England

v

Germany

 

 

FIFA U17 World Cup
Quarter-Final
11am Sunday 2 September 2007 (UK time)
Goyang Stadium, Goyang City

Head Coach John Peacock has lauded the team spirit in the England camp regularly this tournament and one player who epitomises that is Medy Elito.

The Colchester United winger is relatively new to the international scene, having made his debut in the Algarve Tournament last February.

But despite being less established than many of his team-mates, he is a perfect fit. In fact, squads need people like Elito who is never short of a smile.

"Everyone gets on really well, there is a great team spirit in the camp," he said.

Peacock continually reminds his squad that the substitutes play just as important part as the eleven who take to the field. To win the World Cup all 21 players will have to chip in.

Those not getting a regular run, like Elito, have responded magnificently and their upbeat nature is a tremendous boost for the coaches.

"Not everyone can play, it's up to the manager," he added. "You don't just do it for yourself, you do it for the whole team."

Elito encapsulates the feel-good factor around the camp and his spur of the moment dance during the team quiz last week will live long in the memory.

"Parksy [Tony Parks] and a couple of other lads told me to dance so I just got up and did it," said a chucking Elito. "I just try to be myself. I like making people laugh. I enjoy being here with the football lads."

But when it comes to his football, the Colchester starlet means business.

A newcomer to the England fold, Elito looks back on his slender international experience, which began earlier this year, with pride.

"I couldn't believe I was playing for England," he said, recalling his inclusion in the squad for the Algarve Tournament. "I was quite surprised. I knew I had been playing well but I was surprised England wanted me to come to a tournament. It only hit home when I was on the way to the hotel. I couldn't wait for the first training session."

Elito had little time to come to terms with becoming a Lion.

"We were on the way back to the hotel when I found out I was playing against Portugal," he recalled. "I was excited. I was nervous in the changing room but that went away when I got on the field. Pulling on the shirt and singing the national anthem was the biggest part. I really thought I'm here with England. We won 1-0. It was the happiest day of my life."

Elito was left out of the England squad for the recent European Championships, where the young Lions reached the final. As a result, the 17 year old didn't rate his chances of making the World Cup.

However, his low confidence was misplaced as Peacock selected him to travel to Korea.

"When my manager at Colchester told me I was in the squad I thought he was playing a prank on me, but then I saw it on the internet," he said. "I couldn't believe it. I was so excited to go. You don't get these chances too often."

But if Elito was pleased to get the nod to travel to Asia, he got a huge adrenaline rush when Peacock sent him on as a substitute in England's 5-0 win over New Zealand.

"As soon as I saw the board go up with my number on it I was so excited that I would get on the pitch and show people what I can do," he added. "I was just buzzing, I couldn't wait to get a touch of the ball. I will always remember the day I came on for England in a World Cup."

England meet arch rivals Germany in the Quarter-Finals on Sunday.
It did not go so well the last time the teams met, Germany narrowly emerging victorious in the Algarve Tournament.

Elito played that day and is keen to reverse that result.

"England will want to get revenge for the beating they got," he said. "They were better than us on the day but we didn't play well. They were very good in the middle and the defence was well organised. We will have to play the way we did against Brazil and hopefully we will get the victory."