Nathaniel Chalobah: England Under-21s are ready for Italy test in 2015

Nathaniel Chalobah was part of the England team that lost to Italy on their way to crashing out of the European Under-21 Championship in 2013. But the Chelsea midfielder insists there’s a good feeling about this group two years on…

Nathaniel Chalobah has been here before. Along with Jack Butland and Nathan Redmond, he’s one of three survivors from the much-maligned England squad that lost all three games – including to Italy - at the 2013 European Under-21 Championship.

“I don't see why I should stand here and defend them,” said then coach Stuart Pearce after seeing his side lose their final game to hosts Israel. “I’m sick of doing that,” he added.

Chalobah, who was the youngest member of that England squad and the second youngest at the entire tournament, largely escaped the blame after performing creditably, but such an experience is unlikely to be forgotten quickly nevertheless.

“The last time we played against Italy they weren’t really good memories for us,” he recalled on Tuesday. “It was the first time I’d been called up to the squad and obviously it was our first game of the tournament.

“It was disappointing that we lost that game. It always hurts losing. We didn’t play as well as we could have last time around and that’s something we’re looking to put right this time.”

Perhaps the encouraging aspect to that disappointment for Chalobah will be that there is a very different feel to things in the Czech Republic. Those accusations of attitude problems are long gone.

“If you weren’t working hard in this group you’d look completely out of place and the rest of the players would sort them out,” said Gareth Southgate in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Italy game.

“As a coach, I don’t need to do anything. The group drive it and that’s what we wanted to create from the start.”

Chalobah has been a big part of that collective effort having now passed the 20-cap mark for his country at Under-21 level and the midfielder, who flanked Southgate at the media briefing in Olomouc, is open about the improved culture among the squad.

“As a group we’ve all got mutual respect for each other,” he said. “Everyone gets on. As a group, we stick together. We’ve been together for a long time over these two years. We’re tight knit and we get on really well on and off the pitch.”

Feeling comfortable is going to be critical against Italy. England need to win to be certain of a semi-final place and when Southgate talks of the importance of team spirit these are not mere soundbites but a practicality.

Will the players have the confidence to play that pass again if the previous one went astray? Are they prepared to make those unselfish runs? Respect can help. “They’re close knit and that helps massively in those moments of tension,” added Southgate.

We’ve been together for a long time over these two years. We’re tight knit and we get on really well on and off the pitch.

When it comes to sacrificing yourself for the team, Chalobah’s role of midfield enforcer has been vital. His tally of 10 interceptions so far was more than anyone else in the tournament over the first two games and twice that of any England team-mate.

Perhaps more surprisingly, Chalobah has also completed more dribbles than any of his team-mates, while only Alex Pritchard – since ruled out for the rest of the tournament through injury – has created more chances.

It highlights the importance of his influence on the team and explains why the chief question for Southgate when constructing his midfield will be who he opts to pair the 20-year-old alongside.

Springboard

Whoever he goes with, there’ll be hope that the win last time out against Sweden – their first in this tournament since 2009 and the first by any England men’s team at Under-19 level or above since 2012 – can act as a springboard.

“Now, for us, the worst has gone,” said Southgate. “I think subconsciously they didn't want to be a group that went home without winning.

“Now it’s a case of saying, ‘Let’s go for it and let’s really start to accelerate’. It won’t be about football or desire, it’ll be about a bit of anxiety and I think that can go now.”

It’s telling that Chalobah nodded enthusiastically at these sentiments. “After my last experience when we didn't win any games, it was important we got some points. Now we’ve got to focus, kick on and try to win the next game.”

No mental scarring here then. Instead, it might be another wholly more positive international experience that the young man with more than 70 appearances for England age-group sides calls upon this Wednesday.

Along with current team-mates Ben Gibson Luke Garbutt and Benik Afobe, a then 15-year-old Chalobah was in the England Under-17 side that won the European Championship in 2010.

He was the baby in defence back then but he’s not the baby of the group any more, even though he will be eligible for yet another crack at this tournament in 2017. Chalobah wants to do it now. With this group and these players.

So is this the biggest game of his career? “I’d definitely say so. It’s a game we’re going into that could potentially take us into the last four of the tournament.” And that really would banish those thoughts of Israel in 2013.