Stones: Quiet confidence in England camp

Lyndon Lloyd , 31 May, 11comments | Jump to most recent

John Stones says that the 23 players selected in Roy Hodgson's squad want to make the nation proud and that they will be going to France to win the European Championships.

The Everton defender was joined by his club-mate Ross Barkley in the final squad named today by Hodgson and he told evertontv that England go into the tournament believing they can be among the contenders at Euro2016.

"If you're going to a Euros, you're going there to win it, because what's the point in not?" he said. "We're proud as players and we want to make the nation proud too.

"It's tough because you don't want to put pressure on it, but I'd like to think we're among the contenders," he told Everton's official website: "I've been saying we're quietly confident to people, but obviously all the big teams will feel the same.

"We've beaten France and Germany since we qualified, which is a big boost and something that will hopefully stand us in good stead if we come up against them at any point."

As uncomfortable as it may be for Evertonians, Stones could very much be in the shop window in France over the next few weeks, with plenty of speculation surrounding his future.

New Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho, who made four separate attempts to sign the 22-year-old last August, has been credited with serious interest in taking him to Old Trafford, while Manchester City and Chelsea are also reportedly interested.

Everton will be hoping to persuade Stones to ignore any suitors and hope that the quality of their choice of new manager to replace Roberto Martinez will help in that regard.

Hodgson, meanwhile, has urged his players to remain focused on England for as long as the Three Lions are in the tournament.

"We can facilitate, we are not trying to block players' futures or transfers," the England manager said. "But as far as we are concerned our ongoing theme is that England is England and your club is your club. While you are with England, we want you to stay focussed on us."

Reader Comments (11)

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Denis Richardson
1 Posted 31/05/2016 at 22:59:54

Says the experienced 22-year-old international, with all of 10 caps....

England haven't played decent opposition in a competitive match since the last World Cup. I think the players need to take the recent friendly results with a pinch of salt and prepare for the real thing.

They have an easy group as it is but tournament football is different.

Doug Harris
2 Posted 31/05/2016 at 23:24:17

More talk that we as Evertonians have heard all season from nearly a full squad.

Just go and perform on field like we wanted you to do for us. Really don't see England doing much.

Jim Jennings
3 Posted 31/05/2016 at 23:35:16

Denis,

What would you prefer he said? "No, we've no chance. The lads who got schooled in 2014 realise they're not up to it and us newbies have to just accept that we will bomb out the first time we play a decent team."

Terry Murphy
4 Posted 31/05/2016 at 23:57:29

I really hope he pays Mr Moshiri the courtesy of listening to him before making his decision for next season.

Dave Abrahams
5 Posted 01/06/2016 at 09:30:14

I have never been interested in how England perform although having a couple of Everton players involved will get me watching them – at least in the early games... I don't expect to see them later on.

Nathan Rooney
6 Posted 01/06/2016 at 10:10:13

The lad must have been asked the question by the media, and he has given his honest opinion - cant really fault him there, although it seems John has been at Bobby Brown Shoes secret happy pill stash.

I just wish the media would leave it alone; they do the big massive build up, bang on about how great a squad and players we have, ask these lads stupid fecking questions and set us up for the inevitable big fall, when uncle Woy completley screws it up!

This comment from John could come back and bite him right on the arse!

I hope he is right, and they do well, but I just don't get the confidence with Woy calling the shots, and the squad selection.

Mark Melton
7 Posted 01/06/2016 at 10:13:40

The pilot should keep the plane's engine ticking over.

Nathan Rooney
8 Posted 01/06/2016 at 10:18:18

Quality Mark.....with the disabled access ramp deployed ready for Jack Wheelchair and Daniel Weetabix Sturridge!

Terry Underwood
9 Posted 01/06/2016 at 11:09:04

If you want to make us proud.... qualify from the group stages. Nobody expects any more, except the usual rabid press twats.

Denis Richardson
10 Posted 01/06/2016 at 13:49:42

Jim 3 - there are 101 ways to answer the question without the whole 'we're massively up for it and quietly confident'.

Unfortunately most of the Everton players are afflicted with the disease 'talk shite, play shite' and can't help themselves. Also saying we're 'quietly confident' is a contradiction in terms. Stones is speaking as if he's some seasoned pro who's been around the international set up ages.

The players should do their talking on the pitch and stop the whole bigging up thing until they've actually achieved something.

Paul Black
11 Posted 02/06/2016 at 13:19:06

'Quietly confident.'

Not a bad start but when do the eternal and equally misguided 'pride and passion' rants begin?

On 30th July it will be 50 years to the day when England won anything other than the toss up so good luck with that!

Come on England? My arse.

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