualify for the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup. John Bilton was appointed as head coach in 1991 after Barrie Williams's brief tenure.[3]:103-104

1993–1998: FA involvement

In 1993, the FA took over the running of women's football in England from the WFA, replacing Bilton with Ted Copeland as national team manager.[3]:105 England managed to qualify for the 1995 UEFA Women's Championship, having previously missed out on the last three editions, but were beaten 6-2 on aggregate over two legs against Germany.[13] Reaching the European semi-finals granted England a place at the World Cup for the first time. The team advanced from the group stages of the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup in Sweden, but lost out again to Germany 3-0 in the quarter-finals.[14]

1998–2013: Development under Powell

Hope Powell became the team's first full-time head coach in June 1998, succeeding her former coach Copeland.[15]

The European Championship expanded in 1997 to eight teams and moved from a biennial event to a quadrennial one. England qualified via the play offs for the 2001 competition held in Germany, despite recording their biggest loss (away against Norway 8-0) during qualification, but did not advance past the group stages.[16] England automatically qualified as hosts in 2005, but again did not make it to the semi-finals.[17]

Qualification for the World Cup changed for the 1999 edition. European qualifiers were introduced, so that teams no longer needed to rely on advancing to the latter stages of the European Championship. England qualified unbeaten for the 2007 World Cup in China, winning Group 5 in the European qualifiers and recording their biggest win (away against Hungary, 13-0) in the process, ending a 12 year hiatus from the competition.[18][19] After coming second in their group, they advanced into the quarter-finals to face the United States but lost 3-0.[20]

In May 2009, central contracts were implemented to help players focus on full-time training without having to fit it around full-time employment.[21][22] Three months later, at the European Championships in Finland, England marked their return to the recently expanded twelve team competition by reaching the final for the first time in 25 years. They advanced from Group C to the quarter-finals by virtue of being the top third placed team, beating both the hosts and the Netherlands in the knockout stages on the way to the final. There they lost 6-2 to reigning champions Germany.[23]

England reached their third World Cup in 2011, having won Group 5 and their play off 5-2 over two legs against Switzerland.[24][25] In Germany, they topped Group B - ahead of eventual winners Japan.[26] England were paired with France in the quarter-finals, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw. England had taken the lead with Jill Scott's chip, only to have Élise Bussaglia equalise with two minutes remaining. After extra time ended in stalemate, they lost the ensuing penalty shootout 4-3. Karen Bardsley had saved Camille Abily's initial penalty but misses by Claire Rafferty and Faye White sent England out of the competition.[27]

Powell left the role in August 2013 after a poor showing at the 2013 UEFA Women's Championship, with England bowing out early at the group stages.[15]

2013–present: Recent form

Mark Sampson succeeded Powell as England manager. England qualified for their third successive World Cup in August 2014 with a game to spare, winning all ten matches and topping Group 6.[28]

England played their first international match at the new Wembley Stadium, home to the men's national team, in a friendly against the reigning European champions Germany on 23 November 2014. England had not played Germany since their heavy defeat in the European Championship final five years earlier. They lost the match 3-0, marking the 20th attempt at which England had failed to record an official win over Germany.[29][30]

Competitive record

England team in February 2015

World Cup

England have qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup four times (1995, 2007, 2011, 2015) and failed to qualify for three competitions (1991, 1999, 2004). The England team have reached the quarter final stage on three occasions, losing out to Germany in 1995, the United States in 2007 and France on penalties in 2011.

World Cup finals
Year Result GP W D* L GF GA GD
China 1991Did not qualify-------
Sweden 1995Quarter-finals420269−3
United States 1999Did not qualify-------
United States 2003Did not qualify-------
China 2007Quarter-finals412186+2
Germany 2011Quarter-finals422063+3
Canada 2015Qualified-------
Total4/7125432018+2
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

European Championship

England first entered the UEFA Women's Championship in 1984, reaching the final that year and in 2009. The England team has reached the semi-finals on two other occasions (1989, 1995) but only managed to make the group stages in three editions (2001, 2005, 2013). The team did not qualify in 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1997.

Year Result GP W D* L GF GA
1984Runners-up430142
Norway 1987Fourth Place200235
Germany 1989Did not Qualify––––––
Denmark 1991Did not Qualify––––––
Italy 1993Did not Qualify––––––
1995Semi-final200226
Norway Sweden 1997Did not Qualify––––––
Germany 2001Group Stage301218
England 2005Group Stage310245
Finland 2009Runners-up 6 3 1 2 12 14
Sweden 2013Group Stage301237
Total7/112373132947
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
**Red border colour denotes tournament was held on home soil.

