England star wants team

13 January 2009-PA Sport

England's top female player Kelly Smith has begged the four British associations to settle their differences and allow a Great Britain team to take part at the London 2012 Olympics.

Smith, 30, named as one of the top five women players in the world at a FIFA gala in Zurich today, said the women's game in Britain desperately needed to be included in the Olympics.

Leaders of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland FAs are opposing a combined British team at 2012 for fear of losing their separate identities, even though FIFA have made official assurances that will not be the case.

Smith, who plays for Arsenal Ladies, said: "We qualified for the last Olympics but were not allowed to go so hopefully the [four] countries will get together and unite as Great Britain and I will a get a chance to play at the London Olympics.

"All the English national team players wants it to happen, to get the chance to play, and I beg the FAs to all get together and get the outcome we all want.

"I've spoken to some Scottish and Welsh players and they are all behind it too.

"Great Britain needs to have a team. It would be great for the women's game in our country - the men don't need it with the Euros and the World Cup - but we do. It must happen."

Smith occupied the stage at the Zurich Opera House with four of the superstars of the women's game: Brazilians Marta and Cristiane and two Germans, Birgit Prinz and Nadine Angerer.

Smith added: "I'm really proud to be here and to represent England, and to be among four amazing talents.

"We are a young upcoming team who have just broken into the top 10 and it is a great achievement for me to be here."

Smith has received an offer to play for Boston in the USA's new Women's Professional Soccer league and Marta, the most high-profile women's player in the world, announced today she is to move to the Los Angeles Sol to play her club football.

The Brazilian has turned down a new contract with her Swedish club Umea IK to sign for the Los Angeles side for the next three years.

Marta, 22, whose compatriot Cristiane is joining Chicago, said: "It's a very ambitious project and I believe it will be a very competitive league and attract many players.

"Of course I'm sad because I'm leaving Umea but it's a new project so I'm excited and it's time to try something new.

"Women's football in the USA is very competitive and exciting."

Marta, Olympic silver medallist with Brazil, was later named the FIFA women's player of the year for the third successive time.