February 3, 2003

England National Team to introduce several young players to international soccer in game against Italy

England is taking a young squad to play Italy next month in Viareggio, near Pisa, as part of the 55th World Tournament. Five of the players taken have yet to win a cap.

National Team Head Coach Hope Powell said " The Italy game will provide us with an excellent opportunity to test our young players as we start our preparations for Euro 2005. We do not have a fully competitive fixture for the next two years after qualifying for the Euros as hosts, so it is important to use a friendly programme for our younger players to gain the much-needed experience. If you look at the best teams in the world, they are full of players who have 40+ caps, while some of the girls we used in our World Cup campaign just had a handful."

England National Team

Cope, Pauline - Charlton Athletic,

Brown, Rachel - Everton,

Wayne, Toni-Anne - Southampton Saints,

Kirsty Pealling - Arsenal,

Leanne Champ - Arsenal,

Rachel McArthur - Fulham,

Rachel Unitt - Fulham,

Casey Stoney - Birmingham City,

Mary Phillip - Fulham,

Kristy Moore - Fulham,

Jody HandleY - Doncaster Belles,

Carly Hunt - Doncaster Belles,

Samantha Britton - Leeds United,

Vicky Exley - Doncaster Belles,

Fara Williams - Charlton Athletic,

Rachel Yankey - Fulham,

Sue Smith - Leeds United,

Kelly McDougall - Everton,

Kelly Smith - Philadelphia Charge,

Amanda Barr - Charlton Athletic,

Carmaine Walker - Charlton Athletic,

Una Nwajei - Fulham,

Karen Walker - Doncaster Belles