VIDEO: 'Take notice'
Tuesday, 06 September, 2011
Delfouneso is pleased with his third goal for the Under-21s.
by Jamie Bradbury
Click here to watch the interview with Nathan and Henri Lansbury
Nathan Delfouneso was pleased to add to his England Under-21s tally on Monday night with the Three Lions third goal in their 4-1 win over Israel [watch highlights].
Having gone in a goal down at half-time, Stuart Pearce made a number of changes that gave England the impetus to go on to win the match in Barnsley in comfortable fashion. And Delfouneso arrived from the bench to grab a goal from the penalty spot, his third for the Under-21s.
"They came out and gave it a go, made it difficult for us and pressed us high," Delfouneso told FATV after the game.
"Thankfully in the second half we came out and looked a different team, the gaffer made a few changes and fortunately it worked, we came out with the victory and the boys can go home happy."
He continued: "I needed that [goal]. As a striker you feel like you have to score in every single game, so it's pleasing to get on the score sheet and get my tally up.
"The gaffer is very particular with penalties and we practise them every day, because when it comes to tournament football it's a possibility that we'll get to a penalty shootout. It's a good feeling to take it into the game as well."
The win, which also saw goals from Martyn Waghorn, Marvin Sordell and Henri Lansbury cancelling out Mohammed Klibat's 25th-minute opener for the visitors, capped off a great first week for the new-look Under-21s.
Added to the 6-0 victory over Azerbaijan four days earlier, Delfouneso says ten goals in two games shows that England mean business as they aim to reach the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Israel.
"We've staked a claim as a force around Europe so hopefully teams will take notice and take us seriously that we want to go all the way," said the Aston Villa striker. "It's nice to get a few goals and take it into the next couple of games.
"We've got some quality throughout the team and we've seen that over the two games and day in, day out in training.
"It's looking positive, we'll keep going and next time we meet up we'll look to take it to another level and build on the success."
Next up for England Under-21s is another double-header, both away from home, against Iceland and Norway next month, two sides Stuart Pearce's men have faced in recent months.
To follow the team in the build up to the games, log on to TheFA.com, follow at www.twitter.com/thefadotcom or like at www.facebook.com/EnglandU21s