Danny's praise for Three Lions
Jamie Bradbury
Sunday, 05 September, 2010
Danny Rose says team spirit's high as U21s prepare for Lithuania.
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To watch the interview with Danny Rose, click here.
England Under-21s midfielder Danny Rose was quick to praise his team mates after the Three Lions 1-0 victory in Portugal as he and the side now prepare for their final Group Nine game needing a win in Colchester on Tuesday.
Rose also admitted that he felt he wasn’t on top form during the first half in Barcelos, but came out firing after the half time team talk as Stuart Pearce’s men kept the home team at bay to secure the vital victory.
Needing six points from two games this week to stand any chance of reaching the play-offs for next summer’s European Championship Finals in Denmark, a solid defensive performance coupled with an energetic attack ensured England claimed the result.
Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge was on target just after the half-hour mark with a well-taken finish over the ‘keeper’s head, and Rose was complimentary of the contribution from Manchester United’s Tom Cleverley.
“It was a great ball from Cleverley and Studge has done brilliantly to finish with his left foot,” the Tottenham Hotspur winger told TheFA.com. “You know what you’re going to get from Clevs, he always works hard and put a curve pass through and thankfully Studge has put it in.
“We’d worked hard for the four days building up to the game and we’ve done exactly what the gaffer told us to do, so we deserved it. Especially when we had five or six players drop out due to illness or injury.
“We’ve had some new faces come in, Jordan Henderson as well he’s solid, he’s up and down and is always talking.
“It’s a new partnership at the back between Jonah (Phil Jones) and Chris Smalling and they kept the Portuguese strikers quiet. Kyle Walker was up and down as usual and you always get a solid performance out of Ryan so everyone can be proud of that.
“Scott Carson went home from the seniors so Loachy had to fly home, Frankie came in and did well. He’s always talking and helps everyone out at the back.”
Rose continued: “In the first half I didn’t think I did that well and the gaffer told me at half time that he wanted a bit more from me. I think in the second half I upped it a little bit and had a bit more to offer.”
Rose, who scored in the 1-0 victory over Portugal at Wembley in November, also featured four days later as the Three Lions were held to a frustrating goalless draw in Vilnius against Tuesday afternoon’s opponents Lithuania.
But, he says the team believes they have the right spirit and confidence to take Friday’s form into the match at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium.
“When we played in Lithuania it was very frustrating, we should have won but we never so we can’t take anything for granted,” said Rose.
“At least we’re at home and the gaffer said that being under pressure will help us out. Hopefully he’ll keep the same team but with fresh legs added into it we’ll be ready for the match.
“The gaffer has said he’s got a good feeling about the camaraderie and the team spirit that we have. Hopefully we can carry that into Tuesday’s game and then look forward to the play-offs.”
Tickets for the match at Colchester United are available from via the Colchester United Ticket Office in person, on 0845 437 9089, via the club’s ticket website www.colutickets.com , or from the club’s town centre shop U’s Central on Sir Isaac’s Walk, Colchester.
A discount applies for groups of 15 or more, with prices reduced to £5 (adults) and £2.50 (concessions). For more information call 0845 437 9089, or e-mail ticketing@colchesterunited.net