Olympic Games

England do not participate in the Women's Olympic Football Tournament, as the country does not have its own National Olympic Committee (NOC). Members of its team have played for the Great Britain women's Olympic football team at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Since England falls under the jurisdiction of the British Olympic Association, remit for an Olympic football team requires support from all four Home Nation associations. The Scottish Football Association (SFA), the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and the Irish Football Association (IFA) have all previously objected to the premise over fears that the team would erode the independence of their individual football associations.[31]

Minor tournaments

Year Round Position GP W D* L GS GA
England 1976 Pony Home Championship Winners, group stage 1st220091
Italy 1979 Unofficial European Championship Semi final 4th421164
Japan 1981 Mundialito Group stage 3rd210141
Italy 1984 Mundialito Semi final 3rd402236
Italy 1985 Mundialito Winners 1st2311135
Italy 1988 Mundialito Winners 1st431082
United States 1990 North America Cup Group stage 3rd411237
Portugal 2002 Algarve Cup Group stage 9th4103812
Portugal 2005 Algarve Cup Group stage 8th4310130
China 2007 Four Nations Tournament Group stage 4th302130
Cyprus 2009 Cyprus Cup Winners 1st4310143
Cyprus 2010 Cyprus Cup Group stage 5th421165
South Korea 2010 Peace Queen Cup Group stage 2nd202000
Cyprus 2011 Cyprus Cup Group stage 5th420244
Cyprus 2012 Cyprus Cup Group stage 4th420257
Cyprus 2013 Cyprus Cup Winners 1st4310127
Cyprus 2014 Cyprus Cup Final 2nd430172
Cyprus 2015 Cyprus Cup Winners 1st431082
Total6 titles6334151712668

Players

For all past and present players who have appeared for the national team, see List of England women's international footballers (alphabetical)

Current squad

The following 25 players were called up by manager Mark Sampson for the international friendly against China on 9 April 2015.[32]

Caps and goals updated as of 10 April 2015.[33]

Head coach: Wales Mark Sampson

# Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
GK Karen Bardsley 14 October 1984 43 0 England Manchester City
GK Siobhan Chamberlain 15 August 1983 33 0 England Arsenal
GK Carly Telford 7 July 1987 5 0 England Notts County
DF Anita Asante 27 April 1985 70 2 Sweden FC Rosengård
DF Laura Bassett 2 August 1983 49 2 England Notts County
DF Gemma Bonner 13 July 1991 8 1 England Liverpool
DF Alex Greenwood 7 September 1993 12 1 England Notts County
DF Claire Rafferty 11 January 1989 9 0 England Chelsea
DF Alex Scott 14 October 1984 123 12 England Arsenal
DF Demi Stokes 12 December 1991 13 1 England Manchester City
DF Casey Stoney 13 May 1982 118 6 England Arsenal
MF Katie Chapman 15 June 1982 85 8 England Chelsea
MF Jade Moore 22 October 1990 16 1 England Birmingham City
MF Jordan Nobbs 8 December 1992 21 3 England Arsenal
MF Jo Potter 13 November 1984 19 2 England Birmingham City
MF Jill Scott 2 February 1987 90 13 England Manchester City
MF Fara Williams 25 January 1984 139 37 England Liverpool
FW Eniola Aluko 21 February 1987 90 32 England Chelsea
FW Jessica Clarke 5 May 1989 49 11 England Notts County
FW Natasha Dowie 30 June 1988 14 5 England Liverpool
FW Toni Duggan 25 July 1991 25 14 England Manchester City
FW Fran Kirby 29 June 1993 8 2 England Reading
FW Lianne Sanderson February 3, 1988 46 15 England Arsenal
FW Jodie Taylor May 17, 1986 8 4 United States Portland Thorns
FW Ellen White 9 May 1989 50 17 England Notts County

Recent callups

The following players have also been called up to the England squad within the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Rachel Brown RET 2 July 1980 82 0 England Everton v.  Sweden, 3 August 2014
GK Rachael Laws 5 November 1990 0 0 England Sunderland v.  Montenegro, 17 September 2014
GK Rebecca Spencer 2 March 1991 0 0 England Birmingham City v.  Montenegro, 17 September 2014
DF Lucy Bronze 28 October 1991 16 2 England Manchester City v.  Germany, 23 November 2014
DF Sophie Bradley 20 October 1989 28 0 England Notts County v.  Sweden, 3 August 2014
DF Steph Houghton (Captain) 23 April 1988 53 7 England Manchester City 2015 Cyprus Cup
DF Jemma Rose 19 January 1992 0 0 England Arsenal v.  Montenegro, 17 September 2014
DF Dunia Susi 10 August 1987 21 0 England Notts County v.  Sweden, 3 August 2014
DF Amy Turner 4 July 1991 2 0 England Notts County 2015 Cyprus Cup
MF Remi Allen 15 October 1990 0 0 England Birmingham City v.  Ukraine, 16 June 2014
MF Karen Carney 1 August 1987 103 23 England Birmingham City 2015 Cyprus Cup
FW Danielle Carter 18 May 1993 0 0 England Arsenal v.  Sweden, 3 August 2014
FW Gemma Davison 17 April 1987 5 0 England Chelsea v.  Sweden, 3 August 2014
FW Kelly Smith RET 29 October 1978 117 46 England Arsenal v.  Germany, 23 November 2014

Notes:

Player records

Fara Williams holds the record for England appearances, having played 138 times since 2001. She overtook previous record holder Rachel Yankey in August 2014, in a friendly against Sweden.[34] Yankey had passed Gillian Coultard's 119 record England women caps in September 2012, in a European qualifying match against Croatia, and Peter Shilton's 125 record England international caps in June 2013, in a friendly against Japan.[35] Alex Scott is the third highest capped female England player with 122, followed by Coultard. Casey Stoney is fifth, with 118 caps.

