England Women v Northern Ireland
UEFA European Championship 2009 Qualifier
1pm, Sunday 13 May, Priestfield Stadium
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England Women v Iceland
International Friendly
7.45pm, Thursday 17 May, Roots Hall

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Just hours after Arsenal Ladies secured the FA Women's Cup Final in front of a record crowd of 24,529, nine of their victorious team will link up with England in Kent tomorrow morning.

Charlton Athletic striker Eniola Aluko is the main omission from the squad, as the games coincide with her second year University Law degree exams.

With the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup now just four months away, a Euro 2009 qualifier against Northern Ireland at Gillingham on Sunday and an international friendly against Iceland at Southend United next Thursday will be The Three Lions' last games before their World Cup opener against Japan in Shanghai on 11 September.

Argentina and reigning World and European champions Germany will also be in Group A with England, with the top two qualifying for the quarter finals.

"For a few days, all thoughts of China will be put to one side, as due to the quirks of fixture scheduling, we start our Euro 2009 qualification at Gillingham," said Head Coach Hope Powell.

"Northern Ireland may be ranked well below us, but in games between the home nations that means very little. As with Scotland in March, we are expecting a tough, physical battle and the players will have to be prepared to dig in at the end of another tough season."

The last time England played Iceland, just under 10,000 gathered at Carrow Road in March 2006 to see a Karen Carney header earn The Three Lions a 1-0 victory.

"Iceland will be strong opponents four days later and are a side growing in stature" added Hope. "In the last six months they have had some mixed results, narrowly losing to the USA, beating China 4-1 at the Algarve Cup, but then drawing with the Republic of Ireland and losing to Italy. They will provide us with another tough game, and as a team that didn't qualify for the World Cup, they will see us as a major potential scalp.

"In recent years we've had some key players injured at crucial times, and all 30 players need to be prepared and on standby so that if required, they can perform a key role come the World Cup. The players know that no-one can take their place for granted. Although we can only take 21 players to China, the door is always open until it is closed, when we have to submit our final squad."

England squad:

Goalkeepers: Rachel Brown (Everton), Siobhan Chamberlain (Bristol Academy), Carly Telford (Sunderland), Kay Hawke (Blackburn Rovers)

Defenders: Faye White, Alex Scott, Mary Phillip (all Arsenal), Casey Stoney, Michelle Hickmott (both Charlton Athletic), Rachel Unitt, Lindsay Johnson (both Everton) Laura Bassett (Birmingham City), Stephanie Houghton (Sunderland), Corinne Yorston (Bristol Academy)

Midfielders: Emily Westwood, Fara Williams, Kelly McDougall, Jill Scott (Everton) Anita Asante, Katie Chapman, Kelly Smith (all Arsenal) Vicky Exley (Doncaster Rovers Belles)

Forwards: Jo Potter (Charlton Athletic), Sue Smith, Amanda Barr (both Leeds United), Rachel Yankey, Lianne Sanderson, Karen Carney (all Arsenal), Jody Handley (Everton), Katie Anderton (Blackburn Rovers)

Tickets for both games are on sale now priced £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions.

Tickets can be purchased from the Gillingham FC ticket office or by calling the ticket hotline on 01634 3000 000 – option 3

Tickets can also be purchased from the Southend United FC ticket office, or by calling the ticket hotline on 08444 77 00 77

Special group discounts are available for groups of over 15, with tickets costing just £1 per person. Booking forms will appear here
in the next 24 hours.