Jones rues Lions' bad luck
Wednesday, 15 June, 2011
Defender says England were unfortunate not to score against Ukraine.
Against Ukraine, Phil Jones was a tower of strength at the centre of England’s defence and he is confident that chances will not go amiss in the last group game, which England must win to progress to the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship.
“We knew we didn’t play well in the first half and we had to improve in the second and I thought we did that,” he said.
“We were unlucky not to get a goal in the end but we are still in it and we know what we have to do in the last game. Let's go and do that, the lads know what we have to do and we have to produce that.
“We were unlucky but we move on, we get back on the training pitch and work on the things we weren’t good at today and we put that right next game.”
Jones formed a solid partnership with new Manchester United team-mate Chris Smalling that leaves England needing just a change of luck in front of goal to get a win against Czech Republic which will book their spot in the last four.
“It’s working really well, I like playing with him. I read what he does and he reads what I do so it's working well.
“I think it's just a goal we need and we can practice in training sticking the ball in the net when it's key and I am sure we will do that next game.
“I am sure if you had said before the tournament we could go into the last group game with it in our hands we would have taken that so we will go into the game full of confidence.”