Everton women play key part in World Cup plans

Aug 9 2007 by Alan Easel, Liverpool Daily Post

ENGLAND women’s head coach Hope Powell played down expectations after she named her squad for the World Cup in China next month.

There were few surprises as Powell announced her 21-player squad, two-thirds of which is made up of five Everton players and nine members of the Arsenal Ladies quadruple-winning team from last season.

Everton will represented in China by goalkeeper Rachel Brown along with Fara Williamns, Rachel Unitt, Jill Scott and Jody Handley.

England sealed qualification for the tournament after emerging as unlikely victors from a group that included much-fancied France and Holland.

Despite Powell’s team remaining unbeaten during qualification, the head coach is cautious about going into the competition with too much confidence.

“The first priority is getting out of the group and that’s all we’re focusing on at the moment but we’ll be ready for that opening game against Japan and then we’ll take it from there,” said Powell.

England take on Japan in their opening game on September 11 and will also face holders and favourites Germany and Argentina.

The team drew 0-0 with the Germans in the China Cup at the beginning of the year just three months after being on the receiving end of a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the same team.

The England coach is fully aware of the German’s capabilities and is under no illusions about the task facing her side in their first World Cup since 1995.

She added: “It’s not an easy group but in a World Cup campaign you don’t expect any easy matches.

“We’re up against the European and World Cup holders Germany who are a great side and then there’s Argentina and Japan who are unknown quantities but we’ll be ready for them and it’s now down to us to be in the best possible shape physically and mentally for that first game. “It could have been a lot worse – I was glad we avoided Sweden and Brazil.”

The squad will fly out to the Far East on 19 August, allowing three weeks for players to acclimatise before they kick-off against Japan in Shanghai.