Richards ready for action
Tuesday, 20 November, 2007
Micah Richards is relishing taking on his Man City teammate Vedran Corluka at Wembley.
England v Croatia
UEFA European Championship Qualifier
8pm, Wednesday 21 November 2007
Wembley Stadium
Live on BBC
Micah Richards is relishing the opportunity to take on his Manchester City teammate Verdran Corluka on Wednesday night, as England seek at least a point to qualify for Euro 2008.
Corluka joined City in the summer and has formed an important part of the defence that has propelled the North West club to third in the Premier League. While Richards has enjoyed playing with the similarly youthful defender this season, he admits all club loyalties will be put aside at Wembley.
Speaking exclusively to TheFA.com, Richards said: "I remember speaking to him before I came away with England, he said: 'May the best team win'.
"He was just joking about it, but he told me good luck and have a good game. I play alongside him for Man City and he's a great player. He's still only young and learning, like me, but it's going to be nice playing against him - it'll be weird but nice at the same time."
After an incredible performance in Tel Aviv by Israel upset the Russians and put qualification back in England's hands, Richards revealed that he was unable to watch the game.
"I didn't watch it," Richards explained. "It would have been too difficult and too nerve-wracking.
"When I found out the news I was delighted, I text a couple of the boys and said we've got the chance to do it now. There was a lot of doubt but the players always believed it would be up to us, we stuck together and we really believe we can get the result on Wednesday.
"It's a great chance for us, we've been working hard and that shows in the results we have had. We've had a string of 3-0 wins and I thought we were unlucky in Russia as well. But the ball's back in our court now and with 80,000 behind us at Wembley hopefully we can go and do it."
Among the string of 3-0 wins for England was an impressive win over Israel that saw Richards score his first goal for the Three Lions, and the young defender says that was the best moment of his life.
"I said after the game that it was the best day of my life, and I think it was you know. Not just my goal, but the team performance as well; it was dynamic and hopefully we can take that kind of performance into Wednesday and give it a really good go."
Richards scored on his very first outing for England, against Northern Ireland in the Victory Shield at Nene Park four years ago, and since his start with the U16s the powerful defender has seen a rapid progression to the senior squad. But Richards is insistent that the experience he gained in the international youth teams has prepared him for the biggest stage.
"It's definitely been beneficial, playing international football is a completely different ball-game. The pace is a little slower but you come up against better players with better technique, so you have to be on top of your game.
"But I've played right through the U16s, U17s, U19s, Under-21s and now the senior team, and I think that has created that stepping stone for my success."
In his younger days Richards looked up to the likes of Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand - and admits it's a strange experience to now be playing alongside them.
"I have always admired Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand for the way they play. I'm still only 19, still learning, but certainly in five or six years I want to be doing what they're doing now.
"It seems weird to me, only a couple of years ago I was in the academy watching them thinking what great players they are - now four years down the line I'm playing alongside them, so it is a bit weird. But I try not to look back, just forward and see where I can be in the future."
Richards was also keen to stress the importance of the fans at Wembley on Wednesday night, and is sure that with a packed house cheering them on nothing can get in England's way.
"If we have the crowd behind us there's nothing that can stop us. Hopefully we'll go out on Wednesday and give it 100%, we don't want to go out there and play for a draw we want to make it entertaining and go out there for the win."