Searingly true

	16 Jul 2008
	VIDEO: U19s prepare for Italy
	The Young Lions began their preparations for Italy with a double training session on Wednesday.

Having already played in front of 76,000 supporters at Old Trafford in the Premiership, it would be easy to say that the prospect of a 6000 strong attendance in the opening game of the European U19 Championship is something that striker Freddie Sears would be able to take fully in his stride.

With those 6000 being made up almost entirely of Czechs vociferously backing their U19 team in the opening game of a tournament that they’re hosting though, Sears admits it was something of an experience for himself and his team-mates, the vast majority of whom have played in first team football back home themselves.

The West Ham United starlet, who scored on his Premiership debut for the Hammers back in March, is now gearing up for Thursday’s game with Italy when the Young Lions can perhaps expect a more sympathetic crowd.

“The experience of playing in front of a hostile crowd, like 6000 Czechs, is good for us for next season and it was hard and intimidating but you’ve just got to get on with it,” said the 18-year-old.

“It’s different to Upton Park and international football and Premiership football are so different, but it’s really good how the fans are over here.

“With international tournaments, you don’t know what to expect and this is my first international tournament but it’s been good so far.

“Against the Czechs we made a lot of unforced errors, but I don’t think we played that badly so if we can cut that out of our game, hopefully we can push on.”

Following the game with Italy, England face Greece on Sunday in what is their final Group B game, so the initial aim for Brian Eastick’s men is to now reach the semi-finals.

With Italy and Greece drawing 1-1 in their first game on Monday, it leaves the group relatively wide open so the Hornchurch-born ace and his team-mates know what they need to do.

“They are both (Italy and Greece) going to be hard games because the three teams aren’t in the greatest position after the first match as no-one has won a game yet,” he explained.

“So, we’re all going to be trying to win matches and hopefully we can get through to the next round.”

The competition ends what has been something of a roller-coaster year for Sears. After breaking into the U19 squad for the first stage of qualifying for this competition, he then spent a spell on the sidelines with a broken ankle before ending the season on a high with his first team appearances for the Hammers and his maiden goal against Blackburn and then helping the Young Lions to secure their place in these finals with a brace against Poland in the Elite Round Qualifying stage in Belarus in May.

“I had a good season last year, after breaking my ankle at the start of the season, so that was a setback,” he admits.

“But I managed to come back stronger and made an impact in the Premiership and now I’m looking to make an impact in the European Championship.

“There’s a massive difference, international football is a lot slower and you get more time whereas Premiership football is so fast.

“The lads have been together for a while though and the first game is always going to be tough, but we think we can improve.”

The Squad