DIARY: Henri Lansbury says England feel at home at their Euro 2011 base.

We’ve settled nicely into our hotel in Denmark and the boys are beginning to feel at home. It’s been a great get together as the lads really love meeting up. Although we flew out on Wednesday, we actually met up over a week earlier for the training camp in Spain. That was a great few days of hard work on the training pitch and then relaxation – or golf for some – in the afternoons.

We played all three courses at La Cala, I enjoy a game of golf and even picked up one of the awards for the longest drive. But we’ve got some very good players, in the squad, Jonesy, Clevs, Steeley all play off low figures so it was very competitive. Needless to say the south beat the north, but it was close-run.

It was all building up to Sunday’s warm-up game in Southampton against Norway and we came away with a confidence-boosting win. It was fairly comfortable but we probably should have got a couple more goals. I came on at half-time for my sixth cap and it was probably my best game for the Under-21s so far. Although I though i had a blinder in goal against Germany in November!

We then had a couple of days off at home with our families before we got back into England mode for the meet up and flight from Luton.

I was picked up about 9am and travelled with Fabrice, my old Arsenal team mate. We played together in the Youth Cup before and I can remember him missing a penalty. In the car he didn’t stop talking, he was doing my head in! But, seriously, he’s a great lad. In fact everyone in this squad is top notch, we all get along so well and that team spirit has help us settle at the Kellers Park Hotel.

I’m told it’s a former hospital, and it looks like it from the outside. Inside it’s been done up really well and looks nothing like a hospital. Some of the views are great too, we can see right across the Vejle Fjord. The FA’s support staff have done a lot to make the lads feel comfortable, we’ve got table tennis and a couple of X-Boxes in the games area and they are starting to help build a bit of healthy rivalry in the squad. Rosey and Welbs have been playing a lot of FIFA.

On the real football pitch we’ve been working really hard. Wednesday’s first session was in the pouring rain but the ball was fizzing about nicely and everyone looked sharp. And on Thursday we had a load of kids from the local area in to watch us train and get some autographs. We also met the Mayor of Fredericia where our training ground is as he welcomed us to Denmark – but his microphone kept playing up as they always seem to do on those occasions.

After today's training session we got back to the hotel and were given a briefing from one of UEFA's refereeing people about what to expect in the tournament, so you know the first match is getting close.

So it’s building up nicely to Sunday’s first game. We know it’s going to be very difficult against Spain but we’re confident in our own ability that we can get a result. Everyone is fighting hard to be in that starting eleven, pushing each other to the maximum. Whoever plays will certainly be up for it and hopefully we can bring three points back from Herning.

Until next time,
Henri

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