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Norway the ideal opposition

  • Thursday, 23 April, 2009
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Lianne Sanderson says that Norway are the perfect preparation for Euro 2009.

England Women v Norway
International Friendly
7.45pm, Thursday 23 April 2009
The ProStar Stadium, Shrewsbury Town FC
Tickets are £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions
Ticket Hotline 01743 273 943
Live on Setanta Sports 2

Lianne Sanderson says that England will be doing everything they can to put themselves in the best condition ahead of the European Championship in Finland this August.

Having won the Cyprus Cup last month England now have three friendly matches before setting off for Finland in August, and Sanderson says that every opportunity they have together will be vital to their success.

Sanderson said: "Every time we meet up, be it for a training camp or before a match, everyone knows they have to be switched on from minute one and give 110 per cent.

"On the pitch, we always aim to get better as individuals and as a team, but off the pitch helps as well. All the girls get on really well away from the game and that obviously helps us when we are on the pitch.

"We know what we’ve got to do when we get out there. We have to be professional and go about our job in the right way. We’re not going to underestimate Norway, we’ll take it like any other game. Just because we won the Cyprus Cup, doesn’t mean we’re the best team ever and we’ll just take each game as it comes really."

The ultimate aim for England will be to lift the European Championship, but Sanderson says that it will not be an easy task and it will need complete focus to achieve.

"We want to win it," Sanderson revealed. "Obviously it was great getting to the Quarter Final in China, but we’ve come even further now than we had then, as a team. Experience helps, for everyone to go to a World Cup and to play in the most prestigious competition in the world.

"We want to win it and I don’t see why we can’t. It won't be easy but if we apply ourselves in the right way and the way we have been, I don’t see why not."

Read the full interview in the match programme


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