Jack Butland's 'massive honour' leading U21s into Euros

The Three Lions face Portugal in their first group game in Uherske Hradiste after landing at their base in Czech Republic earlier this week. 

And the Stoke City keeper is determined to succeed after a strong qualifying campaign and subsequent wins in friendlies with the likes of Germany, Czech Republic and Thursday’s opponents.

"It’s great to lead the team and being the captain is a massive honour for me and my family," said Butland. 

"Hopefully I can bring some leadership and show the lads the way and it can be a successful tournament for us.

"We’re here to win and achieve, we believe in ourselves and the talent that we have.

Butland met some young Czech keepers at a visit to a local school in Olomouc this week

"It’s been two years of qualifying and two years that we’ve been together, so we haven’t come here to lose, everything is geared towards winning this.

"I believe in the lads and we all believe in each other, so we’re really positive we can get a good outcome.

"We’ve got the players to do it and the togetherness in the group. We all get on like best mates and when you go into battle with them and they’re quality players, there’s nothing better."

After two weeks of training at St. George’s Park in the build-up to the competition, Gareth Southgate’s squad are now in the final throes of their preparation.

But Butland and his squad mates know it will not be easy now that the serious business begins.

"That’s tournament football, we’re down to the final eight and it’s going to be tough whoever we play, but we’re ready for it," he explained.

Butland (R) and fellow keepers Jonathan Bond and Marcus Bettinelli warm-up for training in Olomouc

"We’re hoping they [Portugal] feel the same way about us and fear us a little bit, but we know if we’re at it and perform, we can beat them.

"We’ve had tests against the likes of Portugal, Germany and Czech Republic and we’ve come through them so we can take belief out of those games."

Southgate has assembled a squad containing most of the players involved throughout the qualifying stages.

Even though there are a number of players from Roy Hodgson’s senior set-up still eligible to feature in this competition, Butland believes England’s best chance remains with the players who travelled out on Sunday.

And the former Birmingham City player says they are all using those senior players as inspiration for what they all want to achieve in the future.

"I think every player that we’ve got in this squad deserves to be here and has every right to be here," he said.

Butland has captained England U21s through qualifying for the Euro Finals

"The likes of Raheem [Sterling] and Jack [Wilshere] have made the step up and are established senior players, who haven’t been involved in this group.

"They’re in the seniors now, which is the target for everyone here so they act as motivation for all of us. 

"Everyone believes they can make the step up, so those players have probably made a bigger impact on this squad than they realise.

"We want to get to the seniors and stay there and that’s what this group believes. 

"We believe in the pathway and if we perform in this tournament then there is a pathway and a route through."