Goalkeeper Joe Hart says quarter-final not enough for England

 

Joe Hart today rubbished suggestions it was already mission accomplished for England at the European Championship as he eyed a famous quarter-final win against Italy.

Roy Hodgson's men may have proven the doubters wrong by topping Group D after some predicted they would not even qualify.

But goalkeeper Hart claimed it was always "part of the plan" for England to take Euro 2012 by storm.

Asked if a quarter-final berth could be considered a success, the 25-year-old said: "No, because we're not those guys - we're winners.

"The whole point in coming here is not to keep people happy and keep people off our backs.

"We've not come here so we can go home and not get bothered.

"We've come here to win games and be successful for us and for the country and make people proud of the English football team.

"If it doesn't go right - I don't like talking about that - we'd like to leave having given everything.

"As long as we know we've done everything we can, everything in our power."

The Manchester City star added: "There have been a group of people who thought we'd not do well.

"But I think for anyone who knew the players and knew our mentality and what we came here to do then it's not a surprise.

"It's part of the plan.

"It's obviously a great achievement, but something that we set out to do at the start of the tournament."

Euro 2012 has witnessed England's lowest following at a tournament for decades but their best group-stage points tally since Euro 96 has led to a surge of interest in flights to Kiev and tickets for Sunday's quarter-final.

Hart said: "Walking out against Ukraine the other day, seeing the whole sea of yellow, and that one corner of England fans, bouncing all the way through, making all that noise - it makes so much difference to you.

"And no matter how many there are, when they're grouped together and you know where they are, your fans mean the world.

"Because you appreciate it's difficult to get out here. I know first-hand it's difficult to get people out here.

"So, the ones that make it mean the world."

England's players have been queueing up to praise the more relaxed approach of Hodgson compared to that of former manager Fabio Capello.

Rejecting suggestions it was essentially still Capello's team, Hart said: "At the end of the day, we're here to play football, regardless of whether we're allowed to walk round and see a nice statue or whatever, or have a pizza with someone that we want to be with.

"I think we're training hard, I think we're getting the manager's methods. We know what our jobs are.

"Those are the important things and those are what we're doing well."

One thing England may need to do particularly well ahead of their first knockout match at the tournament is practise penalties.

Asked if it was a case of "bring it on" in a shootout as far as he was concerned, Hart said: "Yeah, really.

"They're the kind of situations where you know you have your chance to do your thing for the team.

"Hopefully, it won't come to that.

"But if it is required for penalties to go through then so be it - that's the route we're going to take."

Hart revealed he would watch videos of previous penalties by Italy's players almost right up until kick-off on Sunday.

He added: "Obviously, I do my research. I know where all the Italian players have put their penalties.

"But I think anyone in this room could do that if you just click on youtube."

And Hart is not only ready to save them, he wants to take one as well.

He said: "If they let me, yeah. I'd put my name forward 100%.

"Penalties are a lottery but I think we've got some good takers and I'll back myself in a tournament."

England have an appalling record at penalty shootouts, winning just one of six, and Hart joked he had been "trying not to" save his team-mates' efforts in training, adding: "I'm going to say I've not saved one because everyone's brilliant at penalties in my opinion."

PA

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

iBet: Back Spain to shut out Tahiti

The spread betting firms are very slow about pricing up this game and you can understand why. All th...

by Gareth Purnell

iBet: Look To The Lady In The Prince Of Wales

The Prince of Wales Stakes today is regarded by many as the No1 race of the Royal Ascot meeting and ...

by Gareth Purnell

iBet: Favourites have a good record in the Coventry stakes

Today’s St James Palace looks a cracker and there has been sustained money for Dawn Approach since t...

by Gareth Purnell

       
 
Career Services

Day In a Page

Babies behind bars: A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail

Babies behind bars

A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail
Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm for under 25s

Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm

Is Mosquito, the alarm only under-25s can hear, a blessing or a bane?
The art of living in small spaces: Architects are learning how to make less, more

The art of living in small spaces

Space in cities at a premium so architects are learning how to make less, more...
Special report: The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

After four 'nice' years as Governor of Bank of England, things turned decisively nasty
Zombie nation: Our enduring fascination with a world full of death and destruction

Zombie nation: Our fascination with death and destruction

A new season of shows on Radio 4 is inspired by dark tales of future dystopias. Meanwhile, zombies are marauding in the multiplexes...
Martin Stephen: 'Ofsted says comprehensives are failing the most able but teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

'Teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

It doesn't take a selective system to nurture the best minds, says a former head of St Paul's boys' school.
The retail empires strike back: Can new technology lure us back to the high street?

Can technology lure us back to the high street?

The high street has been bruised and battered by online firms but in-store technology is helping to enliven the retail experience...
The 10 Best new smartphones

The 10 Best new smartphones

Photos, films, music, apps and browsing - the latest mobiles can do it all
Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

McLaren man admits 'failed gamble' with car has left him pinning hopes on 2014 campaign
James Lawton: Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe

James Lawton

Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe
'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong': The true effect of the badger cull

The true effect of the badger cull

'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong'
Theatre review: Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's The Cripple of Inishmaan

First night: The Cripple of Inishmaan

Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's comedy
Girls Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

After 103 years, organisation changes oath to welcome 'all girls, of all faiths, and none'
Steve Tongue: Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago

Steve Tongue

Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago
Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Bradley Wiggins' exit

Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Wiggins' exit

Sky's lead rider says he is in fantastic form for the Tour and happy pecking order debate is over