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EURO 2020 QUALIFIERS
ALEX Oxlade-Chamberlain
has got a different view of
playing for England after
watching a game as a fan.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, wearing
a hat and glasses, went to a bar
with his mates to watch a World
Cup game last year and got a
reminder of what it really means
to represent your country.
That experience probably
helped the Liverpool midfielder
become even more focused on
making a comeback after a year
The Ox driven to return
from injury after going
incognito to watch
England’s World Cup
heroics as a Three Lions
supporter in pub: I was
idolising them myself!
where I heard a bit of abuse and
I wanted to be like: ‘Relax! Relax,
calm down!’ but no, that’s what
football’s all about.
“But there were probably a
few times when I was with
them, thinking ‘What you
doing?’”
Oxlade-Chamberlain admits
it has given him a new hunger
to play in the Euros next year
when England could be playing
their games at Wembley which
is also staging the final.
It gave him extra incentive to
come back from the shocking
injury – which he describes as
an “injury within an injury” – as
some of his England team
mates. “I was almost idolising
them as well,” he laughed.
“Just seeing them do that and
what it was creating around me,
I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s
Raheem Sterling, look at what
he’s done, do I really do that?’
“It was an experience, and my
friends were like, ‘Chambo, this
is why it’s so weird for us when
we sit at home with you, and
then people we know, how they
talk about you and what they
think of you.’ It’s like, we’re not
what you see on there, put it
that way!
“There were a few times,
rushing in from work, their
shirts on still, their ties, bringing
their girlfriend who’s rushed in
from the city as well, to me, all
the lads, and it was like, every-
one, the whole nation.
“I met a couple of doctors
there, boys from the city, plumb-
ers, all came into Box Park, and
it was just mayhem and meant
so much to everyone.
“I’d never seen that first hand,
so it was really, really special and
sort of a reminder of what it
means to play for England and
how special that is.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain, 26, even
admits he looked differently at
out with a knee injury. He is
back in the England squad for
the first time in 18 months and
he was excited enough about
that, but he brings a new
outlook having himself been
caught up in World Cup fever in
a bar in Shoreditch last year.
Oxlade-Chamberlain said:
“That was the first time I’ve ever
watched a football match with
football fans, of my team – I’m
either always in the stadium or
at home.
“I was shocked. It was: ‘S***,
I’ve missed out on something
big here, this is special.’ Seeing
what it meant to people, people
BLESSING IN
BY JOHN CROSS
Chief Football Writer
@johncrossmirrorENGLAND v BULGARIA
KYLE FEAR
OVER LIONS
FUTURE
capped defender was
overlooked with Trent
Alexander-Arnold
(above) selected, Kieran
Trippier winning a recall
and Aaron Wan-Bissaka
handed a maiden call-up.
Even when
Wan-Bissaka pulled out
of the squad with a back
problem this week,
Southgate snubbed the
chance to replace him
with Manchester City
full-back Walker.
And Walker, 29, is now
worried that he might
not be involved at next
summer’s Euros with
the Three Lions
expected to qualify.
A source close to the
star said: “Southgate
wants to look at
alternative players in
that position.
“But Kyle remains
sceptical about those
reasons. Southgate
could be looking for an
excuse to get younger
ones in and might not be
being totally straight.
“The proof will come
when he names his next
squad for the round of
games in October.”
Walker has been an
ever-present since
Southgate took charge
in 2016 and played a
key role in England
reaching the World Cup
semi-finals last year.FROM BACK PAGENEW PERSPECTIVE
Oxlade-Chamberlain was
KO’d by a bad knee injury
(left) and had to watch
Champions League final
from the sidelines.. and
the World Cup in the pub