Australia's Foord is World Cup's best young player

Australian teenager Caitlin Foord was awarded the Best Young Player trophy at the women's World Cup on Friday by FIFA's technical study group. The 16-year-old Sydney FC forward impressed sufficiently in the three games she played at Germany 2011 to win the award for players aged 20 or under. The Matildas were knocked out by Sweden in the quarter-finals and Foord was unable to receive the award personally in Frankfurt due to her country's last-eight exit. "She is only 16 so that's a very young age, but we have seen what a talented player she is," said Tatjana Haenni, FIFA's head of women's competition. "Australia is not a country known as one of the strongest, but this shows the development that is going on in the sport." "She is a very dynamic player, both on the ball and off it, she played at the back and in midfield for Australia, so she is very adaptable," said former US team coach April Heinrichs, a member of FIFA's technical study group. "She is very good on the flank and we are looking forward to watching her grow, she had a real presence at the World Cup."