England coach Hope Powell's experienced side has what it takes to do well in the World Cup
Thank you to our friends at the Guardian Sport we bring you a review of the England squad for the Women's World Cup, starting tomorrow in Germany.
Psychic octopus? Check. Ball with a daft name that "incorporates significant symbolic elements"? Check. Brazil and Germany in pole position to steamroller their way to the final? Check. It can all mean only one thing – the World Cup is back in town. But amidst the familiar ephemera – eight female octopuses are competing X-Factor-style to take over Paul's eight-legged mantle, and instead of the Jabulani we have the Speedcell, a ball that somehow manages to "emphasise the need for togetherness and unity of purpose" – there is a significant difference: This time there is an England team with a fighting chance of glory.
And this time it is not hyperbole piled on hyperbole. The England women's results of late have given genuine cause for optimism, within and without the camp. That Hope Powell's side emerged unscathed from an exceptionally tough World Cup qualification campaign – England had to top their group and then overcome Switzerland in a play-off over two legs – was, despite being a tall order, something of a minimum requirement. But victories in April and May against the perennial powerhouses Sweden and, in particular, the United States, two-time World Cup winners and ranked No1 in the world by Fifa, have swelled expectations to new levels.
Preparations have been smooth, even if training-game defeats against Australia and North Korea this week have curbed the sense of runaway momentum. Fatigue should not be an issue – the newly formed summer Women's Super League is just seven games into its first season – and this week the team's training ground in Wolfsburg has been swept by the sort of downpours all-too-familiar for Wimbledon week in England. There are no doubts about the manager's acumen, no square pegs being forced into round holes in the side. Top the group and the optimistic can plot a route to a fantasy final meeting with Germany.
It has been a long road for Powell. After her appointment in 1998, England did not qualify for the World Cup in 1999 or 2003 and failed to get out their group both at Euro 2001 and on home soil at Euro 2005. But gradually, the 42-year-old's work has paid off. Her side were quarter-finalists at the 2007 World Cup and beaten finalists at Euro 2009. After the painful ends to those tournaments – 3-0 against the United States in China, 6-2 against Germany in the final in Finland – the mantra was that the achievements were there to be built on, the lessons there to be learnt and the experience there to be used. Now England have the chance to show how far they have come. Thirteen of the 2007 squad are back for another bite, while Powell used 28 different players in qualifying, a clear sign of the increasing depth of talent. The coach believes this is her best squad and there is little reason to doubt her.
Certainly they will not have it all their own way. Germany, the hosts, are heavy favourites. Brazil boast the best player in the world in Marta. The US have never failed to reach the semi-finals. Those sides will await in the knockout stages if England get out of Group B, because the top seeds there are Japan, an emerging force, but certainly not as formidable as the big three.
England face the Nadeshiko in their final group game in Augsburg on Tuesday week. They kick off their campaign on Monday in the shadow of the huge Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg against Mexico, who have only qualified once previously (and failed to win a point) but beat the US in the semi-finals of the Gold Cup, Concacaf's qualification tournament, in autumn last year. New Zealand, another side who have never won a match at the finals, then await in Dresden. They qualified in impressive style – 50 goals, zero conceded in five games – but here they are among rather more formidable opposition than the Cook Islands, Tahiti, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Topping the group is imperative as that would probably mean avoiding the hosts, even money to win the tournament, in the quarter-finals. If anyone is encumbered by expectations, it is Silvia Neid's side, winners of the last two tournaments, who begin their campaign against Canada on Sunday in front of 70,000 fans in Berlin. (And if that were not pressure enough they also have the psychic integrity of several hopeful German cephalopods to uphold.)
But Germany can call on a pool of over 2.2m women footballers. The United States 7.1m. England, by comparison, has under 400,000. Powell and co are undoubtedly still playing catch-up but the next three weeks provide a wonderful opportunity to reap the benefits of the past and, just as importantly, sow the seeds of future growth.
As John mentioned England play Mexico tomorrow and here are the probable squads,
Mexico (4-4-2, probable) Vanegas; Saucedo, Garciamendez, Vinti, Robles; Garza, Lopez, Worbis, Rangel; Ocampo, DomÃnguez.
England (4-2-3-1, probable) Bardsley; A Scott, F White, Stoney, Unitt; J Scott, Williams; Clarke, Smith, Yankey; E White.
TV: BBC and Eurosport, kick-off 5pm
For how to get involved in women's football, please visit our friends at Girls in Football. They will be able to help you find local clubs or schemes you can be involved in.
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