Ladies in the limelight.

The Hawthorns becomes an international stage again tonight as Midland football fans get the chance of a close-up examination of England 's would be World Cup hopes.

But it's not Glenn Hoddle's hopefuls who come under the microscope.

Centre of attention are England's women as they take on Italy in a warm-up for their World Cup qualifier against champions Norway later this month.

The England side will be managed by Dick Bate, following last month's resignation of Ted Copeland, but he is only in charge temporarily, as it has already been announced Croydon's England star Hope Powell will take over in July.

Italy lead their World Cup qualifying table and look certain to go through as winners after their recent 3-2 victory over France.

But although England have beaten the Italians nine times, the last of 18 meetings, in Turin last April, was decided by two goals for the home side in the last ten minutes.

Stockport's Andrea Worrall is a new face in the England squad, while Croydon's Alex Cottier and Arsenal's talented 18-year-old Rachel Yankey return, although the experienced Kerry Davis has surprisingly been omitted from the squad of 20.

England squad: R Brown (Liverpool), P Cope (Millwall), S Reed (Arsenal), A Worrall (Stockport), G Coultard and C Utley (both Doncaster Belles), F White (Arsenal), M Marley (Everton), S Britton, A Cottier, H Powell (all Croydon), B Easton (Everton), D Mur phy (Millwall), K Burke (Everton), S Smith (Tranmere), M Catterall (Liverpool), T Proctor and J Broadhurst (both Croydon), M Garside (Bradford), R Yankey (Arsenal).

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Publication:	The Birmingham Post (England)
Date:	Apr 21, 1998
Words:	257
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