Hope Powell Upbeat As England Women Prepare for European Championship Opener

Confident expectation rather than the faint hope of times past will be the mood of the most experienced squad in the 37-year history of the England team when they step into the 2009 European Championship finals in Finland, where on Tuesday they meet Italy in the first of their three group games.

With an average caps count of 40 per player despite an average age of only 25, the squad that the national coach, Hope Powell, built has grown not only in experience but also in achievement. Only one of the last 20 competitive matches has been lost, that to the world's top-ranked team the United States in the 2007 World Cup quarter-finals, and the fear factor which once hampered England teams has been eradicated.

Powell, in charge since 1998, said: "When we played the top nations it used to be, 'Oh God, we're going to spend more time running after the ball than kicking it.' Now we can step on to a pitch against the likes of Norway and Denmark [England have beaten both this year] and feel no fear."

The current European champions, Germany, are the clear favorites to once again lift the trophy, but Powell's team – all of whom are for the first time heading into a tournament as either full- or part-time professionals – are being viewed as potential winners. Powell refuses, however, to think beyond the group stage, at which Russia and Sweden will be England's opponents after Italy.

"Right now I'm only focusing on the Italy game," insisted Powell. "If you get ahead of yourself you can get bitten on the backside." Powell's players are not so reticent. "We've got a squad that's definitely capable of getting to the final," said the Boston Breakers striker Kelly Smith, one of six squad members now playing in the professional Women's American Soccer League.