Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain feels honoured

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain admitted he is feeling ‘honoured’ after managing to find a place in the starting XI for England’s Euro 2012 opener against France.

The ‘Ox’ was given a surprise start ahead of Arsenal teammate Theo Walcott and Liverpool‘s Stewart Downing, making him the second youngest player to represent the Three Lions at a European championship. The 18-year-old put in a strong display before being eventually replaced by Jermain Defoe in the second half. Oxlade-Chamberlain said:

“It was a massive honour for me to get out there today and represent my country in a competition like this. Personally, I think it went OK. I showed in small glimpses what I can do.

“I would like to have done a bit better and got on the ball a bit more in different positions, where I like to attack players, but it was really hard against a good French side.”

Meanwhile, manager Roy Hodgson looked pleased with the forward’s performance against the Les Bleus and admitted he had no qualms after seeing the teenager’s performance.

“He deserved it. The way he’s played since coming into the squad, the performance he gave against Belgium, the ability he has to skip past defenders, which is an important ability to have, is excellent.

“I said to him before the game that this was a big occasion, but there’ll be so many more big occasions in the rest of his career so he shouldn’t hang himself on this occasion. I just wanted him to play to the best of his ability, and remember he had plenty of games for England ahead of him.”