Football: Squad for announced World Cup qualifiers

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England women’s football Head Coach Hope Powell has announced her squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Spain on 25^th March and 1^st April respectively.

Powell has stuck with familiar faces but has also given first time call ups to Chelsea defender, Claire Rafferty, and Leeds Carnegie forward, Ellen White who joined the team at a training camp in La Manga in January.

“I think both players can bring something to the squad,” said Powell, of the two new inclusions. “As a naturally left-footed player, Claire gives us another option at left back and Ellen has been doing well at Leeds Carnegie this season.”

The matches will be England’s first competitive games since November 2009 though they did travel to Larnaca in February to defend the Cyprus Cup. Despite finishing fifth, Powell was quick to praise the way her team played, “I thought we were the best footballing team out there,” she said. “No starting eleven was the same throughout the tournament and it was a great experience; we won the Cyprus Cup last year and reached the Final of the European Championship, so we are now seen as a team to beat.”

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The team will fancy their chances against Austria who have only managed one win in their three opening qualifiers. However, Powell does not think the game is in the bag yet, “[Austria’s] attitude might be that they’ve got nothing to lose, because they’ve lost twice to Spain already and you need to top the group to progress to the play-off, so they might come out with a little more fight and try and take the game to us, which could work in our favour because the game will open up a bit. Either way, we’re expecting a tough game.”

Worryingly for Powell, both of Austria’s defeats were at the hands of England’s second opponent, Spain who currently top Group 5 with four wins from four. “Spain will be another difficult game because they have got some really talented players who we will have to be mindful of. They might have a point to prove as our second-half comeback two years ago ultimately cost them a place at the Euros. We will have to be at our best to get the win.”

Squad in full

Alice Neal, Sportsister
The Woman’s Sports Magazine

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