A former Greenshaw High School student has been selected to play for the Serbian women’s national football team.

Ria Popovic, of Seddon Road, Morden, flew to Belgrade with her Serbian father earlier this month to showcase her skills.

Despite the highly-pressurised environment, the 18-year-old, who plays for Millwall, wowed the Serbian coaches and was invited to join the national squad.

Her first task will be to help her new country qualify for the European Under-19 Championships 2011 held in Italy where she may face the country of her birth.

The Chelsea supporter, who played for QPR and had trials with Arsenal, said: “I would absolutely love to play against England as it would be a great opportunity to get noticed by scouts.

“I still want to play for England but the offer to play for Serbia came along so I grabbed it.

“The trial was a great experience, the Serbian players are very technically gifted and the way they play the game is very different.

“Whenever I play for Millwall, the opposition always think we’re going to be really butch girls and will put them in hospital Ria’s brother Karl, who had trials with Crystal Palace and Fulham, said his sister was a “tough-tackling centre half” in the John Terry mould.

Mum Diane, a foster carer, said: “The England scouts always has their eye on her but seemed to lose track of her. I always wanted a girly girl but she made me so proud, like when she was the only girl in the boys’ football team at school.

“Ria is tough and doesn’t take any prisoners on the pitch, but she has grown into this glamorous young lady and is amazing with the fosters kids I help.”

The multi-talented teenager has already completed her level one FA Coaching badge and is also studying psychology at Roehampton University.

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