Scotland women seek England scalp at Cyprus Cup

By Tony Leighton

Scotland will be looking to get the better of Hope Powell's England

The Scotland women's team will attempt to end a 34-year losing run against England when they face Hope Powell's side at the Cyprus Cup on Friday.

The Scots suffered their 14th straight loss to England when the teams last met, at the same competition in 2009.

England went on from winning that group game 3-0 to lift the Cup, a feat they will stay on course to repeat with yet another success against Scotland.

Scotland lost their first group game 1-0 to Canada. England beat Italy 2-0.

Powell's team, who top Group A on goal difference, will once again be favourites at Nicosia, but Scotland head coach Anna Signeul said: "We can give England a hard game.

"We played really well against Canada, especially in the first half when we were the better team and created some good chances.

"We know that England are a strong team, but we are improving all the time and we can show that we are getting closer and closer to them."

Signeul, who watched England beat Italy in Larnaca after her own team's match had been played, is likely to field her strongest available side.

Powell will make several changes to her starting line-up in order to give an opportunity to all of the 19-player squad, but she will not take Scotland lightly.

The England coach said: "Scotland are an improving team with some good young players coming through and I'm expecting as difficult a game as they always give us."