Jill Scott's best England moments

England midfielder Jill Scott earns her 150th senior international cap and captains the Lionesses in a friendly against Northern Ireland on Tuesday afternoon.

Scott has been one of the most prominent players in the women’s game in England for well over a decade, representing Sunderland, Everton and Manchester City with distinction during that time.

After winning seven trophies in seven seasons with City, the 34-year-old has found a new lease of life on loan with former club Everton in 2020/21 and is a trusted senior player in a current England squad selection that overlooked a handful of other high profile names.

She is now only the second player in England history, male or female, to reach 150 senior international caps behind Fara Williams.

As she hits that milestone, here’s a look back over some of Scott’s finest moments…

England debut

Scott was England Under-19 captain when she was called up to the England senior squad for the first time by Hope Powell in May 2006. She had to wait another few months for her debut against Netherlands in August that same year, by which time she had joined Everton from Sunderland.

Scott was still only 19 at the time and replaced Lionesses legend Kelly Smith from the bench in the World Cup qualifier, with England prevailing 4-0 over their Dutch opponents.

First World Cup goal

Scott’s first England goal was the consolation in a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Germany to finish 2006, but the following year she was named in Powell’s squad for the 2007 World Cup in China.

A 20-year-old Scott was initially a sub, but she impressed off the bench against Japan in England’s opener and kept a starting place for the rest of England’s games. Her first ever World Cup goal came in the crushing 6-1 group stage win over Argentina.

FA central contract

Long before women’s club football in England was professional, Scott was among the 17 players awarded a central contract by the FA in May 2009, allowing her and others to dedicate themselves to a full-time career, instead of juggling football with part-time jobs.

At that time, England were not one of the world’s top international teams and lagged way behind the likes of Germany and the United States. But the central contracts were a big step in the right direction and helped close that gap by the time the English domestic game did go full-time.

Euro 2009 semi-final hero

The Euros in 2005 had ended in a disappointing group stage exit on home soil, but the Lionesses reached a first ever major tournament final in 2009 and it was Scott’s goal that got them there.

The semi-final against the Netherlands was delicately balanced at 1-1 at the end of normal time, with Scott grabbing the 116th minute winner for England in extra-time by rising highest at the back post to head in. Sadly, a meeting with Germany in the final ended in heavy defeat.

2011 World Cup stunner

England faced France in the quarter-finals of the 2011 World Cup, with both countries hoping to reach the semi-finals for the first time ever.

Scoring at a World Cup for the second time, Scott gave the Lionesses the lead just before the hour mark. She ran onto a forward pass 30 yards from goal, evaded two defenders, drove to the edge of the penalty area and sent an inch-perfect lob over helpless French goalkeeper Celine Deville.

France eventually edged the tie on penalties.

Team GB

The FA was placed in charge of the Great Britain team at the 2012 Olympic games and Scott was named in an England-heavy 18-player squad that reached the quarter-finals on home soil.

Scott was an ever-present for all four games and scored in the group stage over Cameroon in front of more than 31,000 people in Cardiff. GB took maximum points from the first round and the final group game was attended by more than 70,000 at Wembley against Brazil.

2015 bronze medal

Scott featured in all but one of a rapidly improving England’s games at the 2015 World Cup, her third time playing on the biggest stage of all, and took home a bronze medal in a landmark achievement for the Lionesses squad.

Scott started crucial knockout games against Canada and reigning champions Japan, as well as the decisive bronze medal match against Germany.

100 caps

Within a few months of the 2015 World Cup, Scott made her 100th Lionesses appearance. The milestone game was a narrow win over Australia at a friendly tournament in China.

“To look at the calibre of players who’ve made 100 appearances, girls like Kelly Smith, Fara Williams and Casey Stoney, it’s amazing to join that list,” a proud Scott said at the time.

England’s most capped World Cup player

In 2019, Scott became England’s most capped player at the World Cup, male or female, when she played her 18th game in a finals tournament against Cameroon in the last 16.

It broke the previous record set by former men’s goalkeeper Peter Shilton in 1990 and Scott extended the tally to 21 with further appearances in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and bronze medal match against Norway, USA and Sweden respectively.

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