England team guide
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Article summary
England are back in the latter stages and eager to reestablish themselves having reached three out of four finals before failing to qualify for last summer's tournament.
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England have reached three of the last five finals in this competition, but were frustrated onlookers last season after Norway barred their path in qualifying. There was no stopping Mo Marley's team this time around.
Given a bye through the initial stage, they began the second qualifying round tentatively, Nikita Parris scoring the only goal against Finland. The Everton striker then hit a hat-trick in a 6-0 demolition of Wales, and a 1-0 victory over Austria made it three wins from three, with Parris' highly-rated strike partner Danielle Carter this time on target.
It booked a return to what England have come to see as their rightful home. Semi-finalists in 2002 and 2003, the Three Lions then reached three finals in four seasons, finishing runners-up in 2007 and 2010 either side of their 2009 triumph, beating Sweden in the Belarus showpiece.
Route to finals
Second qualifying round: Finland 1-0, Wales 6-0, Austria 1-0 (Group 6 winners)
Top scorer: Nikita Parris (4)
Key players
Nikita Parris (forward, Everton), Alex Greenwood (defender, Everton), Danielle Carter (forward, Arsenal LFC)
Manager: Mo Marley
Date of Birth: 31 January 1967
Playing career: Everton, England
Coaching career: Everton, England women's U19
Marley captained England at the 2001 UEFA European Women's Championship before retiring with 41 caps. She continued playing at centre-back for Everton, the club she now coaches in addition to working as a women and girls' development officer. Her efforts promoting the sport on Merseyside saw her named an MBE – a civil honour – in 2005. She has been England women's U19 coach since 2001, and in 2008 became only the second women in England to acquire the UEFA Pro coaching licence.
In 2007/08 Marley claimed silverware at club level, her side beating Arsenal LFC 1-0 to lift the League Cup. Glory followed on the international stage the following summer, as Marley guided England to the women's U19 title in Belarus. She followed that up in May 2010 by steering Everton to the club's second FA Women's Cup triumph, her side defeating Arsenal LFC 3-2 in the final after extra time.
Team records
UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship best
Winners: 2009
Runners-up: 2007, 2010
Honours in other UEFA women's competitions
UEFA European Women's Championship
Runners-up: 2009