Mark Noble Blog

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It was a great win for us on Thursday and has set us up nicely for the semi-final, but we still have one more group game to win tonight. 

Spain kept the ball well but didn’t really cause that many problems. We kept a good team shape, dealt with their threat and I think we deserved what we got.

With Catts and Fabrice alongside me, we made it very difficult for them in the midfield are and Fabrice was absolutely magnificent, the amount of ground he covered and tackles he made. They had a bit of possession, but our work ethic over ran them in the end.

In the first game we didn’t play as well as we can do, but against Spain we dominated. The boys have been fantastic in training, working hard, looking sharp, and we are well worth our place in the semi-final, we just want to win the group now.

It doesn’t seem that long ago since we were in the semi-final two years ago, It was a bit different in Holland as we had to win our last group game to go through, but now we’re in there with a game to spare and the manager can maybe tinker with the team a little, we’ll have to wait and see.

But just because we are through, we’re not going to take it easy, we want to win the game, finish top of the group and send out a message to the others teams.

When we set out on qualifying for these Finals three months after returning from Holland, we laid down our goals and it was 14 games we needed to play to reach the Final and at least go one better than last time, but even that won’t do. We’ve done everything we can so far and after the Germany game tonight we have two more matches, huge games, to get what we came for.

The boys are also dealing with the rest time pretty well. When were training and playing, it’s business and we focus on working hard, but between matches we have to stay relaxed.

On Friday a few of us got on the bikes and went for a ride into town. There was about 17 of us out together and we were probably getting some strange looks, but it was good fun and shows what the spirit is like in the team, we all like each other’s company. We had a really good laugh and gave us a chance to think about something other than football. We’ve had two wins now and after both matches we’ve got out on the bikes the next day, so I hope that can continue.

These bikes though are weird, they’ve all got shopping baskets on the front as I said before, but they’ve got no brakes so you have to peddle backwards to stop. It takes some getting used to, certainly for a couple of the staff members here who have taken a little tumble, but I won’t name names. You know who you are…

The weather is really good mostly, so to be outside soaking up the rays is nice. Yesterday the lads were just sitting around inside or outside the hotel. I had another game of table tennis with Tonka, but it's not good news from my side. A few of the boys had their families over to see for the afternoon, there was some who went to lay on the beach, the sea was so calm. We’ve seen people trying to surf out there when there’s been waves, but it was like a lake yesterday, flat as a snooker table.

It was also Father’s Day, the first since I became a dad to Honey earlier this year. I spoke to my girlfriend on the phone and got a message, via her, from my little girl. That was really nice but it’s horrible being away on my first Father’s Day, but it’s for a good cause. I’ll be spending as much time with her when I get home. Hopefully I’ll be able to show her a medal…

Don't forget! You can follow England’s campaign in the Finals with TheFA.com who will be with the team all the way in the Finals.

You'll also be able keep tabs by following us on Twitter , or become a ‘fan’ of the England Under-21s on our official Facebook page .

Monday night’s game was about the result. It was so important that we beat Finland and as a team we worked really hard to do it. For me it was a very special night, captaining my country in a European Championship game was such an honour.

I picked up the man of the match trophy and it was a tough game, but the whole team worked very hard. Getting the goal early was important for us as Finland came out strong, and they had a lot of support chanting and singing.

When Michael was sent off, it lifted them a lot and the goal gave something for their fans to cheers and they seemed to believe that it was their game to win. But this team doesn’t bow down. The mental strength we have, the team spirit and the desire we have is a match for anyone, and although we didn’t play to our best, in the second half we started to keep the ball much better and Micah’s goal, and what a header it was, was enough for us.

Maybe we could have gone on to get another, but with ten-men we worked so hard and in the closing moments had to defend a lot as they were looking for the equaliser.

Spain will be a much different prospect and we know that, but we believe we are good enough as a squad to beat anyone.

We’ve been preparing well, and our training has once again been spot on. But it’s a different situation than when we built up to our first game as we had a day of recovery. The day after the Finland game was a bit more relaxing, especially for the boys who played.

