HP: 2012 can boost women's game

Team GB coach Hope Powell believes London 2012 offers women's football a glorious opportunity to raise its profile.

The first competitive action of the Games will see Team GB, who unveiled their 18-strong squad on Tuesday, face New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium on July 25.

The eyes of the sporting world will be on them and Powell knows it offers a rare chance for the women's game to take centre stage.

"It's a massive opportunity, I can't really express how big it is," she said.

"I went to Beijing four years ago and I saw what that Olympics did for football.

"The fact it's on home soil will raise awareness and put us in the spotlight

"It's the opening game so the attention around it will be unprecedented and I'm hoping it will give us a platform to inject interest into the game.

"I won't actually know until it's over, but those are my expectations and we're really excited about what it can do for the game."

England dominate Team GB with Scotland's Kim Little and Ifeoma Dieke the only two non-English players selected.

Powell, England's manager since 1998, insists selection for the team's Olympics debut was based purely on picking the strongest possible squad.

"I didn't feel any pressure to include players from Northern Ireland or Wales," Powell said.

"I was tasked with picking the best squad of players and that's what I've done. We had everyone looked at extensively.

"There's no disrespect to anyone, but my task was to pick the best players and I think I've done that."

Arsenal Ladies defender Alex Scott insists Team GB have a good chance of being crowned Olympic champions.

"I believe we can challenge for the gold medal," Scott said.

"When you look at how talented and experienced our squad is, we have to believe we are a special team that can go all the way."