Lydia Bedford: 'I couldn't have asked for any more'

England women’s under-23s head coach Lydia Bedford and captain Ruby Mace were all smiles after being crowned winners of the WU23 European Competition.

The Young Lionesses won the final out in Spain, beating Sweden 3-0 in an impressive showing.

“I'm incredibly proud,” said Bedford. “I said to them after the first win that they exceeded my expectations and they've gone one step further today.

"To win the game by three goals and to keep a clean sheet and perform the way they have across two games, the consistency they've shown has been fantastic.

"I couldn't have asked for any more, to have only started two-and-a-half weeks ago and for the players to have played like that.”

“I’m really, really proud of the girls,” echoed Mace. “This pathway just shows what the next generation is bringing and I’m really proud to be a part of this team and especially lead them out.”

Bedford – who was only appointed as the WU23s head coach in March, having previously worked at the FA across the England women’s age groups – won her first game in charge in the semi-final against the Netherlands.

And it didn’t take long for the new head coach to get her hands on some silverware as she highlighted the value of the competition.

"It's really important,” she stated. “Previously, you get to play great teams in this age group but it's that jeopardy of it meaning something that brings out the best in players and you find out the best about them.

"With the fact there's players in this group who hopefully will step up in the future to be putting them in these moments when there's pressure is important and the fact that we got to do that today in a final is great.”

Everton star Ruby Mace was chosen as the EE Player of the Match, with the 22 year old one of a handful of players to have represented the senior team, along with the likes of Khiara Keating and Anouk Denton who have been a part of Sarina Wiegman’s squads.

“Personally, I wanted to come here and make sure I become a better player coming out of the camp,” explained Mace. “I definitely think that’s something I’m working on. The pathway is really good and it’s a really good setup in transition for the seniors.

“Going into the senior environment is a big challenge. As quick as you get it, as quick as it can be taken away. Coming into this environment with a little bit of experience from there, just bringing that here and allowing myself to lead the team in a different type of way.”

And it’s players like Mace that can give fans plenty to be excited about for the future of the Lionesses.

"I think they should be very excited,” said Bedford. “We've got history at the U20 World Cup when Mo Marley's group won a bronze so now we want to go back and go one better this year.

"We've had an under-17s team at a World Cup in the last few years and we want to try and have consistency in those major tournaments.

"And with the 2027 World Cup on the horizon next year, it's a really exciting time to see our young players flourishing.”