• Head coach says England need to give 110% to win
• England's attacking threat has to improve at Linkoping
Hope Powell believes England will be condemned to an early exit from the women's European Championships unless they respond to the pressure of game against Russia.
Following the surprise defeat by Spain, and with in-form France to come on Thursday, the England head coach says victory over the Russians will be essential to extending the team's stay in Sweden. The two best third-placed teams also qualify for the knockout phase at Euro 2013 and, having lost their opening game in 2009 before beating Russia and ultimately progressing to the final, Powell admits England have to produce a repeat in Linkoping.
"I think it is a must-win game," Powell said. "It is not an ideal situation. We have been here before with losing our first game but I think we do have to win this game if realistically we are to stay in the competition.
"By their own admission they didn't have their best game against Spain. Too many had an off day and that can be infectious. I have no doubt that, if everybody gives 110%, we will have half a chance of winning but, if we don't perform, we will be in trouble."
Powell refused to be drawn on making changes from the team who started against Spain – Kelly Smith is fit but expected to offer insurance from the bench – but demanded a vastly improved defensive display from England. "This team learns lessons very quickly," she said.
"We know we can score goals when our backs are against the wall but we've conceded too many along the way. That is something I've said to the defenders and the senior players – we've got to tighten up. They recognise that themselves. It is a matter of concentration."
The coach and several England players have admitted that nerves were a factor in the Spain performance, watched by 1.2m viewers on BBC3, but, according to Fara Williams, the squad welcomes the pressure.
"We have been in this position many times before," the Liverpool midfielder said. "I think the only time we did win our first game at a European Championship was in 2005 and we ended up getting knocked out in the group stage. Maybe we do like to be on the back foot. We don't like to be favourites and that is us as a nation I would say. We seem to turn it on when we are on the back foot."
Euro 2009 was a case in point, with England coming from two goals down to beat Russia 3-2 and reinvigorate their campaign. Williams claims the review of the Spain performance at the team hotel on Saturday was not as bleak as she had anticipated but admits England's attacking threat, of which she is a key part, has to improve at Linkoping Arena.
The 29-year-old said: "It does feel very familiar with having to beat Russia in our second game and obviously we don't want a repeat of going two-nil down like we did in 2009. We know how to win against Russia but we just need to execute what we need to do this time. We knew what we were coming up against in Spain.
"Hope had given us all the information we needed going into the game and we had done our homework but I think we just didn't execute our attacking play. Defensively we were better than we thought on the day when we reviewed the game but nerves were a factor in the first game and we did not turn up as a team."
Russia are also in dire need of three points having lost their opening game 3-1 to France, when they were flattered by a late consolation goal, and England expect a physical contest.
Williams added: "They have quick and what I would say are old-fashioned wingers in that they like to cross early and deliver on the run. We have to stop crosses, which we didn't do against Spain. They will be aggressive, too, and very direct. They will be physical.
"Most of the teams in Europe have developed over the last few years and, whereas it used to be Germany winning the titles, a lot of the teams are much harder to beat now. I don't think you can pick a stand-out favourite in this tournament. I would like to think we are up there in the top four teams but we have to get out of the group to show that."
*England probable team* (4-2-3-1) Bardsley; A Scott, Bassett, Stoney (captain), Houghton; J Scott, Asante; Aluko, Williams, Yankey; White. Reported by guardian.co.uk 6 hours ago.
• England's attacking threat has to improve at Linkoping
Hope Powell believes England will be condemned to an early exit from the women's European Championships unless they respond to the pressure of game against Russia.
Following the surprise defeat by Spain, and with in-form France to come on Thursday, the England head coach says victory over the Russians will be essential to extending the team's stay in Sweden. The two best third-placed teams also qualify for the knockout phase at Euro 2013 and, having lost their opening game in 2009 before beating Russia and ultimately progressing to the final, Powell admits England have to produce a repeat in Linkoping.
"I think it is a must-win game," Powell said. "It is not an ideal situation. We have been here before with losing our first game but I think we do have to win this game if realistically we are to stay in the competition.
"By their own admission they didn't have their best game against Spain. Too many had an off day and that can be infectious. I have no doubt that, if everybody gives 110%, we will have half a chance of winning but, if we don't perform, we will be in trouble."
Powell refused to be drawn on making changes from the team who started against Spain – Kelly Smith is fit but expected to offer insurance from the bench – but demanded a vastly improved defensive display from England. "This team learns lessons very quickly," she said.
"We know we can score goals when our backs are against the wall but we've conceded too many along the way. That is something I've said to the defenders and the senior players – we've got to tighten up. They recognise that themselves. It is a matter of concentration."
The coach and several England players have admitted that nerves were a factor in the Spain performance, watched by 1.2m viewers on BBC3, but, according to Fara Williams, the squad welcomes the pressure.
"We have been in this position many times before," the Liverpool midfielder said. "I think the only time we did win our first game at a European Championship was in 2005 and we ended up getting knocked out in the group stage. Maybe we do like to be on the back foot. We don't like to be favourites and that is us as a nation I would say. We seem to turn it on when we are on the back foot."
Euro 2009 was a case in point, with England coming from two goals down to beat Russia 3-2 and reinvigorate their campaign. Williams claims the review of the Spain performance at the team hotel on Saturday was not as bleak as she had anticipated but admits England's attacking threat, of which she is a key part, has to improve at Linkoping Arena.
The 29-year-old said: "It does feel very familiar with having to beat Russia in our second game and obviously we don't want a repeat of going two-nil down like we did in 2009. We know how to win against Russia but we just need to execute what we need to do this time. We knew what we were coming up against in Spain.
"Hope had given us all the information we needed going into the game and we had done our homework but I think we just didn't execute our attacking play. Defensively we were better than we thought on the day when we reviewed the game but nerves were a factor in the first game and we did not turn up as a team."
Russia are also in dire need of three points having lost their opening game 3-1 to France, when they were flattered by a late consolation goal, and England expect a physical contest.
Williams added: "They have quick and what I would say are old-fashioned wingers in that they like to cross early and deliver on the run. We have to stop crosses, which we didn't do against Spain. They will be aggressive, too, and very direct. They will be physical.
"Most of the teams in Europe have developed over the last few years and, whereas it used to be Germany winning the titles, a lot of the teams are much harder to beat now. I don't think you can pick a stand-out favourite in this tournament. I would like to think we are up there in the top four teams but we have to get out of the group to show that."
*England probable team* (4-2-3-1) Bardsley; A Scott, Bassett, Stoney (captain), Houghton; J Scott, Asante; Aluko, Williams, Yankey; White. Reported by guardian.co.uk 6 hours ago.