Spanish test awaits
Glenn Lavery
Thursday, 01 April, 2010
Hope Powell expects difficult game at the Den.
England v Spain
FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 Qualifier
7pm, Thursday 1 April 2010
The Den, Millwall FC
Exclusively live and free of charge on FATV
Hope Powell is currently preparing her England Women’s side for tonight’s World Cup Qualifier against Spain and with both nations currently nurturing 100 per cent records in Group Five, Powell knows a tough evening awaits at the Den.
England have won their opening three Qualifiers so far, against Malta, Turkey and Austria, but with four wins from four, the Head Coach knows that Spain should provide the Three Lions with their most demanding test in the group.
The last time these two nations met, in the Qualifying stage for the European Championship, in October 2008, Spain went two goals up but England responded with two second-half goals to deny the Spanish a place at the Euros and Powell is expecting an equally challenging test tonight.
“We know it will be a difficult game,” she said.
“Everybody is expecting our two games against Spain to be the toughest games but they will be expecting the same. Technically, they are very good. The fact that they scored two goals against us last time and then we obviously came back to equalise and cost them a place at the Euros, they are going to come here and want to avenge that result.
“We have prepared for this game as diligently as we always do and we just have to make sure that we perform on the pitch.”
The two games between England and Spain could go a long way to determining which nation tops the group and ultimately makes it through to September’s two-legged play-off.
England warmed up for tonight’s encounter with a comfortable 3-0 dismissal of Austria last Thursday and a victory over Spain would put them in the driving seat in Group Five, but Powell knows a win is far from a foregone conclusion.
“If we are to pick up three points tonight, the players know they are going to have to work for it but I have no doubts whatsoever about their work ethic. If we end this double-header with six points from six we will be very happy, but we can’t jump the gun just yet.”