Following the successful defence of the Easter Tournament in April, another young squad travelled to Eerikkika. After a 0-0 draw against Finland, The Three Lions held Sweden to a 1-1 draw - Sunderland's Demi Stokes scoring the goal - before emerging victors 5-4 on penalties.
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Coach Lois Fidler photo FA

Head Coach Lois Fidler told TheFA.com: "As with the squad in Holland at Easter, we spent a lot of time with the players making sure that our defensive strategy was right. We felt that if we kept it tight at the back, it would give us a platform to take on some very strong Scandinavian countries.

"The first game I felt that we didn't have enough quality in the final third but we worked on that and the second game saw a much bigger improvement. At the end of both games, there was no shortage of confidence when it came to taking penalties and it will have given the players a lot of heart to come home undefeated."

The squad will next meet up for a training camp in August, with a training match organised against the fourth team in last week's tournament, Norway, before the team take part in the first qualifying round of the inaugural UEFA European Women's U17 Championship.

Forty nations have entered the 2007/08 tournament, which will have two qualifying rounds, leading to a four-team final round next spring. England were drawn in Group 10, where a strong Russian side will await, as well as Slovakia, and group hosts Georgia. The games will be played between 23-28 October.

Looking ahead to the qualifiers Lois continued: "The players at U15 and U17 level this season have had a lot of exposure to international football, and it has now given them an understanding of the demands that will be placed on them if they are to progress through the system.

"The application of the players during the past 12 months has been thoroughly commendable, but with qualification for a tournament at stake, a new factor; 'pressure' will rear its head, and although as Coaches we will prepare the players as best we can, we will begin to see which players mentally, as well as physically cope best."

The top team from each group, plus the six runners-up with the best records against the sides finishing first and third in their pool, will go through to the second qualifying round.

As well as offering the chance to win a new European title, the competition will also carry three places for the first FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, held in 2008 in New Zealand.