'Back to basics'
Sunday, 06 March, 2011
Casey Stoney calls on England to pass and move better against Canada.
In the wake of England’s 2-0 defeat to Scotland Casey Stoney has asked her team-mates to ‘get back to basics’ if they are to beat Canada and make it through to the final of the Cyprus Cup.
On Friday afternoon in Nicosia, Anna Signeul’s side recorded their first win over the Three Lions in 34 years thanks to goals from Jennifer Beattie and Kim Little, and Stoney, who captained England on the day, has called for an instant response against Canada on Monday.
"We need to get back to basics,” said the defender. “We are good at getting the ball on the floor and playing football. To do that we need the movement and I think we were too slow against Scotland, too lethargic. At half-time Hope [Powell, England’s National Coach] said we needed to up the urgency because there wasn't any.
“I'd like to see us be a lot sharper against Canada in all areas of the pitch. Defensively we need to cover better when we haven't got the ball. Basically, every player needs to work as hard as they can to win the match. You've got to earn the right to win a football game. You can't just turn up and expect to win.”
To make it through to their second Cyprus Cup final in three years England need to beat Canada and hope Scotland fail to beat Italy in the other Group A game.
England lifted the cup in 2009 before going on to reach the final of the European Championship six months later.
You can follow updates of England v Canada via www.twitter.com/thefadotcom