The thing that has most struck Lewis Dunk, back in the England squad after a five-year hiatus, is the collective confidence, the way that Gareth Southgate and his players frame victory at the European Championship next summer as the only available option.
"We had a meeting and he's talking about winning the Euros and the whole squad is thinking about winning the Euros," Dunk says. "I would say that's the big change in mentality. It's not: 'How far can we get in a tournament?' It's: 'We will win this tournament. We want to win this tournament. Being around these top players, I can see why he is saying that."
Dunk made his England debut in November 2018, the Brighton captain playing the 90 minutes of the 3-0 Wembley win over the United States, a game that fans will remember as Wayne Rooney's international farewell.
On a personal level, Dunk hoped it would be the start of something. Instead, it was the last that he heard from Southgate until June this year when the manager recalled him for the Euro qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia. Frustratingly, Dunk had to pull out because of injury and it has made his selection for Saturday's game against Ukraine in Poland and next Tuesday's friendly against Scotland at Hampden Park even sweeter.
"You obviously worry after five years," Dunk says. "It comes to a time when you probably think: 'Ah, I might not be back in here.""
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 07, 2023-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
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