ENGLAND vs AUSTRIA

Powell names squad for double-header

Glenn Lavery

Wednesday, 10 March, 2010

22 players selected for World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Spain.

England v Austria
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 Qualifier
7pm, Thursday 25 March 2010
Loftus Road, Queens Park Rangers FC
Live on FATV
Tickets are priced £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions - see below

England v Spain
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 Qualifier
7pm, Thursday 1 April 2010
The Den, Millwall FC
Live on FATV
Tickets are priced £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions - see below

The England Women’s Head Coach, Hope Powell, has named her squad for the upcoming FIFA Women's 2011 World Cup qualifying double-header against Austria and Spain on 25 March and 1 April respectively.

There are familiar faces throughout the squad though Powell has called up Chelsea defender, Claire Rafferty, and Leeds Carnegie forward, Ellen White, for the first time after they impressed at a training camp in La Manga in January. They also travelled to Spain with the U23s last month.

“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. I’m pleased that I’ve been able to call them up because both girls deserve their chance, but, in saying that, there were a few U23s that did really well in January that I wouldn’t hesitate to call upon if there were injuries.”

The Austria match represents England’s first competitive game since their 3-0 defeat of Turkey in November, though Powell did take her side to Larnaca last month for the defence of the Cyprus Cup. They were unable to retain their crown - they finished fifth - but the Head Coach was certainly happy with the way her side 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. The expectations are really high and I don’t think we’ve been in that position before and that brings with it its own pressures and anxieties, but if you want to be the best those are the sorts of things you have to cope with.

“On the whole, the Cyprus Cup was a great experience for us. Some younger players really stepped up to the plate, Jess Clarke and Dunia Susi in particular, but it also served to highlight our weaknesses in that we are, by our own standards, conceding too many goals. We have been focusing on scoring more goals, but we also need to correct a few things at the other end ahead of these next two games.”

First up is Austria, who have only won one of their opening three qualifiers, against Malta, but their two defeats did come at the hands of Spain who currently top Group 5 with four wins from four and Powell is well aware of the size of the task ahead.

“Austria are clearly growing in confidence, but I think they will come to Loftus Road and sit back, which they have tended to do historically.

“In saying that, their 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.

“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.”

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Ticket information

England v Austria
Visit www.eticketing.com/QPR to buy online. You can also purchase tickets by e-mailing boxoffice@qpr.co.uk, by phone on 08444 777007 ((national call charges apply) or from the Queens Park Rangers box office - Box Office, Loftus Road Stadium, South Africa Road, London, W12 7PJ.

Charter Standard booking form
Group booking form

England v Spain
You can purchase tickets online via www.millwalltickets.com, by phone on 0871 230 5585 (national call charges apply) or in person/by post at the Millwall Ticket Office - Ticket Office, Millwall Football Club, Zampa Road, London, SE16 3LN.

Charter Standard booking form
Group booking form

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Squad in full

Karen Bardsley	Sky Blue
Rachel Brown	Everton
Siobhan Chamberlain	Chelsea
Laura Bassett	Leeds Carnegie
Lindsay Johnson	Everton
Claire Rafferty	Chelsea
Alex Scott	Boston Breakers
Casey Stoney	Chelsea
Dunia Susi	Chelsea
Rachel Unitt	Everton
Faye White	Arsenal
Danielle Buet	Chelsea
Katie Chapman	Chicago Red Stars
Jessica Clarke	Leeds Carnegie
Jill Scott	Everton
Sue Smith	Leeds Carnegie
Fara Williams	Everton
Rachel Yankey	Arsenal
Eniola Aluko	Saint Louis Athletica
Lianne Sanderson	Philadelphia Independence
Kelly Smith	Boston Breakers
Ellen White	Leeds Carnegie