Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes his Euro 2012 start against France was an invaluable footballing lesson.
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| Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain |
France left Donetsk with a single point, despite dominating the English for the most part in their Group D opener. Roy Hodgson's men put on an organized defensive display to withstand the barrage of French attacks, and Oxlade-Chamberlain shared with the Arsenal official website that he had no problems curbing his attacking instincts for the sake of the team's aims.
"In tournament football there are going to be periods in the game where you're up against world-class players in opposition teams and won't get a lot of the ball," he stated.
"You've just got to make sure you get the right result - and sometimes you've got to win ugly, as they say. We have got a lot of quality in our team, but France showed lots of quality as well."
"You've just got to make sure you get the right result - and sometimes you've got to win ugly, as they say. We have got a lot of quality in our team, but France showed lots of quality as well."
Laurent Blanc's squad are widely considered to be England's biggest challenge, and observers are now backing the Three Lions to nick three points in their upcoming fixture against Sweden.
Although the Swedes failed to impress in their opening game against Ukraine, the Gunners winger believes it would be foolish to underestimate their opposition.
"Every game in this competition is going to be very hard for us, teams wouldn't have qualified unless they had the quality in the first place. So we're approaching every game the same way and know it will be tough, but we have the ability to do damage to anyone on our day," Oxlade-Chamberlain said.
"As long as we keep approaching each game in the right way and keep our eye on our goals, working hard and matching each team we come up against, then hopefully our attacking prowess can come out."
"As long as we keep approaching each game in the right way and keep our eye on our goals, working hard and matching each team we come up against, then hopefully our attacking prowess can come out."
Little over a year ago he was playing in League One for Southampton and has made only six Barclays Premier League starts for Arsenal.
Oxlade-Chamberlain said: "It was a massive honour for me to get out there and represent my country in a competition like this.
"It was a nice surprise but one I needed to expect and be ready for when it came.
"But look, I'm only 18. Any chance I get, I'll try and take with two hands. I'm always learning from the boys around me. I'm grateful for any chance I get.
"There are really good players in all positions and there are a lot of competition for places and I'm sure there will be squad rotation.
"We've got the players to do it and there is a lot of physical demands from game to game.
"There is a lot of competition for places and whether I keep my place, is not for me to say.
ESPNSTAR
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