Head Coach Hope Powell announced her 20-player squad last week and their campaign this week got a boost from Real Madrid and England’s David Beckham.

The England Captain has played in two World Cup Finals and two European Championship Finals for England, and he teamed up with England Women’s captain Faye White to promote Women's Euro 2005, which kicks off at the City of Manchester Stadium on Sunday 05 June.

David Beckham said: "It's a really special feeling to captain your country but to do it in a major tournament is fantastic, and not many players get the chance.

"Faye is lucky that she will have the added honour of captaining her England side in front of home fans in a tournament on English soil. I know she will give it her all and I'd like to wish her the very best for the tournament."

Faye plays her club football for Arsenal who are FA Nationwide Women’s Premier League champions for the fourth time in five seasons, and has been capped 42 times.

"It’s going to be the highlight of my career, no question," said the 27-year-old central defender. "It was good to be involved in Euro 2001 in Germany, but this will mean so much more for me and all the other players with the finals being played in our own country.

"It’s also a great opportunity to showcase women’s football and take it to a different level.

"The game has improved massively in recent years and with some of the world’s best teams coming to play in the tournament, we can hopefully leave a lasting legacy for the sport in England."

England face Finland in a Group A opener, before they face Denmark at Ewood Park on 08 June, and 2001 European runners-up Sweden on 11 June, also at Ewood Park.

Group B contains European and World champions Germany plus Norway, France and Italy.

Click here for the full Women's Euro 2005 fixtures schedule...

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