Reds duo down after late exit
>> Monday, June 20, 2011
MANUTD-United duo Danny Welbeck and Chris Smalling have spoken of their disappointment at England's exit from the UEFA European Under-21 Championships.
Stuart Pearce's side were a matter of minutes from qualification for the semi-finals after Welbeck had put England ahead in their final group game against the Czech Republic.
But the Czechs drew level in the 89th minute through Jan Chramosta, before Tomas Pekhart netted a winner in injury time to send them through and put England out.
"I don't know how we're going out after that performance," said a stunned Welbeck afterwards.
"All the lads have taken a hit and it's just a down feeling. We had the tactics right, keep the ball moving and hopefully wait for our chance – we took it, and were just unlucky to lose the game in the end."
Smalling, who played alongside new signing Phil Jones in the centre of defence, agreed it had been arguably England's most polished performance of the tournament.
"We played really well, probably our best game," he added. "If we would have played like that in the last two games then we probably wouldn't have had any complaints that we didn't get the luck of the green.
"They got their luck with a ricochet, but fair play to them that they won the game and good luck in the rest of the tournament."
But the Czechs drew level in the 89th minute through Jan Chramosta, before Tomas Pekhart netted a winner in injury time to send them through and put England out.
"I don't know how we're going out after that performance," said a stunned Welbeck afterwards.
"All the lads have taken a hit and it's just a down feeling. We had the tactics right, keep the ball moving and hopefully wait for our chance – we took it, and were just unlucky to lose the game in the end."
Smalling, who played alongside new signing Phil Jones in the centre of defence, agreed it had been arguably England's most polished performance of the tournament.
"We played really well, probably our best game," he added. "If we would have played like that in the last two games then we probably wouldn't have had any complaints that we didn't get the luck of the green.
"They got their luck with a ricochet, but fair play to them that they won the game and good luck in the rest of the tournament."
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