Hope Powell keen to protect 100% qualifying record
By Tony Leighton
Powell's team currently have a 100% qualifying record
Newly honoured England coach Hope Powell is hoping her England side can protect their 100% World Cup qualifying record with a win in Spain on Saturday.
Powell and her squad were already in Spain preparing for their key Group Five encounter when she received a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
"It's a good position to be in," she said referring to their 100% record.
"Whatever the starting line-up we'll go into the game confident but knowing we'll have to be totally focused."
Victory against their toughest group rivals at Aranda de Duero will leave them needing only one point from their last two qualifiers to top the group.
"We know how tough this game is going to be," said Powell, whose team narrowly beat Spain 1-0 at Millwall in April.
"We are looking no further ahead than Saturday. Spain are a good side technically and they have real ability up front.
"They showed that at Millwall, and they certainly showed it the last time we played in Spain when we got a 2-2 draw after they'd been two goals up at half-time."
That 2-2 draw in Zamora in October 2008 saw England qualify for last year's European Championship finals.
Now they are chasing a place at the 2011 World Cup finals, to be held in Germany, and Powell will have a near full strength squad to choose from.
America-based strikers Eni Aluko and Lianne Sanderson, neither of whom were able to travel for last month's qualifier in Malta, will boost the coach's attacking options.
"There will be some hard selection decisions to make," said Powell, whose side have won five out of five qualifiers.
England squad: Brown (Everton), Bardsley (New Jersey Sky Blue), Chamberlain (Chelsea), A. Scott (Boston Breakers), Susi (Chelsea), Johnson (Everton), F. White (Arsenal), Stoney (Chelsea), Bassett (Leeds Carnegie), Bradley (Leeds Carnegie), Unitt (Everton), Rafferty (Chelsea), J. Scott (Everton), Williams (Everton), Smith (Boston Breakers), Carney (Chicago Red Stars), Chapman (Chicago Red Stars), Yankey (Arsenal), Clarke (Leeds Carnegie), E. White (Leeds Carnegie), Aluko (Atlanta Beat), Sanderson (Philadelphia Independence).
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