Men's U20 Team
Eastick expects the unexpected
By Nicholas Veevers in Ismailia - Tuesday, 29 September, 2009
Head Coach Brian Eastick speaks to the press ahead of the Ghana game.
England U20s Head Coach Brian Eastick was at the Ismailia Stadium on Monday afternoon for the official FIFA press conference ahead of the game with Ghana on Tuesday night.
After a reverse in the opening fixture against Uruguay on Saturday, England have two remaining group games and still hope to qualify for the Second Round, even if it means finishing as one of the four best third placed teams.
“It’s an important game for us,” said Eastick.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a must-win game but it’s certainly one we would like to take three points from.
“I think this group will go to the wire though, it’s going to be very tight and I think there will be a few twists and turns along the way but we know it’s going to be a difficult game for us.”
After facing the technicality of the Uruguayans at the weekend, Eastick is expecting a different sort of challenge from Ghana, but an equally difficult one.
“I think Ghana will play with more of a free spirit and that in itself can cause you problems,” he said.
“We have to expect the unexpected, so in a different way it will be just as difficult as the Uruguay game.
“They have a great team spirit and some very experienced players, with five or six senior internationals here.
“Looking through their dates of birth, they’ll be a little bit older than us and with that comes more physical strength.
“There’s no doubt that we tired in the first game, although it took a very good goal to beat us but I think our players will be better having had that first game.”
Eastick also knows how important it will be to keep the Africans at bay and with the defence looking in impressive stature against Uruguay, he will be looking for the same sort of display again.
“When you play against quality opposition, if you don’t defend well, you can be out of the game,” he explained.
“So our priorities will be the same, to build a foundation and defend properly to make it difficult for the opposition and then take it from there.”
The game will be on Eurosport, kicking-off at 8.30pm.