Czech Republic

v

England

 

 

2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Gelredome, Arnhem
5.15pm (UK time), Monday 11 June 2007
Live on Sky Sports
Full match details

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble has turned down a trip to Mexico to be part of England's UEFA Championship Challenge, much to the delight of his girlfriend.

Noble played a key role in the Hammers' Premiership survival and despite colleagues advising him against booking a holiday, with a first potential Under-21s call-up on the cards, he lined up a holiday with his friends anyway. 

Despite taking some stick from them for his decision, he knows there's nowhere else he'd rather be and now hopes he can go one better than his two previous UEFA Finals and take home a winners' medal.

"All the masseurs and physios at West Ham were saying don’t book any holidays in case you get called up and I was like ‘no, no’.

"I booked one to Mexico with my friends and was looking forward to going there. Then I got the phone call, the missus was pleased because I weren’t going to Mexico with the boys.

"They gave me stick at first, but they knew it was the only cause they couldn't really give me stick for, being called up for my country, so I got off lightly."

He continued: "I’ve played through all the age groups. I’ve lost in the Semi-Finals for the Under-17s [against Spain in 2003] and lost to France in the Under-19s Final [2005], it just seems like the next step is going to win one.

"A player by the Fabregas scored the winning goal for Spain in the Semi-Finals, Diaby was playing for France. The top players come out of these competitions."

Noble made his first Under-21s debut against Slovakia in Norwich last Tuesday night. He came on at half-time and was soon throwing himself into challenges as he eyes a starting place for the opening Championship encounter against the Czech Republic.

"It was fantastic to come on, the boss told me at half-time and I was buzzing, I couldn’t wait to get on and the first couple of things I had to do was make tackles.

"We kicked on in the second half, scored four goals and showed everyone what we can do," said the 20-year-old.

"We know the Czechs are going to be a tough team, they always are. But we’re looking forward to the game and I’m sure if we play to our capabilities, we’ll have too much for them."