The UEFA European Women’s Under-19 European Championship finals get underway in Scotland tomorrow.
The tournament takes place from 16 to 28 July and the finals will act as UEFA’s qualifier for the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
There are two groups of four teams:
Group A: Scotland (hosts), Netherlands, Norway, France
Group B: England, Belgium, Spain (holders), Germany.
The top two finishers in each group will compete in the semi-finals.
The venues are:
Saint Mirren Park, Paisley (Group A, semi-final, final) – home of St Mirren
Firhill Stadium, Glasgow (Group A, semi-final) – home of Partick Thistle
McDiarmid Park, Perth (Group B) – home of St Johnstone
Forthbank Stadium, Stirling (Group B) – home of Stirling Albion.
Ticket Prices:
Group games:Adults £2, Concessions £1.
Knockouts:Adults £5, Concessions £2.
Scotland’s campaign kicks off tomorrow evening. Their opener against France kicks off at 7.30pm at St Mirren Park in Paisley.
Spartans’ and Scotland defender Michaela McAlonie can’t wait for the finals to get underway.
“It’s an honour just playing for your country but also going to a Finals – it only happens every couple of years. So just to be in a Finals – I’m really excited.
I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s getting bigger and I think that wee girls, just seeing us achieve things and big things happening, it’ll make them want to do it even more.”
Background
“I only started playing football in P6. I started off playing for my school team which was just a boys and girls mixed team. I got scouted to go to Hutchy Girls when I was quite young, about 13. And then I was scouted by Hearts and was there for two years. This is now my second season at Spartans.
“We go to college to learn about health, fitness and exercise at Granton Campus. That starts at the end of August. I think our studies are quite relaxed with our football. They understand that we need to go away sometimes and they give us work to take away and stuff, which is good.”
Women’s World Cup
“It’s been amazing just watching the girls to see how much they’ve actually achieved to get there and how well they’ve done. All of us look up to then and want to be where they are just now. It would be amazing to play in a World Cup!”
Being a role model and the future
It’s some sort of responsibility but I like it. Just having girls come up to me and ask how they can improve and stuff like that – it’s good.
The future? Just to keep doing what I’m doing the now and keep working hard and hopefully keep on enjoying it.
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