Eleven days and counting

By Kevin Ashby

With club football's most prestigious competition having drawn to a close last night, it is time for UEFA's premier national team event of the year, the 2005 European Women's Championship, to take centre stage.

Five venues
This continent's finest eight teams - including the world and European champions Germany - will converge on England in eleven days' time for two weeks of outstanding football, culminating in the 19 June final at the Ewood Park home of Blackburn Rovers FC. Preston, Warrington, Blackpool and the City of Manchester stadium, where the hosts open their campaign against Finland a week on Sunday, will also stage games.

Final friendly
Hope Powell's England side have been progressing nicely this year, and hope to create the sort of fervour which enabled EURO '96™ to be remembered so fondly. "Being the hosts we will try to use the crowd to our advantage," said the coach. England conclude their friendly programme against the Czech Republic in Walsall tonight, with 20 players striving to impress ahead of the biggest tournament of their lives.

'Great opportunity'
One player certain of her place, England captain Faye White, said: "It's going to be the highlight of my career, no question. It was good to be involved in EURO 2001 in Germany, but this will mean so much more for me and all the other players with the finals being played in our own country. It's also a great opportunity to showcase women's football and take it to a different level."

Beckham support
Another England skipper, David Beckham, was keen to offer some support having played in two UEFA European Championships and as many FIFA World Cups. "It's a really special feeling to captain your country but to do it in a major tournament is fantastic. Faye is lucky that she will have the added honour of captaining her country in a tournament on English soil. I know she will give it her all and I'd like to wish her the very best for the tournament."

New trophy
Sweden and Denmark complete Group A, with Germany, Norway, France and Italy competing in the other pool. A new trophy will be handed out to the winners, the old one having been retained by Germany after they secured a hat-trick of successes on home soil in Ulm in 2001.

Tickets
Tickets for all the matches are on sale now, priced £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions. Tickets can be purchased from the five host club ticket offices or by calling the clubs' ticket hotline numbers below (if you are calling from outside the UK please dial 0044 and drop the first zero before each number):

Blackburn: 08701 123 456
Blackpool: 08704 431 953
Manchester City: 08700 621 894 (please choose option 1)
Preston: 08704 421 966
Warrington: 01925 248 888
Special discounts are available for groups of over 15 and booking forms can be obtained by emailing womenseuro2005@ptarmiganpr.co.uk.