Scott keeps scoring
Sunday, 28 October, 2007
Alex Scott reveals her satisfaction in scoring twice as England defeated Belarus 4-0.
England 4-0 Belarus
UEFA Women's European Championship
Qualifying Round, Group One
12.30pm, Saturday 27 October 2007
Banks's Stadium, Walsall FC
Alex Scott admitted that it was important to get back in front of the fans in England after the journey to the Far East for the World Cup, and was delighted to crown the return with a brace.
The Arsenal defender grabbed goals either side of the interval to help the Three Lions to a comfortable victory over Belarus, and put three more points on the board towards qualification for Euro 2009, and Scott was pleased to do it in front of a noisy crowd.
Scott told TheFA.com: "It was great to be here in front of a sellout crowd here today, obviously we are coming off the back of the World Cup and we know that we did well there.
"I think everyone was a little deflated and found it hard to motivate themselves, so it was good to come together as a squad so soon and play this game. It helped to remotivate ourselves because we know we have a new target ahead of us now to qualify, so it was good to play and get three points on the board.
"We didn't want to let ourselves down, we know it has been hard after the World Cup as everyone had to go back to work and their everyday lives. But we've worked hard this work to remotivate ourselves and to build on the momentum that we gained from China, and play the football that we did."
With two goals at the Banks's Stadium, Scott took her tally for England to eight goals, and the versatile Gunner admitted that she seemed to score more often when playing in defence than attack.
"I think I'm a better goalscorer from right-back than I am as an attacker!" Scott joked. "But I love playing there, it's my favourite position, I can attack from deep so long may it continue.
"I think Fara has tried a shot, but as long as I was in there and got a touch then I'm claiming it.
"(On the second goal) Lianne does that at Arsenal, even though she scores a lot of goals she's not a selfish player so I knew she would square it across the box. Then it was just a matter of me making the run, that's what I do at Arsenal so I was pleased to bring it here for England.
"We're focused now on Finland, and we always want to qualify for the major tournaments now, that's what it's about for us. We know we had a good World Cup, but now it's all about qualifying for the next tournament and in the next game against Spain is going to be hard but we're preparing well."
Teams:
England: 1 Rachel Brown, 2 Alex Scott, 3 Casey Stoney, 4 Katie Chapman (12 Jill Scott , 5 Mary Philip, 6 Anita Asante, 7 Karen Carney (16 Sue Smith 46), 8 Fara Williams, 9 Eniola Aluko, 10 Kelly Smith (c) (14 Lianne Sanderson 55), 11 Rachel Yankey
Subs Not Used: 13 Siobhan Chamberlain, 15 Rachel Unitt, 17 Lindsay Johnson, 18 Jody Handley
Head Coach: Hope Powell
Belarus: 1 Sviatlana Novikava, 2 Viktoria Krylova, 3 Liudzmila Kuzniatsova (6 Irina Kozeeva 58), 5 Oksana Shpak, 7 Volha Radzko (16 Alena Ziuzkova 75), 8 Volha Novikava, 9 Svetlana Astasheva, 10 Natalya Ryzhevich (c), 11 Alesia Davydovic, 13 Sviatlana Ryzhova, 15 Irina Chukisova (17 Maryna Lis 53)
Subs Not Used: 4 Volha Manzhuk, 12 Ina Batsianouskaya, 14 Alena Buzinova, 18 Tatsioana Kiose
Head Coach: Vladzimir Kasakouski
Referee: Marylin Remy (France)
Assistant Referees: Karine Vives Solana, Audrey Guerlin (Both France)
Attendance: 8,632
