Never before has women’s football ever garnered such interest in England. That’s because the Three Lionesses have a team in this World Cup that is considered the best in the nation’s history.
The women’s game was once banned in the UK, and often ignored, even after its legalization has soared in popularity recently. Each of the last six FA Women’s Cup finals have attracted over 13,000 fans to the stadium, and England — after missing the 1999 and 2003 Women’s World Cups — has emerged as an international power since 2007. The inception of the FA WSL in 2011 has improved both the quality and visibility of the domestic England game.
England entered Germany 2011 on a ten match unbeaten streak. Included in that string of matches, was a 2-1 win in early April over the top ranked USA. Unlike their men’s counterparts who have not qualified for a major final since 1966, the England women were in the European Championship Final just two years ago, losing to Germany in the final.
Manager Hope Powell boasts an incredible pedigree. She was the first ever women to receive a UEFA Pro License for coaching, the first black manager of any England team, and the first woman to ever manage in England. The FA has allowed Powell the time to grow the side, and she’s now among the longest tenured managers in the world. So highly thought of is Powell, that in 2009 her name was heavily linked with the vacant Grimsby Town FC men’s job.
No current England player is more famous than Kelly Smith, who plays in the WPS for the Boston Breakers. Smith made her full international debut almost sixteen years ago and will lead the line for quite possibly her final World Cup. Four other England players come from the WPS, with the rest of the team playing their club football domestically.
This England team is deep and highly experienced. They enter Group B play as the co-favorites along with Japan.