My greatest moment

Amidst the euphoria of Alex Smithies' stunning penalty save and Jordan Spence's last-gasp winner, it was easy to forget Henri Lansbury's role in the dramatic win over Brazil.

The midfielder, together with Michael Woods and Daniel Gosling, not only stifled the potent attack of Brazil, but the Gunner also contributed two key moments during the see-saw battle at Goyang City.

With England trailing to Tales' 40 yard free-kick which somehow sailed into the top corner, the young Lions held firm and were rewarded for their resilience with a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

With regular penalty taker Rhys Murphy on the bench, Lansbury needed no second invitation to step forward and take responsibility from 12 yards, clinically dispatching the ball into the bottom corner. Brazilian keeper Marcelo didn't stand a chance.

"I don't normally take penalties, but I thought it's England v Brazil so I'll take it," recalled the talented midfielder. "I had to wait a bit which made me nervous. When I have taken penalties in the past I have always gone left, but I changed this time.

"My head just went - I just ran off. It was one of the greatest moments of my life."

The goalscorer's parents were going through agony as they watched from the VIP section of the main stand, but had they seen their pride and joy confidently thumping home penalties in training the day before they might not have fretted so much.

"I spoke to my parents after the game," he added. "My mum said she couldn't watch and my dad thought I was going to miss."

England controlled large periods of the second half, with Lansbury and his fellow midfield dynamos doing supremely well to suppress their opponents.

But Lansbury insisted that he, Woods and Gosling had to dig deep to keep Brazil at bay.

"They had players everywhere," said Lansbury. "John told us to play back but try to press when you have the chance. I thought we worked well as a three."

The game threatened to become remembered for its two penalties, one scored by England and one missed by Brazil. Missed, however, is a description which does Alex Smithies a huge discredit.

The Huddersfield keeper pointed to the corner he thought Lulinha would shoot, and having guessed correctly, flung himself to his left to save magnificently.

"As soon as the bloke stepped up I knew he was going to shoot the way Smithies was pointing," said Lansbury. "When he saved it I thought we can win this. If I was taking a penalty against Alex and he was pointing, I would just smash it down the middle."

But the drama was not finished there. With the referee adding time on for injuries, substitute Nathan Porritt swung over a cross which got cleared as far as Lansbury who was lurking on the edge of the box.

With the headline writers dreaming up something special as Lansbury took aim, the Arsenal man dragged his shot towards Spence who cleverly diverted it into the bottom corner. Cue wild hysteria.

"I thought the chance had gone but I saw it go into the back of the net," he revealed. "I went over and celebrated with everyone. It was great to see Spence at the bottom of the pile."