England's surface tension ahead of World Cup qualifier in Malta

A Wembley-style pitch controversy will not arise, but it could certainly be the Centenary Stadium's playing surface, rather than the Maltese side, that proves the biggest danger to Hope Powell's England as they look to maintain their 100% World Cup qualifying record in Ta'Qali on Thursday. "I hate that surface, it ruins your body," said the winger Karen Carney of the "rubber crumb" artificial turf which she has experienced as a Chicago Red Stars player in the United States professional league. Carney is one of seven US-based members of the 22-strong England squad, so at least a fair proportion of the them will know what to expect from the pitch. Powell, the national coach, said: "It's very different to grass, but we will be training on artificial pitches ahead of the match and we will just have to ensure the players understand the surface and deal with it appropriately." Dealing with the opposition should be easier, an under-strength England having beaten Malta 8-0 at Blackpool in October. "We'll obviously be expected to win, but we'll take nothing for granted," said Powell. Her home-based players head to Malta after the final weekend of a Premier League season in which, for the first time in its 19-year history, the three major competitions have been won by different clubs. Arsenal, league champions for the seventh year in succession, beat Birmingham 4-1 while the FA Cup winners Everton defeated Blackburn 2-0 to claim the runners-up spot and with it a Champions League place along with the London club. Chelsea won 2-1 at Nottingham Forest to take third place ahead of the League Cup winners, Leeds Carnegie. The advent of the eight-team Super League next year will see the Premier League, whose three divisions presently each consist of 12 clubs, down-sizing to a national league of eight sides and two 10-team regional divisions.