England U21s smells like team spirit for Calum Chambers

Thursday 30 Apr 2015
Calum Chambers made his Under-21s debut in March
Calum Chambers says he has seen enough of the England Under-21s camp to know team spirit will not be an issue at this summer’s Euro Finals.

The Arsenal defender joined Gareth Southgate’s squad for the first time in March, when the Three Lions got an early taste of their Euro camp for the summer in Czech Republic.

UEFA European U21 Championship

Group A: Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Serbia
Group B: England, Italy, Portugal, Sweden
The Finals 2015
17-30 June Czech Republic

And the 20-year-old admits he settled in quickly ahead of making his U21s debut in the 1-0 victory over their hosts in Prague.

"It’s a bubbly and lively group," admitted the former England U19s captain, who also has three caps for Roy Hodgson’s senior team. 

"There’s a lot of banter flying about, which I think you need in a team and the atmosphere in the changing room, on and off the pitch is good.

"That’s what we need going into the tournament."

Southgate’s squad will get together to start their preparations for the Finals in early June, prior to flying out for their first game with Portugal in Uherske Hradiste on 18 June.

And with further games after that against Sweden and Italy in Olomouc to complete the group stage, the ex-Southampton starlet is expecting a real challenge.

"It will be a big test, like any games internationally are," added Chambers. 

Watch the highlights of Chambers' U21s debut in Prague

"It’s going to be a new experience, playing foreign teams in a tournament and the way and style they play is different so it will be an experience for all of us and one that we can learn from going into the tournament."

During their last meeting, Southgate showed his players a video montage made up of footage from previous U21 Euros over the years, featuring some of the big names who have played at this stage.

And it is going to be Chambers’ first experience of a big UEFA tournament, having narrowly missed out with the U19s last year.

"It will be a big challenge, it’s a big competition and very well-known and there’s going to be a lot of quality there," he said.

"The lads are all really excited about it and we want to do as well as we can in it."

By Nicholas Veevers Content Manager - FA Owned Channels