VIDEO: Team emphasis for Jack
Friday, 05 August, 2011
Young Lions 'keeper says collective effort helped him keep clean sheets.
By Nicholas Veevers in Cartagena
Watch the full interview with Jack now by clicking here.
England U20s goalkeeper Jack Butland refused to take all of the plaudits after the game with Mexico, preferring to point to the collective team effort which has taken the Young Lions to the verge of the next round.
The Birmingham City stopper has yet to concede a goal in Colombia and England's three draws in the group looks increasingly likely to be good enough to take them through to the Second Round of the World Cup.
In order to do so, England must finish as one of the four best third placed teams from the six groups and now it's just a case of sitting and watching the other teams finish their fixture schedule before it is decided where and when they might be playing.
Butland is thinking of that just yet though and is just enjoying being part of a World Cup with the atmosphere and kudos it carries.
"We all want to be here, it's a great atmosphere and I'm loving it, so hopefully we can get through and carry on," he told FATV.
"I'm very pleased, as a 'keeper, as getting a clean sheet is the main goal but it's for the team too as they 've all contributed to that.
"We've defended extremely well as a team in all of the games so we deserved those clean sheets."
The game with Mexico in particular saw Butland at his best, as his penalty save in the first half to deny Taufik Guarch's spot-kick was swiftly followed by another fine stop to deny the same player and that helped set England up for an improved performance in the second half and ultimately a deserved point.
"We've been practising penalties ever since we met up," he revealed. "So I don't know how many penalties I've had against me in the last three weeks, but it's all practice and and every now and again, you save one.
"So I'm pleased with that, but it's a team effort as well."