Arsenal forward Theo Walcott has admitted that being called up to the England squad for the last World Cup did not help his development.The Arsenal forward was selected in Sven-Goran Eriksson's party for the tournament in Germany in 2006 despite not having played a match in the Premier League.
Walcott was aged just 17 at the time and, although he enjoyed the experience, he concedes that it was difficult to be thrust into the spotlight.
"I didn't expect the call-up," he told The Observer. "There was a lot of pressure on me straight away.
"With most young players their development is not on the telly or spoken about, but with me it was different.
"The England call-up didn't help my development, because everyone was expecting something straight away.
"In the end it was a good experience, but at the time it was like, 'whoa'."
Walcott did not play in the World Cup and only made his second international appearance last month when Fabio Capello picked him for the friendly with Trinidad & Tobago.
The former Southampton forward accepts that he felt much more ready and was also given more respect by his team-mates.
He explained: "Whereas before I hadn't played in the Premier League, some players were probably thinking 'What's he doing here? He doesn't deserve to be here', now I'd been doing well.
"The players made me feel welcome, they trusted me on the ball - which was nice. I felt more part of the squad."
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Comment 1 - 7 of 7
Walcott, you have to appreciate the chances/rooms Wenger is giving you to improve at Arsenal and do something. Alex Song's game is improving and he's doing a great job which you can see, but you are like flashes in the pan - up today, down tomorrow. This off-and-on performances is not what we expect from you giving the various opportunites Wenger is giving you. You have to wake up and live up to expectation. A sticth in time saves nine.
its not his fault, its erikssons for picking him, he was only taken because it was the best chance we had against brazil at the time, the last half an hour he has the pace to really cause problems, especially as brazils fullbacks were both well into their thirties, thats why he was picked, but we never got to play brazil and the other forwards werent fit enough to get us there anyway so its pretty irrelevant anyway
It's his own fault. If he'd stayed at southhampton, none of this would've happened. Yes he got a better football education at Aresnal, but the spotlight he was (and still is) under at the start of his Arsenal career would have equalised everything out.
IM AN ARSENAL SUPPORTER AND MAN CITY FAN SO THIS SAVES ME SOME TROUBLE
FYI: THIS IS ON THE MANCITY PAGE CUZ SVEN GORAN ERRIKSONNS NAME IS MENTIONED :P
ya i agree why why why is this on the city page such balls
why the hell is this article on Man City's news page? We are the least bit interested!!!
why the hell is this article of Man City's news page? We are the least bit interested!!!
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