Hope: "We were very good"
Tuesday, 05 July, 2011
Coach Powell was happy that England's game-plan worked against Japan.
England Coach Hope Powell was happy with her team's performance in Augsburg on Tuesday evening as they booked their place in the last-eight of the FIFA Women's World Cup.
After a draw and a win in their opening two games, the Three Lions knew that a draw would confirm their progress. But goals from Ellen White and Rachel Yankey secured a 2-0 victory that saw them leap-frog their Japanese opponents into top spot in Group B.
They now know that they'll play again on Saturday afternoon in Leverkusen, but on the final whistle were waiting to find out who they'd meet out of tournament hosts Germany and France.
"We were very, very good today. You have got to respect Japan and the way they play but we had a game-plan and we implemented it," said Powell. "We haven't conceded, we have scored goals and won the group - it can only improve confidence."
Powell felt the changes she made to the team, leaving Faye White and Fara Williams on the bench for Sophie Bradley and Anita Asante, proved England have strength in depth, but admitted there was still room for improvement.
She said: "We always said at the beginning the squad would get us out of the group. Sophie Bradley was enormous today and we changed a few things and the girls did really well.
"We are getting closer but we are not there yet - the ambition was to get out of the group, to top the group and now we prepare for the next game.
"I don't care (who the opposition is)," she added. "We are in the quarters and whatever gets put in front of us we have to deal with. We are still in the competition and we are not going home."