No complacency
By Nicholas Veevers
Friday, 28 September, 2012
England U19s Head Coach Noel Blake warns his side ahead of Faroe Islands fixture.
England U19s are looking to take another step towards Euro qualification on Friday afternoon when they take on Faroe Islands in their second match of the First Qualifying Round in Tallinn.
Noel Blake’s side made a winning start in their group on Wednesday with a 3-0 victory over host nation Estonia and they will go into this match as over-whelming favourites to make it two wins from two and effectively secure their place in the draw for next spring’s Elite Qualifying Round.
However, Blake has warned his side against complacency ahead of the match knowing that they will face a Faroese outfit eager to make it as a tough as possible for England.
“It’s well documented now, that whatever level it is, there are no easy football matches at international level anymore,” explained Blake.
“With all due respect to people who look on from back at home or at the clubs who think like that, it just isn’t the case these days.”
That is the beauty of international football for Blake, as he feels matches against the likes of Estonia, Faroe Islands and Ukraine are all useful in a young footballer’s development and something that they simply can’t replicate on a domestic level with their clubs.
“It’s a different kind of game to what the players are used to playing in at home,” he added.
“When you play at international level, you’re coming up against players who have come through different traditions in their own nations.
“In this group, we have two separate former Soviet nations in Estonia and Ukraine and they are fighting for their country just like our lads are.”