England need a win over New Zealand - but can they handle the pressure? | John Ashdown

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Hope Powell easily beat the ferns in a friendly, but the game last year World Cup Friday will be a totally different test

Hope Powell did not quite say it's a must win game - "In our minds, we must take all three points, so if you want to call it a game-winner depends on you "- but nothing other than a victory against New Zealand on Friday night, the pressure rise in the last game against Japan

The England coach has tried to emphasize that his team have recovered from Housing starts slow in tournaments before and the experience, with its 3-0 victory over the ferns in a friendly atmosphere in Peace Cup in October, the media in England feel they are ready for the challenge.

"You do not want to be complacent. We won the second game 3-0 [the official game of the tournament was a 0-0 draw] and we know we can beat them. But this tournament, when the points are at stake and the stadium is full -. You have to experience to understand that it is a challenge

"It's very, very competitive. The pressures are different, how you treat it differently, when there are 18,000 people, when you're used to five years, and 70,000 when you're used to 10. If you have never ever known that I thank you. It can be seen to do, but you never know what is in the field. "

New Zealand coach, Jon Herdman, feels his side can spring a surprise, after being beaten by a narrow margin in Japan in the opening match. "They're two different players. Completely different," said Herdman, from Newcastle, but now a Kiwi committed.

"When you come to England you know generally what you get -.?.?. They have a style, a focus controllable Do is controllable Yes Yes Do you have key players? Yes, you are going to trust the players? They will. But we believe it can hold anything you throw at us. The challenge for us will be presented on the night. "

• talking points

. I'm interested in hearing the sound of a general consensus on Eni Aluko Twitter. A perfectly acceptable answer to online abuse or unnecessary provocation?

. The England team, apparently received a visit from Mel C (Me a rock song, is attached to the cover of German television ZDF in the tournament - not my cup of tea, I must say), a head start on Friday night. It may take some explaining. "It's my time, so you'll probably love it," said the England defender Casey Stoney. "But the team is very young so half of them probably do not know is ..."

. Despite impressive viewing figures for the tournament so far, not everyone has stuck to football. Three years, Jill Scott, the nephew of Charlie has a little boring party of Mexico, and after about 20 minutes to see Peppa Pig for the rest of the game.
. No doubt the operation of the tournament so far - France were surprisingly well in a 4-0 demolition over Canada Thursday night. A draw against Germany in their final group game will lead the group and sent to all pre-tournament predictions in the box.

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