We were in the pool first thing on Tuesday, while the rest of the squad had a session at the training ground. For pool sessions our fitness coach Boydy takes us off in groups of three, and I was with Gabby and Fraizer.

In the afternoon the gaffer gave us permission to have an afternoon out and about the hotel. We didn’t go too far, a lot of the lads got on the hotel hire bikes. A few went into the town and had a game of mini golf, but I went around the cove with Tonka Tomkins, Fraizer, Gibbsy and Gabby. We must have looked funny on these bikes, five young lads going around with shopping baskets on the front.

We also had a sit on the beach right outside the hotel doors and it was really relaxing. I borrowed TheFA.com’s camera and took a few snaps too. (check out the gallery at the top)

It’s little things like that that break up the time between games. We work really hard in training but with three days between the games, we need to do things to keep us entertained. Some of the lads like watching DVDs, we’ve got pool, darts, table tennis and a Nintendo Wii in the recreation room, or we sit and have a chat with the staff in their office.

If you want to play at the highest level for your club and for your country, these are tournments you always want to experience, so must learn to deal with the up and down time.

Tonight we are back in action and head to Gothenburg at around six.  We know that a win will put us into the semi-final, but it won’t be easy. You can be guaranteed, though, that the boys and me will give it 100%.

Well, the Finland game is nearly here and after the best part of two weeks together as a squad, we are all ready and can’t wait for the game to kick off.

With this tournament being shown on Sky, it will give all the fans back home a chance to watch us play again and we want to really give them something to be proud of. But I’ve been getting a lot of stick for the previews that Sky have been playing out.

It has clips from after the Semi-Final in 2007 and without going into too much detail, I was very upset and clearly gutted that we lost. We’ve seen it so much now, it’s starting to wear off, but it just shows how much this team and winning this competition means to me and the boys.

With Holland scoring so late in the game, and then the penalties going to 13-12, it was a very emotional night, we felt that we could go on to win the competition, but it wasn’t to be. It was also hard for me even before the penalties as I knew I’d miss the Final, if we got there, after picking up another booking.

Being involved two years ago has hopefully given me, and the rest of the team, the experience to deal with things differently. I’ve learnt my lesson with the refs and that we shouldn’t say too much and get involved.

We’ve also had people from UEFA in to explain a few of the rules and what we can and can’t do. The gaffer has also shown videos of me getting booked in Holland and my reaction afterwards, so the boys can see what can happen, and we have to make sure it doesn’t again.

It’s also great having James Tomkins in the squad as he’s a good mate and we get on really well. It’s nice having him about as I can’t remember the last time I had a team mate in the England squad with me.

Tonka has been through exactly the same as me two years ago; getting into the West Ham first team, booking a holiday at the end of the season and then having to cancel it after being called up for England and getting into the final 23 for the tournament. He made his debut for the Under-21s last Monday and looked very good. I also made my debut in the friendly before we headed out to Holland.

He played so well at the end of the season for us, he really deserved his call up and I hope he gets a chance out here to play in the Finals. When he was picked we spoke about two years ago and the type of things that you can expect and that, as a player, you have to deal with.

There was so much coverage of the tournament in Holland that most of the boys had seen it and knew all about what when on. But being in a tournament isn’t just about the football, it’s also about dealing with the time in the hotel and making sure you are completely prepared for the matches.

Coming back to West Ham afterwards, the things I learned from the tournament helped me a lot. I’d taken the penalties in the shootout and started taking a few for my club and I’ve played two full seasons since so it’s nice to get that sort of experience and I feel I’m a better player for it now.

We are really excited about this tournament, everyone is really up for it and the spirit around the hotel is awesome. We’ve been training very well and the boys look sharp. Now with the first game tonight I just can’t wait for things to get started…

Don't forget! You can follow England’s campaign in the Finals with TheFA.com who will be with the team all the way in the Finals.

You'll also be able keep tabs by following us on Twitter , or become a ‘fan’ of the England Under-21s on our official Facebook page .