We are one big family: I told myself ‘get it over the ‘keeper”
BY PAUL LAGAN
paul@slpmedia.co.uk
Tammy Abraham is a goal-machine and he’s loving it.
Now he’s back in the full England squad and it’s expected he will get an outing in Gareth Southgate’s side this week when they face the Czech Republic tomorrow and Bulgaria on Monday in Euro 2020 qualifying.
The 22-year-old hit man from Camberwell and who went to Pimlico Academy in Pimlico has now netted nine times from 11 games this season for the Blues.
He said: “I’m very pleased to score goals for this team.
I’m in a team that creates lots of chances. For me it’s about being in the right places and taking the chances.”
Abraham scored with a sublime lob over Southampton goalkeeper Angus Gun in the 4-1 win at St Mary’s Stadium.
Did he think he had scored after the ball was hook away from goal?
He said: “For me, I knew that Callum (Hudson-Odoi) would spot my run. I just told myself ‘get it over the ‘keeper’.
“I didn’t mean to hit it that high, but I’ll take that any day. It went past the line, so delighted to score
another goal.
“I scored a similar goal in the U18s against Tottenham, I had one like that. It wasn’t as high as that but I remember if you get the ball over the ‘keeper they have no chance of getting back.”
The fans and players had to wait for the referee’s confirmation the ball had crossed the line, but abraham was off running and celebrating.
“To be fair, I was just hoping,” he said.
“It was a good clearance from him, I give that to him, but thankfully it crossed the line, I looked to the ref, he looked at his watch and as soon as I saw him put his whistle to his mouth, I knew it was a goal. So I was delighted.”
Abraham has two caps for England both in friendlies but is now firmly established at the elite level;. “For me, it’s a massive achievement,” he said.
“I’m clearly doing something right for my club to get attention from Gareth Southgate.
So it’s about going out there, helping the team as much as possible. And then coming back in and doing the same job for my team.”
The striker could have played for Nigeria.
“No, I haven’t spoken to Southgate about it. I’m a player, growing up in England, playing in the Premier League.
My ambitions were always to play for England. Obviously it’s nice to be wanted by two nations, two nations that I love. But my main focus is England.
“When I was first called up, it was all about me being young. It was a good experience, for me.
The though of playing in the Euros next year where the semis and final are in England are hugely
motivating for him.
“It’s massive for me and all the England lads too,” he said.
“I’m a player who has grown up watching the likes of Harry Kane and to be going away with them, it’s an
honour for me, now it’s all about me staying in the team and doing well for my club, and hopefully I’ll be there in 2020.
“For me Kane’s the greatest striker in the world, I would put him up there. I was talking to Ross Barkley the other day and said (I’ve) never seen a finisher like him.
Ross was saying, yeah, him and Jermain Defoe, and all sorts. But when you look at Harry Kane, if he gets a chance in the box, nine times out of 10, it’s a goal. So (I’ll) go there learn off him and hopefully be like him.
“I’ll Nick a few bits of his game and add them to mine.
“The one thing I love about the England team is that we are all a big family.
“They all play for each other, the team, the nation. So it’s about me going there to support and helping the team as much as possible.”
“I didn’t mean to hit it that high, but I’ll take that any day. It went past the line, so I’m delighted to score another goal.
“I scored a similar goal in the U18s against Tottenham, I had one like that. It wasn’t as high as that but I
remember if you get the ball over the ‘keeper they have no chance of getting back.”
The fans and players had to wait for the referee’s confirmation the ball had crossed the line, but Abraham was off running and celebrating.
“To be fair, I was just hoping,” he said.
“It was a good clearance from him, I give that to him, but thankfully it crossed the line, I looked to the ref, he looked at his watch and as soon as I saw him put his whistle to his mouth, I knew it was a goal.
So I was delighted.”
Abraham has two caps for England, both in friendlies, but is now firmly established at the elite level;.“For me, it’s a massive achievement,” he said.
“I’m clearly doing something right for my club to get attention from Gareth Southgate. So it’s about going out there, helping the team as much as possible, and then coming back in and doing the same job for my team.”
The striker could have played for Nigeria.
“No, I haven’t spoken to Southgate about it,” he said.
“I’m a player, growing up in England, playing in the Premier League. My ambitions were always to play
for England.
“Obviously it’s nice to be wanted by two nations, two nations that I love. But my main focus is England.
“When I was first called up, it was all about me being young. It was a good experience, for me.
The thought of playing in the Euros next year where the semis and final are in England are hugely motivating for him.
“It’s massive for me and all the England lads, too,” he said.
“I’m a player who has grown up watching the likes of Harry Kane and to be going away with them, it’s an
honour for me.
“Now it’s all about me staying in the team and doing well for my club, and hopefully I’ll be there in 2020.
“For me Kane’s the greatest striker in the world, I would put him up there.
I was talking to Ross Barkley the other day and said (I’ve) never seen a finisher like him.
“Ross was saying, yeah, him and Jermain Defoe, and all sorts. But when you look at Harry Kane, if he gets a chance in the box, nine times out of 10, it’s a goal.
“So (I’ll) go there learn off him and hopefully be like him.
“I’ll nick a few bits of his game and add them to mine.
“The one thing I love about the England team is that we are all a big family.
“They all play for each other, the team, the nation.
“So it’s about me going there to support and helping the team as much as possible.”