|
|
Butland hoping for 'dream' England debut against Italy
Aug 13, 2012 2:42:00 PM
The Birmingham City goalkeeper is in contention to make his Three Lions debut against the Azzurri in Berne on Wednesday night after Joe Hart sustained a back injury
| Bet: | Returns: | England £15.00 | Draw £41.00 | Ireland £62.50 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | England £14.00 | Draw £43.30 | Ireland £55.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | England £15.33 | Draw £38.00 | Ireland £65.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | England £15.00 | Draw £38.00 | Ireland £60.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | England £15.30 | Draw £38.00 | Ireland £65.00 |
|
The 19-year-old shot-stopper, who was included in both Roy Hodgson's squad for Euro 2012 and Stuart Pearce's Team GB squad for the Olympics, could replace Joe Hart who is suffering from a back problem.
Norwich keeper John Ruddy, who Butland replaced in Ukraine and Poland, is also in the squad.
Butland told reporters: "That's what dreams are made of, isn't it?
"Hopefully it will come. Unfortunately it is due to an injury to Joe, but if I get the chance it will be a dream come true and it's something I can't stop thinking about.
"I would love the chance to be able to play on that stage on Wednesday night."
Butland made his England Under-21 debut in September last year, before spending the majority of the season on loan at League Two club Cheltenham Town.
He kept seven clean sheets in his first 12 appearances at Whaddon Road before being a surprise inclusion in Hodgson's 23-man squad for the European Championship.
"I'm not going to try and put too much pressure on myself and expect anything," Butland added.
"Not a lot of goalkeepers get the chance at such a young age, so i'm very privileged to be in this position and i'm going to try and take everything in my stride. If it doesn't happen on Wednesday, I'll be working even harder to try and make it happen on a different occasion.
"It's something i'm very excited for and I've been working towards, but I also understand that i've got a long way to go. But this is where I want to be and at the top is where I want to play."
Butland has the chance to become the youngest goalkeeper for 124 years to represent his country at senior level and he added that he was aware of the statistic.
"I couldn't help but look that up, I looked on Google the other day and tried to see," he revealed.
"If i get that chance thats's fantastic. But i'm still young, I'm still working very hard and if it does come, I'll be over the moon."
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets |
|
| Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached! |
|
| Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET! |
|
Related Stories
Make Your Prediction
England - Ireland
England
Ireland
Prediction Submitted
Most Popular Predictions
-
England 8-0 Ireland
- 21.6 %
-
England 3-0 Ireland
- 12.8 %
-
England 3-1 Ireland
- 10.4 %
Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
11:08 PM BST
Right, that's just about it from me, folks. Thank you so much for all your contributions. We hyped this one up. We said it was going to showcase everything that is great about German football. And you know what? It delivered. It was an absolutely absorbing final between the continent's top two sides, a fitting conclusion to what has been a fantastic tournament. Impossible not to feel so, so sorry for Dortmund but they need only to look at what Bayern have done tonight, lifting the trophy just 12 months after throwing it away, to see that it's possible to bounce back from this kind of devastation.
But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.
But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.
11:00 PM BST
Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp has finally faced the press and, judging by his comments, is a tad upset with perhaps something other than the final scoreline.
"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.
"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."
"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.
"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."
10:56 PM BST
Sir Alex Ferguson also has a new job... Well, kind of. The former Manchester United boss was entrusted with the honour of presenting the man of the match award after the game and relished the task: "It's my first job since I retired and it's a pleasure!"
Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.
Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.
10:51 PM BST
Heynckes, class act that he is, was also quick to empathise with a devastated Dortmund.
"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.
"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.
"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."
"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.
"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.
"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."
10:48 PM BST
And finally we get to hear from Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes, who will be replaced by Pep Guardiola this summer.
The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!
"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."
The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!
"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."
Inside Goal.Com
-
Player Ratings: Dortmund 1-2 Bayern
Goal.com rates the players on show as die Roten edge out their Bundesliga rivals to complete the double after a closely contested Champions League final at Wembley
-
Robben is finally Bayern's braveheart
The winger was the driving force behind the German outfit's triumph after years of playing second fiddle in the final
-
Pep has a lot to live up to after Bayern win
The Catalan coach was appointed in January with a view to getting the best out of the Bavarians' golden generation. But just four months on, they are already European champions
-
Top 10 all-time Champions League scorers
As the competition moves within days of its much-anticipated conclusion at Wembley, Goal profiles the most prolific players in its history
-
Top 10 Champions League Final Moments
As Europe braces itself for an all German classic at Wembley on Saturday, Goal.com takes a look back at some of the iconic moments in the history of Uefa's showpiece event since its rebranding in 1992.
