England intent on final flourish

England may have confounded even their own expectations by reaching the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship final but now there they plan to provide holders Germany with a real test.

Disbelief
Before the tournament kicked off in Reykjavik a week-and-a-half ago all talk of favourites centred on the two pillars of European women's youth football – Germany and France. Few gave much credence to England's chances, least of all themselves. Yet after beating France for the first time ever in the group stages and then prevailing 3-0 against Norway in the last four they are on the cusp of a historic title. "I can't believe we're in the final," said manager Mo Marley. "We're a young, inexperienced team and two players [Chelsea Weston and Remi Allen] hadn't made their U19s debut before this tournament so I didn't expect them to come this far."

Stiff test
England's opponents for the Laugardalsvöllur Stadium showdown are more obvious. Having claimed their fourth title in nine seasons 12 months ago in Switzerland Germany have long been the principal force at this level, adding just a little pressure to Maren Meinert's team. "I feel great," she said. "It's the second time in a row and we came here as favourites so everybody tries to beat Germany. But we have done well and made it through to the final again." For a while during their last-four match aspirations of silverware looked to be floundering as France cancelled a two-goal deficit in the second half, but they recovered and eventually ran out 4-2 victors in extra time.

'Tough game'
It was the first time Germany have played the additional period in this tournament though Meinert is not dismissing the possibility of a repeat in the final. "It will be a tough game and it could go to extra time or even penalties," said the 33-year-old, who knows exactly what to expect from England after the sides met in La Manga in March, the Germans coming from behind to win 2-1. "They have an aggressive, speedy team. They never give up, they're very fast, talk a lot and with that aggression it makes them difficult to beat. They have midfielders who keep the ball on the ground and play it quick, which distinguishes them from England teams in the past."

England focus
That is something Marley is blissfully aware of. The Everton LFC manager was part of the senior England team that lost 8-0 to Norway in 2000, a game she views as the watershed moment for football in her homeland. "We have moved on from then, the whole philosophy has changed," she said. "Now, in a year in which the senior side will play at the [FIFA Women's] World Cup in China the U19s have qualified for the final and I believe they can win it. It could be the case that they are already satisfied with what they have achieved but I saw them on the day of the semi-final, saw their focus and it scared me because they wanted it that much. They can achieve anything."