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England Women v Australia Women preview: World Cup 'dark horses' visit London

Phil Neville
Image: Phil Neville has been England Women manager since January

England Women will look to add to a five-match winning streak when Australia Women visit Craven Cottage on Tuesday night.

Phil Neville's side qualified for next summer's World Cup by winning seven of their eight games and conceding only once before beating Brazil 1-0 in a friendly at Meadow Lane on Saturday.

And ahead of facing a team the Lioness' manager called "dark horses" for the tournament next summer, Neville said he believed an England win at the finals in France could help the women's game to "explode".

Women's football has already enjoyed an upsurge in interest on the back of England's World Cup performance four years ago in Canada, where they finished third, but Neville has targeted going one better this time around.

He said: "I say to everyone at the FA that the only way the game can explode is if an England team is successful - and that means winning.

"We did unbelievably well in Canada to finish third, which started the ball rolling. It has kicked on from there with us getting to the semi-finals in the Euros in 2017.

"Now we have to start getting to finals and winning, because that is the only way we are going to inspire the next generation, by seeing a gold medal around our neck and lifting the trophy. That is the challenge really."

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NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: Fran Kirby of England celebrates after scoring the first goal of the game during the International Friendly match between England Women and Brazil Women at Meadow Lane on October 6, 2018 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Image: Fran Kirby scored the only goal as England Women beat Brazil at Meadow Lane

Neville added the visiting Australian side, who have reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in each of the last three tournaments, would provide his squad with a good test at Fulham's home ground in Tuesday's 7pm kick-off.

"There is a consistency to their performances and structure," Neville said.

"Physical strength is their biggest quality. They have a really good system of players who are playing in top leagues in the world.

"Australia could be one of the dark horses for the World Cup."

Team news

England Women will be without Jill Scott, who sat out Saturday's win over Brazil as a precaution due to an ankle injury and has now returned to parent club Manchester City for assessment.

But there are no other fitness worries among the rest of Neville's 22-woman squad.

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