GB Olympic team would boost football, says Faye White

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Powell excited by 'biggest year' for women's game

By Leon Mann
BBC Sport

England captain Faye White said a GB team at the London 2012 Olympics would be a huge boost for the women's game.

White, who is preparing for the summer World Cup in Germany, told BBC Sport: "It would be massive as it would give it more exposure and coverage.

"Just look at cycling and swimming and how the success has catapulted them from that stage on to a new level."

As the UK's four nations compete as separate entities in other tournaments, a GB team has still to be agreed.

It is the start of an exciting period for women's football with the launch of the Super League in April and the Uefa Champions League final at Fulham's Craven Cottage on 26 May.

And with the Fifa World Cup kicking off on 26 June, expectations will be high for the English women having reached the Euro 2009 final, which they lost 6-2 to Germany.

Highlights - Germany crush England in Euro 2009 final (UK only)

England boss Hope Powell remained non-committal when asked if she would take the reins of GB women's team but was under no illusions as to how important the next 18 months were.

"There are three major events this year," the 44-year-old said. "Then following on from that hopefully - if we get the all clear about the Olympics - it goes on into 2012.

"So it's a massive year. Hopefully if we get some momentum going forward it will position us nicely for the 2012 Olympics."

Despite the ongoing confusion over the prospect of a GB team for the London Games, Powell echoed her captain's hopes on the issues being resolved.

"It will be a great platform to develop this game further if we were in the Olympics", Hope added.

"It would give us a massive amount of exposure which our game needs. It will then boost the participation levels and more importantly give it that exposure that the girls deserve so hopefully we'll be there in 2012."

White's face will become a lot more familiar in the build-up to the World Cup.

The Arsenal defender will front an advertising campaign, driven by the German Tourist Board, to encourage fans to attend the tournament. The adverts will be on the tubes in London and Manchester.

The 33-year-old was delighted with the progress the game had made since she began competing in the sport.

"I've been involved for 15 years and started off playing for England when we never really won a game," said White, who made her international debut against Scotland in 1997.

"We would have our baggy tops on, not much funding or support. Now we are up there competing with some of the world's top countries. We got to the European final two years ago and the quarter-finals at the World Cup in China before that.

"There are more girls playing than ever - over a million girls are getting some experience of playing football - and there are so many other opportunities for them."

It will be a shame if we don't get that exposure again this year in Germany which will arguably be the best World Cup ever Hope Powell

Germany, current European and World champions, have led the way in the women's game.

The German organisers of the World Cup have revealed that 450,000 of the 700,000 tickets have already been sold, with some games sold out.

White stressed that England should be looking to adopt a similar attitude to the German hosts.

"When they beat us in the European final I remember seeing pictures of them going back home and showing the trophy to a quarter of a million people who turned out in the street to congratulate them," the Crawley-born star added.

"Those scenes are what we want to see here."

The England boss also paid tribute to the German approach to women's football. "I just think they seem to do everything right," Powell added.

"They invest in the women's game, value the women's game and also invest in ex-players to bring them back into the game to lead the way."

Powell's only concern was that a UK broadcaster for the World Cup was still to be confirmed and believed it was key to maximising the impact of a tournament.

"The exposure we had from the BBC in 2005 was absolutely fantastic," said Powell, who was appointed full-time national coach in 1998.

"It built a massive platform for the World Cup in China in 2007. When the players came home we were known and that really encouraged young girls to come in and play the sport.

"I just think it will be a shame if we don't get that exposure again this year in Germany which will arguably be the best World Cup ever."