Sherry McCue's guide to the England squad
Friday, August 30, 2013
Article summary
Ahead of Saturday's final with France, the England captain gave UEFA.com a rundown of her team-mates, from a key-losing left-back to a dopey playmaker via a posse of jokers.
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1 Elizabeth Durack (goalkeeper)
Lizzie is a great member of the group. She's quite lively and a good character on and off the pitch, as well as being a very consistent performer.
2 Martha Harris (defender)
Another lively one – this squad's full of them! She's very consistent on the pitch and great to have around off it, though she's a bit of mickey-taker.
3 Felicity Gibbons (defender)
A good defender and she's got a great left peg on her. I wouldn't say she's quiet, but she's not one of the louder ones like Paige [Williams]!
4 Jade Bailey (midfielder)
A central midfielder whose quality on the ball is amazing. She's got great distribution, vision and is tough in the tackle – a class all-round player.
5 Aoife Mannion (defender)
The intelligent one of the group, she gets As across the board. A very smart player too, she's got a great centre-back partnership with Meg Sergeant – I think it's because their hair is the same colour!
6 Paige Williams (defender)
My room-mate here. She's got some quite bad habits, including losing our room key! A great player, a real set-piece specialist and good fun to have around.
7 Natasha Jane Flint (forward)
Tash is very quick – great at playing little one-twos and at one and two-touch football. Another quiet one, but speaks up when she has to.
8 Sherry McCue (midfielder)
I graft until the end. I've got a never-say-die attitude and will do anything I can to help us get our hands on the trophy.
9 Nikita Parris (forward)
A great player and a real leader. She used to be a bit of a mickey-taker, but she's not so bad now! She brings pace, power and clinical finishing to the team.
10 Jessica Sigsworth (midfielder)
I'd say Siggy is my best mate here: I know I can go to her if I need anything. On the pitch she's got everything: power, strength and can get up and down. She scored a great goal against Finland, too, though I think she should have had four or five that game!
11 Hannah Blundell (forward)
Another quick winger who can score and get assists. She's been a bit of a super sub for us here as she's done really well whenever she's come on.
12 Melissa Lawley (forward)
Mel's a great winger and a big character off the pitch. Loves to crack a few jokes; well, if you can call them jokes! She's very quick down the wing, a good crosser and can finish too – she's a quality all-round player.
13 Megan Walsh (goalkeeper)
Our second keeper, she has loads of great qualities, particularly her shot-shopping, and she's improved her kicking a lot too. Quite quiet off the pitch, but not afraid to pipe up when she has to!
14 Abbey-Leigh Stringer (midfielder)
Another of our midfielders who is good on the ball, has quality distribution and likes to play one and two-touch stuff. Probably the quietest player in our squad, and though she doesn't have much to say she's still a great player.
15 Ellie Stewart (defender)
Another of our Scousers, Ellie's aggressive in the tackle and a good, solid centre-back. She puts herself about, is great in the air and defends whenever she needs to. Off the field I'd say she likes to take the mickey, but I'm on her case about it so she's getting better!
16 Meaghan Sargeant (defender)
Aoife's ideal side-kick out on the pitch, they always know exactly what the other is doing and can read each other like a book. Another of the squad's mickey-takers – you have to be careful around here!
17 Bethany Mead (forward)
A great finisher. As we've seen throughout this competition, she's very clinical in front of goal. We know we can rely on her if we ever need a goal.
18 Katie Zelem (midfielder)
The dopey one of the group! She's late for every meeting, she forgets everything, but once she's on the field she forgets nothing. She fights for every ball, while her distribution and vision are amazing too.