Dieke (pictured top, left) and compatriot Kim Little, a midfielder with Arsenal, defied the wishes of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) by joining up with the 18-strong Team GB squad for the Games.

But the 31-year-old American-born defender, who currently plays for Swedish club Vittsjö GIK, says she is delighted to be involved in the Olympics.

"Going to the Olympics, particularly the home Olympics, is special for any athlete," Dieke said here.

"There was no doubt in my mind about going as soon as I got the call.

"I spoke about it with the SFA but it was also going to be my decision and I wanted to go.

"Linking up with the team has been great and I'm really happy to be here."

Kim Little pictured right

She added: "On the pitch, it has been just like any other environment that I played in with hard training.

"Off the pitch, I've played with and against a lot of the girls so I know them pretty well.

"I'm enjoying the experience and I think everyone is enjoying it as well."

Powell has also defended the decision to select a squad featuring 16 English players and just two Scots with no Welsh or Irish players included.

"My job was to pick the best available squad, and that is what I have done," Powell said.

"In my opinion we have Britain's 18 best players here.

"We are here representing the whole of Great Britain, we are one Team GB and I feel privileged to be part of that.

"This it is not about the English FA, the Scottish FA, the Welsh FA or the Irish FA; this is just about Britain at the Olympics.

"We are proud to be here representing the team and the Scottish girls have integrated very well.

"It feels like the team have been together [for] longer than a week and we are all privileged to be here at this historic moment."

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June 2012: Little and Dieke defy Scottish FA to represent Team GB at Olympics
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