Phil Neville, head coach of English Women’s National Team, talks Australia ahead of their friendly on Tuesday (photo by Asif Burhan).
Phil Neville’s England aim to maintain their impressive start to the World Cup season by defeating another contender for the tournament when they take on Australia at Craven Cottage on Tuesday.
Following a 1-0 win over Brazil on Saturday, Neville was convinced The Matildas would pose a far sterner challenge. “It’ll definitely be a step-up from playing Brazil, that’s for sure. It’s going to be a real physical game this one. Australia, I think, are similar to the USA in terms of the physicality, I think they’ve got real running power and strength in their team. They’ve got players that can play in any league in the world, on any stage. Our players are going to have to show all their quality”.
The match will be the Lionesses first in London since 2014 but the wait goes on for a reappearance at the National Stadium. “The FA have been very positive that there will be a game after the World Cup, in that season, at Wembley because they’re desperate to put one on there”. Nonetheless, after their match in front of 25.403 spectators at Southampton in April, the England players are can hardly wait to play at another Premier League ground as Lucy Bronze explained “everyone’s really excited to play at the Fulham ground. It’s a kind of traditional, historic English ground. People are really excited for that”.
Following a 2-0 defeat to World Cup hosts France in Saint-Etienne on Friday, Australia will hope for an improved result to protect their current FIFA Ranking of 6th which currently guarantees them a top seeding in December’s World Cup draw. They may be missing their star forward Samantha Kerr but in her place they may play 15-year-old striker, Mary Fowler who next year could become one of the youngest-ever to feature in a World Cup.
England’s vice-captain Jordan Nobbs who only made her league debut for Sunderland after her 16th birthday expressed her amazement. “It’s scary and crazy. Sometimes it could actually be easier that she maybe is still quite young and fresh. It’s incredible that a player of that age in playing for a National Team”.
Ellie Carpenter, who in 2016, became the youngest footballer in history to play in any Olympic Games feels that the opportunity was there for players like Fowler to force their way into World Cup contention. “We’re missing some key players but it comes up to depth. We’re building a squad for next year so we need a team of 23 players that can fulfil those positions”.
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