13 Sep 2007
VIDEO: Alex Scott interview

Alex Scott is confident she will be fit to face Germany, while she reveals the identity of England's newest team member.

England v Germany
World Cup 2007, Group A
1pm (BST), Friday 14 September 2007
Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai
Watch it live on BBC Two

Alex Scott is confident she will recover in time for England's mouthwatering Group A encounter with Germany on Friday, and says that the Three Lions have no fear as they take on the reigning World and European Champions.

Scott was replaced by Lindsay Johnson a minute from time with a back injury, but the initial problem actually occured in the first minute of the game rather than the last.

"I got a knee in the back in the first minute and I played with a dead back for the rest of the game, and I think in the last minute I pulled a muscle and I couldn't move.

"I've been having lots of acupuncture and needles so hopefully I'll be fine for Friday," Scott told TheFA.com.

Despite Germany's status in the Women's game, and their opening day 11-0 victory over Argentina, Scott has no concerns about facing them in Shanghai and is relishing the prospect.

"We're getting used to playing in these big games, we have nothing to fear anymore.

"I remember the qualifying game against France there were 29,000 fans cheering and booing us. So to go there and get a result we really have nothing to fear anymore."

England will need to call on the spirit that saw them overturn Japan's lead with just ten minutes to go, but Scott is confident that the inner strength of the England players will see them through.

"We have worked on being resilient, we have a lot of team meetings and we have gone through a lot of 'What-ifs' with our psychologist Misia. We talk about what we do in certain situations, if we went 1-0 down, so we knew we had to keep digging deep and keep fighting.

"That's our team spirit; to keep fighting, keep going until the end.

"It's amazing, it is everyone's dream and just walking out in the tunnel I got goosebumps, thinking back to it now I go cold. All the spectators in the crowd, knowing everyone back home was watching it, my mum, my family, my friends - it's an amazing feeling representing your country at a World Cup."

She is also confident that if England need a goal, Kelly Smith will do everything in her power to get one.

"They were exceptional goals against Japan. Kelly thrives on the biggest stage so for her to pop up with those goals when we needed her, that's the kind of player she is. She's always there when she's called upon."

One team member who is perhaps less well known made her England debut in the Hongkou Stadium, and Scott has revealed that England don't go anywhere without their lucky mascot.

"Yolanda the Panda, she's our team mascot," Scott explained.

"She was brought here by Pippa our team doctor, just as a laugh and a joke to keep the banter going in the team, but she comes with us everywhere. We kept her on the dugout, everytime we go somewhere she's with us, she comes on the coach, if we go on trips Yolanda is with us. Hopefully she is going to bring us luck."