2011 Women's World Cup Preview - England

Jun 25, 2011 - 9:52 PM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - England has never been one of the true heavyweights in women's soccer, but the 2011 World Cup will offer coach Hope Powell's team a chance to begin changing that perception.

Having qualified for the World Cup just two times, in 1995 and 2007, Powell brings a team to Germany that is carrying a bit of momentum, and one that will be looking to advance beyond the quarterfinals for the first time.

The Three Lions have advanced beyond the group stage in each of their previous two World Cup appearances, only to lose handily each time to one of the game's powerhouse teams.

Germany knocked England out 3-0 in 1995, with the United States winning 3-0 in the quarterfinals against the English in 2007.

But this time around just getting to the quarterfinals may not be enough, with the team having reached the final of the European Championship in 2009 and putting together a strong qualifying campaign for the 2011 World Cup.

England went unbeaten in eight games in qualification, allowing just two goals, and they handled Switzerland, 5-2, on aggregate in a two-legged playoff to reach the World Cup.

Undoubtedly it will be striker Kelly Smith who will once again lead the team with Smith having totaled 42 goals and 90 caps during her 15-year international career.

Smith finished third in the voting for the 2009 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, and she will be helped by midfielder Fara Williams, who was included in the team by Powell despite suffering a recent knee injury.

Right back Alex Scott is another player to watch as the 26-year-old is good at getting forward and providing an attacking threat from the wing in addition to her strong defensive abilities.

"I'm hearing so much about this World Cup in Germany, it's hard not to get excited," Scott told FIFA.com. "As a team and as a player you always go into a World Cup saying you want to win it, but you have to break it down into stages then evaluate where you are after each stage, so as a team, we have to say our first goal would be to get out of the group."

Getting out of the group would be a start, but England shouldn't have too much trouble advancing beyond Group B, with Japan representing the biggest challenge and Mexico and New Zealand making up the rest of the group.

England and Japan met in the group stage of the past World Cup, with the two sides playing to a 2-2 draw, and their meeting on the final day of Group B play should determine who wins the group this time around.

If the English can top the group they would likely avoid a quarterfinal clash with Germany, giving them a chance to reach the last four.

But should they meet up with the favored Germans again, another exit prior to the semifinals looks likely.

PAST ACHIEVEMENTS:

-- FIFA World Cup qualifier: 1995, 2007.