Smith has also scored the highest number of goals for England, with 46 over a twenty year international career. She surpassed Karen Walker's 40 goal record in September 2010, in a World Cup qualifying play off against Switzerland.[36]

Most capped players

# Name Caps Goals Years Ref
1 Williams, FaraFara Williams 139 37 2001–present [37]
2 Yankey, RachelRachel Yankey 129 19 1997–present [38]
3 Scott, AlexAlex Scott 123 12 2004–present [39]
4 Coultard, GillianGillian Coultard 119 30 1981–2000 [40]
5 Stoney, CaseyCasey Stoney 118 6 2000–present [41]

Top goalscorers

# Name Caps Goals Years Ref
1 Smith, KellyKelly Smith 117 46 1995–2015 [42]
2 Walker, KarenKaren Walker 83 40 1988–2003 [43]
3 Williams, FaraFara Williams 139 37 2001–present [37]
4 Powell, HopeHope Powell 66 35 1983–1998 [44]
5 Aluko, EniolaEniola Aluko 90 32 2004–present [45]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "England: FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gregory, Patricia (3 June 2005). "How women's football battled for survival". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lopez, Sue (1997). Women on the ball: a guide to women's football. London: Scarlet Press. ISBN 1857270215.
  4. ↑ "Coppa del Mondo (Women) 1970". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Mundial (Women) 1971". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Women's Football". Culture, Media and Sport Committee. p. 3. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Williams, Jean (2003). A Game for Rough Girls? A History of Women's Football in Britian. London: Routledge. p. 36. ISBN 1135136149.
  8. ↑ Mitchell, Paul. "The first international football match". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Croydon, Emily (7 July 2013). "Women's Euros 2013: Women's football's forgotten heroines". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  10. ↑ Saffer, Paul. "1984: Sweden take first title". UEFA. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  11. ↑ Leighton, Tony (19 May 2009). "England's shoot-out jinx begins - England, 1984". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  12. ↑ Saffer, Paul. "1987: Norway victorious in Oslo". UEFA. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  13. ↑ Saffer, Paul. "1995: Germany establish upper hand". UEFA. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "FIFA Women's World Cup - Sweden 1995". FIFA. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Hope Powell sacked as England women's manager". BBC Sport. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "Germany too strong for England". BBC Sport. 30 June 2001. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  17. ↑ Oatley, Jacqui (14 June 2005). "England excitement all over too fast". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  18. ↑ Leighton, Tony (8 September 2007). "England talk up World Cup chances". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  19. ↑ Leighton, Tony (28 October 2005). "England's record victory boosts World Cup credentials for China". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  20. ↑ "USA send England out of World Cup". BBC Sport. 22 September 2007. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  21. ↑ Leighton, Tony (14 May 2009). "FA boosts England's women's team with central contracts". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  22. ↑ Williams, Jean (2011). "Woman's Football, Europe and Professionalization 1971-2011". De Montfort University. pp. 72–73. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  23. ↑ Ashenden, Mark (10 September 2009). "England 2-6 Germany". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  24. ↑ Leighton, Tony (21 August 2010). "Kelly Smith goals help England to 4-0 win over Austria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  25. ↑ "Swiss Women 2-3 England Women". BBC Sport. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  26. ↑ Stevenson, Jonathan (5 July 2011). "Women's World Cup: England 2-0 Japan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  27. ↑ Ashdown, John (9 July 2011). "England lose to France on penalties in Women's World Cup quarter-final". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  28. ↑ Leighton, Tony (17 September 2014). "England Women thrash Montenegro 10-0 in qualifier". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  29. ↑ Thompson, Anna (23 November 2014). "BBC Sport - England 0-3 Germany". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  30. ↑ "Deutschland vs England" (in German). German Football Association. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  31. ↑ "Football Association wants Great Britain sides at Rio Olympics". BBC Sport. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  32. ↑ "Ellen White back in the England fold for China game". The Football Association. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  33. ↑ "England Women's Senior Team". The Football Association. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  34. ↑ Dunn, Carrie. "From sleeping rough to England’s caps record: the inspirational story of Fara Williams". Eurosport. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  35. ↑ "Rachel Yankey breaks Peter Shilton's 125 England caps". BBC Sport. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  36. ↑ "Smith's six of the best". FIFA. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "Fara Williams". The Football Association. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  38. ↑ "Rachel Yankey". The Football Association. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  39. ↑ "Alex Scott". The Football Association. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  40. ↑ Galvin, Robert. "Gillian Coultard". National Football Museum. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  41. ↑ "Casey Stoney". The Football Association. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  42. ↑ "Kelly Smith". The Football Association. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  43. ↑ "Walker announces retirement". BBC Sport. 3 June 2003. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  44. ↑ Galvin, Robert. "Hope Powell". National Football Museum. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  45. ↑ "Eniola Aluko". The Football Association. Retrieved 18 March 2015.

External links