18 Jul 2008
VIDEO: Ben Mee

Young Lions defender Ben Mee reflects on his impressive full England debut against Italy in the Euros. 

England

0-0

Italy

 

 

 

UEFA European U19 Championship
Chance Arena, Jablonec, Czech Republic
8pm (local time) Thursday 17 July 2008
Click here for the full tournament details 

England U19 debutant Ben Mee made a good impression on Thursday evening, as he put in a solid performance against Italy to help the Young Lions get up and running in the European Championship.

The Manchester City player was called into the squad as a late replacement for skipper Ciaran Clark whilst he was away with the Blues on a pre-season trip to Germany.

He had featured for the U19s earlier in the season when he came on as a substitute against Germany in a friendly last November, but Thursday's game was his first start in an England shirt and he admits he was pleased with how it went.

"I was reasonably pleased, to get a clean sheet is always nice and to get that first start was really good for me," he told TheFA.com

"It was a great experience to play against the Italians in that kind of game.

"We had chances to win, especially in the first half and I thought we were going to get one, but it didn't come.

"We kept pressing in the second half, but that goal just wouldn't come.

"It was a really good performance though and it's put us on the right track after the game with the Czech Republic.

"We'r own game on Sunday and hopefully the other game will go our way as well but we've got to focus on Greece and try and beat them first," added Ben.

"They will be quite physical, but we've got physical players who can handle themselves and the technical ability as well so we have every chance of beating them and going through."e still in the tournament and we'll go into the next game looking to win."

The Young Lions now face Greece in the final group game on Sunday evening, with all four teams still in with a chance of reaching the semi-finals.

England know that if they can win and the Czech Republic beat or draw with Italy, then they will progress whilst the Italians and Greeks also know that if they can win, then they will be through too.

"We've got to concentrate on our own game on Sunday and hopefully the other game will go our way as well but we've got to focus on Greece and try and beat them first," added Ben.

"They will be quite physical, but we've got physical players who can handle themselves and the technical ability as well so we have every chance of beating them and going through."