England Women's assistant coach Casey Stoney says Wales game is a 'potential banana skin'
Tuesday 3 April 2018 13:58, UK
England Women's assistant coach Casey Stoney has called Friday's World Cup qualifier with Wales a "potential banana skin".
Wales currently sit top of group one on 10 points having won three and drawing one of their four qualifying matches with England one point behind.
Phil Neville's side got off to a good start in the campaign winning 5-0 against Kazakhstan before beating Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia 4-0 and 6-0 respectively but will not take the game against Wales lightly.
"The biggest thing for us is the three points. They are above us in the group as they have played one more game, we need to win," Stoney told Sky Sports News.
"We are going to have a big home crowd, it is Phil's [Neville's] first game and the girls' first home game this year.
"They want to go out, want to get to win as they want to win this group. It is a big game. It's a Home Nation game so we know it is going to be tough, we know what they are capable of.
"They have some really good players in their team and it is a potential banana skin for us. They are a good side so we have to be at our top level to win the game."
The Lionesses are currently ranked second in the world but Neville revealed he believes will become No 1 with Stoney agreeing with him.
She added: "I think this is down to all the hard work that has gone into it for the last 15-20 years, that doesn't come overnight.
"It is the hard work Hope Powell put in, the hard work Mark Sampson put in and the players have over the years, they are the ones doing it out on the pitch week in week out.
"But second isn't good enough for us. We want to be first and we want to be first because we have won a major tournament."
