Who's who in the England women's squad?
- Published
England squad profiles | ||||
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GOALKEEPERS | ||||
Name | Age | Club | Standing in team | Background |
Karen Bardsley | 26 | Sky Blue | Bardsley has been a regular for England since the turn of the year, and will hope to hold on to her starting spot ahead of the more experienced Rachel Brown. | Born and raised in California to English parents, she has spent her entire career in the United States but says she relates more to her family in Stockport. |
Rachel Brown | 30 | Everton | England's first-choice keeper at the last three international tournaments, Brown has struggled with injuries that have restricted her to three Women's Super League games this year. | Brown was sent off in England's play-off against Switzerland when Ramona Bachmann convinced the referee that Brown pulled her hair while trying to retrieve the ball. The dismissal was overturned. |
Siobhan Chamberlain | 27 | Bristol | Third in the pecking order having been an unused substitute at the 2009 European Championship and the 2007 World Cup. | Joined Bristol in 2010, helping her team to the FA Cup final and although they were beaten by Arsenal they will appear in the Women's Champions League next season. |
DEFENDERS | ||||
Sophie Bradley | 21 | Lincoln | One of five players making their major tournament debut, Bradley was picked at centre-back in the recent friendly win over Sweden in the absence of injured captain Faye White. | Bradley made her senior debut less than a year ago but captained the successful under-19 side. Also works part-time in a care home looking after the elderly. |
Claire Rafferty | 22 | Chelsea | The newest recruit to the senior set-up, Rafferty made her debut in March 2010. She is renowned as a tough-tackling left-back or left midfielder. | Has represented England at Under-19 and Under-20 levels, after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in her knee. She has also completed an economics degree at Loughborough. |
Alex Scott | 26 | Boston | First-choice right-back since 2005 and key to England's attacking threat as she likes to get forward. | Played the majority of her career at Arsenal, having come through the ranks and is now a team-mate of Kelly Smith's in the US. |
Casey Stoney | 29 | Lincoln | A centre-back who can play at left-back too, she has partnered Faye White in the centre of defence in recent games. | Spent the majority of her career at Chelsea but moved to Lincoln, who were able to provide her with full-time training. |
Dunia Susi | 23 | Birmingham | Generally plays in midfield for her club but has offered cover at right-back for England. | Has had spells with London clubs Arsenal, Fulham and Chelsea before spending a year in the US. Also has a business economics degree. |
Rachel Unitt | 29 | Everton | Casey Stoney was preferred at left-back for the last two tournaments but Unitt is back in favour now and scored three times in World Cup qualifying. | Another player who is closing on 100 caps, her link play with left winger Rachel Yankey extends back to the days when they both played for Fulham. |
Faye White | 33 | Arsenal | The captain has had an uncertain build-up to the World Cup after suffering a knee injury, but her return to the side will boost the team no end. | White works as a development officer for Arsenal and was awarded an MBE in 2007. |
MIDFIELDERS | ||||
Anita Asante | 26 | Sky Blue | Can play in defence or midfield and will likely provide cover in the latter. Katie Chapman's international retirement has given her a better chance of starting in that position. | Another player who began her career at Arsenal, she has now been based in America since 2009. |
Laura Bassett | 27 | Birmingham | Another versatile player who can play in defence or midfield, she captains Birmingham Ladies who top the Women's Super League table at the halfway stage. | Bassett will keep other midfielders on their toes and the team's brains sharp as she is charged with being the squad's chief quiz master. |
Jess Clarke | 22 | Lincoln | Started on the right wing in England's wins over the US and Sweden, with a goal against the Americans. Provides width and pace and might be preferred to Karen Carney. | Came through the ranks at Leeds and is one of three Lincoln players in the squad alongside Casey Stoney and Sophie Bradley. |
Stephanie Houghton | 23 | Arsenal | Versatile midfielder Houghton will hope she makes it to Germany in one piece after picking up injuries before the last World Cup and European Championship. | Comes from the north east of England and moved to Arsenal from Leeds for the start of the Super League. Has a degree in sports science. |
Jill Scott | 24 | Everton | Played in the last World Cup in China aged only 20, Scott has established an Everton core in midfield alongside team-mate Fara Williams. | Known as a bit of a joker in the England camp, the tall figure is a fiercely determined player and was a talented athlete as a schoolgirl. |
Fara Williams | 27 | Everton | England coach Hope Powell would have been relieved Williams recovered in time from her knee injury. Takes the majority of England's set-pieces. | Williams was England's top scorer in qualifying. She is fiercely competitive and wants to go all the way in Germany. |
Rachel Yankey | 31 | Arsenal | Yankey has hit the heights again after her shock omission for the 2009 European Championship and will switch with Clarke on either wing. Scored in the win over the US. | Along with Kelly Smith has over 100 caps and was made a MBE in 2005. |
FORWARDS | ||||
Eniola Aluko | 24 | Sky Blue | Made a big impact after coming on as a substitute in the recent win over Sweden, the pacey forward has benefited from a move to the United States, external. | The World Cup will be her fourth major tournament. Graduated with a first-class law degree, she has her own practice dealing with sports law. Her brother Sone plays for Aberdeen. |
Karen Carney | 23 | Birmingham | Carney can play as a forward or a winger, she may have to play second fiddle to Jess Clarke in the latter position. Was also impressive against Sweden. | Moved to Birmingham after a spell in the US and has played for Arsenal. Has been in good form for her club scoring three goals in seven games. |
Kelly Smith | 32 | Boston | England's most experienced player, but still their star, Smith will be playing behind the front line in what might be her final World Cup. | Smith is England's leading scorer and will strike fear into opposition defences with her running with the ball. Played alongside coach Hope Powell when making her debut in 1995. |
Ellen White | 22 | Arsenal | Has given England an added presence up front, since making her debut in 2010. She has five goals in 14 appearances for England. | White offers a different prospect to Aluko and began her footballing career at an academy run by her father. |