England's Joe Hart intends to enjoy his time at Euro 2016

Thursday 09 Jun 2016
England's Joe Hart takes a walk around their Chantilly base
England goalkeeper Joe Hart intends to enjoy his time at Euro 2016, as the Three Lions prepare for Saturday’s opener with Russia.

The Manchester City star is going into his fourth senior tournament with England following his involvement in the World Cup squads of 2010 and 2014 and Euro 2012.

And the 29-year-old admits he still gets a buzz from it all as international football fever spreads at home and in the host nation.

England v Russia

UEFA Euro 2016
Group B
8pm, Saturday 11 June 2016
Stade Velodrome, Marseille, France
Live on ITV

"You've got to enjoy it," said Hart, who will reach 60 caps should he line-up in Marseille. 

"I'm a kid who loves football - well, I'm not a kid any more, I'm a slightly grown man, but I love football.

"I'd be watching it as a huge England fan if I wasn't involved.

"I've got one of those lucky spots where I might even be potentially representing my country on Saturday in a European tournament, so I'm going to enjoy it.

"I love playing football, I love being around guys that want to play football - that's a really good thing about this squad and we're enjoying each other as a unit.

"The only way we're ultimately going to enjoy this tournament is success so, like I say, that starts Saturday."

Hart has amassed a number of medals during his career so far with City, but he’s still awaiting any international honours.


The nearest he came was in 2009 when the Under-21s reached the Euro Final in Sweden, only to lose against Germany with Hart suspended from that game in any case.

And with all of that experience under his belt, the former Shrewsbury Town stopper knows England need to show their intentions from the off with one of the youngest squads in the competition.

"Playing to a decent standard sometimes isn't enough - we have got to be really ruthless (at) both ends of the pitch,” he added.

"It's an obvious thing, that doesn't differ from Premier League football or Cup football, but it's the thing that probably stood out the most in the two games we lost in the last World Cup.

"We could have walked off easily with two victories but we didn't and that's the most important thing.

"But there's a good bond right the way through. It's exciting, fresh, there's a lot of youngsters so they are probably going to be a lot more comfortable than maybe other teams.

"There's definitely a connection, age doesn't really factor into this team. We are one and we're all pushing in the right direction."

By Nicholas Veevers Content Manager - FA Owned Channels