Kyle Walker Insists England Looking Forward and Not Back After Poor Euro 2016 Showing

Published on: 06 October 2016

"?Kyle Walker has insisted that England's players are looking forward and not backwards after their underpar showing at the Euro 2016 Championship in France.


The Tottenham player spoke to "?Sport magazine about his first time away with the Three Lions at a major tournament finals, and stated that there was no point in wasting time thinking about what had occurred under then-manager Roy Hodgson.


England famously crashed out of the competition after a 2-1 defeat to Iceland in the last-16, and drew fierce criticism for their sub-par performances throughout.

Walker, though, said that England have to draw a line under another failed attempt to win a major international tournament, and said he believes that getting back to basics will help England find their rhythm and confidence once more.


He said: "We had to draw a line under it to move forwards. Obviously there was a different manager and different staff. As players we're just focused on going on to do things that we know we're capable of achieving.


"We just need to do the basics well. That's all we can do, really. If we try our best, that's all you can ask for. I don't think we need to feel any pressure out there, because that's the big thing "? we carry a lot of weight on our shoulders. If we go out and play with a smile on our faces and enjoy the game we love, then that's when you'll get the best out of us."?

Kyle Walker: "I thought we didn't have a plan B. It was 'we are going to play this way', if it didn't work we didn't know what to do." pic.twitter.com/HFOvP9OXFz

The right-back also stated that, whilst he was disappointed to head home from France earlier than expected, he felt that, on a personal level, he had performed a level that he could be proud of - but added that the team's overall display always comes above individual performances


Walker added: "Obviously I wish it had panned out better on the field. But off it, it was a good experience. 


"Having two young boys, I thought it was going to be a bit difficult, missing them and everything. But the group of players was fantastic, which helped.

"Sometimes you have to look at your own performances and analyse your own game. I feel I did well "? like I carried my form over from the season before and tried to replicate it on the big stage that was the Euros. I was a big threat going forward, especially in the Wales game. 


"I spoke to Gary Neville after that game and my stats were fantastic. But there's no "?I' in team. It's not just about me. It's a collective game; that's what I care about first and foremost."?

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