The same England Women's squad of 22 players who travelled to Malta for the recent 6-0 win, have travelled to take on Spain in a vital World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
A victory in Aranda de Duero would leave England within touching distance of a play-off place and in preparation for what could prove to be a pivotal game in the qualification campaign.
Hope Powell, the England coach, took her squad to La Manga last week in order to acclimatise to the hot weather.
"It was a really good week. It was very competitive, which is what we required. The conditions are considerably warmer than they are in England, so to have to opportunity to train in these conditions could be invaluable. At the moment it's so far, so good, but the real work starts on Monday," she said.
Spain and England are both nine points clear at the top of Group Five, although, crucially England have a game in hand on their Iberian counterparts.
These two nations met at the New Den in April when a Katie Chapman strike gave Powell's side a 1-0 win and a similarly positive result would further enhance England's claim for a play-off berth.
"It makes our case a lot easier to manage, but we won't get carried away. We are focused on getting a good result against Spain and then we'll take it from there," said Powell.
"We know it's going to be a tough game. The last time we played them we got the result we wanted although it was a very tight game. I wasn't surprised by the way they played and we expect a similar style again.
"They're at home which will be to their advantage and we just have to be as well prepared as we usually are. We have to counter any of their strategies and try and get the result we want."
Squad in full
|
Karen Bardsley |
Sky Blue |
|
Rachel Brown |
|
|
Siobhan Chamberlain |
|
|
Laura Bassett |
Leeds Carnegie |
|
Sophie Bradley |
Leeds Carnegie |
|
Lindsay Johnson |
Everton |
|
Claire Rafferty |
Chelsea |
|
Alex Scott |
Boston Breakers |
|
Casey Stoney |
Chelsea |
|
Dunia Susi |
Chelsea |
|
Rachel Unitt |
Everton |
|
Faye White |
|
|
Karen Carney |
Chicago Red Stars |
|
Katie Chapman |
Chicago Red Stars |
|
Jill Scott |
Everton |
|
Kelly Smith |
Boston Breakers |
|
Fara Williams |
Everton |
|
Eniola Aluko |
Saint Louis Athletica |
|
Jess Clarke |
Leeds Carnegie |
|
Lianne Sanderson |
Philadelphia Independence |
|
Ellen White |
Leeds Carnegie |
|
Rachel Yankey |
Arsenal |


